Further Ado topped an unbelievable day for Gun Runner when he won the Blue Grass S. (G1) with incredible ease, rolling home an 11-length winner and stamping himself as the likely favorite for the May 2nd Kentucky Derby (G1).
Gun Runner’s huge day started at Santa Anita Park, when Meaning and Brooklyn Blonde gave the Three Chimneys stallion a 1-2 finish in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2). Minutes later at Aqueduct, Always A Runner captured the Gazelle S. (G3). Meaning and Always A Runner are just two of four 3-year-old fillies by Gun Runner, the others being Life of Joy and Search Party, who have enough qualifying points to start in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Further Ado’s romp in the Blue Grass was the highlight of the day and was reminiscent of his 20-length maiden win at Keeneland last October. Patiently handled by Irad Ortiz, Jr. while sitting in third through six furlongs, Further Ado ranged up along side Great White and Creole Chrome with a quarter-mile to run and went by them without urging. He kicked clear in upper stretch and was ridden out with just mild urging to stop the timer in 1:49.58 on a fast, drying track.
The 11-length winning margin was second only to Alydar’s 13-length win in 1978.
“He was dominant,” said winning trainer Brad Cox, who also trains Life of Joy. “We expected him to move forward off the Tampa Bay Derby, and he did. Hopefully we’re as good in four weeks as we were today. If he is, he’ll be a player in the Derby.”
Further Ado was bred by John C. Oxley and is owned by Spendthrift Farm, who purchased the chestnut Kentucky-bred for $550,000 at the 2025 OBS Spring 2-year-old sale. Saturday’s win upped Further Ado’s record to 3-1-1 in six starts and his earning to $1,146,328. His first stakes win came in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last November at Churchill Downs.
