Gun Runner’s trio of graded stakes winners on Saturday included the undefeated Always a Runner, who won the Gazelle S. (G3) at Aqueduct in just her second lifetime start.
Gun Runner is also the sire of Santa Anita Oaks (G2) 1-2 finishers Meaning and Brooklyn Blonde and Saturday’s blowout Blue Grass S. (G1) winner Further Ado.
With Pashmina setting the early uncontested pace, Always a Runner was about a half-dozen lengths from the lead after a half-mile. Going into the final turn, she began to make up ground and shot through an opening along the rail with three furlongs to go with just Pashmina to catch. Coming into the stretch, Always a Runner switched to the outside, and with a sustained drive, caught Pashmina in the final strides to win by 1 ¼-lengths.
“She’s only had two starts, and it’s a fair question (about experience),” said trainer Chad Brown. “I don’t think I could answer it like I would know for sure. I think it could go both ways. Big risk, big reward.” “I don’t want to be careless with these horses, but she’s really talented. She’s not that big, but she’s handy and a very athletic sort. The Oaks, you don’t have the 20-horse field [like the Derby]. Is there that much risk? I don’t know, I’d have to look at the field and look it over and talk to the owners. My gut would tell me it’s not that risky.”
Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, who co-own the filly with Douglas Scharbauer, Always a Runner banked $110,000 in victory while improving her record to 2-2-0-0. A $1.05 million yearling purchase, Always a Runner is out of the Grade 2-placed Malibu Moon mare Always Carina, a half-sister to 2019 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf-winner Structor.
