Study Guide: 2023 Gun Runner Stakes

Dec 18, 2023 J. Keeler Johnson

The third running of the $100,000 Gun Runner S. is slated for Saturday at Fair Grounds. The 1 1/16-mile contest is one of the newest additions to the Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding qualification points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis to the top five finishers.

Despite its short history, the Gun Runner has already produced one Kentucky Derby (G1) winner. In 2021, Rich Strike finished fifth in the Gun Runner before improving to upset the 2022 Kentucky Derby at odds of 80-1.

The 2023 Gun Runner field has come up deep, so let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the field:

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Next Level

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Don’t Tell My Wife Stables
Breeder: White Fox Farm
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: David Cohen

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $86,100

Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Devious d’Oro
Color: Bay

Third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) during the summer in California, Next Level made his Fair Grounds debut on Nov. 23, leading almost all the way to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight. But Next Level benefited from setting a slow pace, and he’ll have to improve upon the 78 Brisnet Speed rating he received if he’s going to challenge against tougher foes in the Gun Runner.

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Catching Freedom

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Corey Lanerie

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing fourth in a Churchill Downs allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $75,350

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Catch My Drift
Color: Bay

Catching Freedom ran into homestretch traffic when finishing fourth in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer racing 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs last month. Even in defeat he earned a sharp 90 Brisnet Speed rating, so a competitive showing in the Gun Runner isn’t out of the question.

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Risk It

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm
Breeder: Gun Runner Syndicate, De Sousa Stables, and Cranford Bloodstock
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning his debut at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $135,913

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Wedding Jitters
Color: Chestnut

Risk It has already started twice on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing second in the Iroquois (G3) and fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). But Risk It’s Brisnet Speed ratings have dropped as he’s stretched out in distance, so it’s possible shorter trips than 1 1/16 miles are his true forte. His lone victory came in a six-furlong sprint.

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Neat

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Red White and Blue Racing
Breeder: Hidden Brook Farm and Spruce Lane Farm
Trainer: Rob Atras
Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a Fair Grounds allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $63,000

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Orabella
Color: Chestnut

Neat never factored in his debut sprinting, but since stretching out over 1 1/16 miles he’s won a maiden special weight and a $100,000 allowance optional claimer by daylight margins over next-out winners. Neat has been campaigning on turf and will make his dirt debut in the Gun Runner, but his pedigree offers potential for dirt success. Don’t count this talented colt out of the mix.

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Footprint

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Greg McDonald
Breeder: Greg B. McDonald
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing fifth in a Churchill Downs allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $70,921

Sire: Dialed In
Dam: Poplar Girl
Color: Dark bay/brown

Winner of a $150,000 maiden claimer at Keeneland, Footprint has since finished fifth and second in a pair of 1 1/16-mile allowance contests at Churchill Downs. He’ll need improvement to hold his own against a deeper field in the Gun Runner.

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Nash

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (97) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $87,500

Sire: Medaglia d’Oro
Dam: Sara Louise
Color: Bay

Nash finished second in his debut sprinting at Keeneland, earning a solid 89 Brisnet Speed rating. He then improved to a 97 (the highest number in the Gun Runner field) when smashing a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs by 10 1/4 lengths. Nash finished fast that day and has posted sharp workouts since then, suggesting he’s the horse to beat for the hot jockey/trainer duo of Florent Geroux and Brad Cox, who teamed up to win the 2022 Gun Runner with Jace’s Road.

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Snead

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Imagine Racing and Margaret Fauber
Breeder: Chris Baccari and Taylor Luneack
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a Fair Grounds allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $113,800

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Raffle Ticket
Color: Gray/roan

Snead has gone 2-for-2 since switching from turf to dirt, rallying to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs and a 1 1/16-mile $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds. The latter victory came by 7 1/4 lengths with a career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating, so Snead is progressing in the right direction and has every chance to earn Kentucky Derby qualification points this Saturday.

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Track Phantom

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: L and N Racing, Clark O. Brewster, Jerry Caroom, and Breeze Easy
Breeder: Breeze Easy
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Cristian Torres

Top Speed Rating: (93) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $105,000

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Miss Sunset
Color: Bay

After losing his first two starts to the future graded stakes-placed runners Stronghold and Real Men Violin, Track Phantom stretched out around two turns for a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs and won by 4 3/4 lengths. With improving Brisnet Speed ratings of 84, 91, and 93 under his belt, Track Phantom is improving with every start and looms as the main danger to Nash. It’s worth noting trainer Steve Asmussen sent out Epicenter to win the inaugural Gun Runner in 2021.