Three Chimneys Farm announced today that Grade I winning millionaire Gun Pilot, a Three Chimneys homebred, has been represented by his first foal, bred by Tommy Wente’s St. Simon Place in Lexington, Kentucky. The bay colt is out of the winning mare Just Life, a half to GSP Electability and hails from the female family of Lion Heart.
A Grade I–winning son of Gun Runner, one of his sire’s 16 millionaires and 12 Grade I winners, the foal marks the first arrival for the accomplished sprinter/miler. Gun Pilot’s crowning achievement came on Derby Day at Churchill Downs, where he drew off by daylight to capture the $1,000,000 Grade I Churchill Downs Stakes. The race has long served as a proving ground for elite stallions. Previous winners include Distorted Humor, Speightstown, and more recently Cody’s Wish and Mindframe.
“He’s a big colt with a lot of bone. The first thing that struck me was how much he looked like his sire—big and strong. I bred four mares to him last year, and when they come out looking like this, you’ve got to go back,” said Tommy Wente.
“Gun Pilot is very much like Gun Runner—scopey, strong and a great mover but with a bit more size and substance than his sire. Progeny by sons of Gun Runner have been in high demand, and with Gun Pilot entering his second year at stud, he represents a great opportunity for breeders to access this highly sought-after sire line. Three of the top five three year olds on the Blood-Horse Derby Dozen are by Gun Runner,” said Rebecca Nicholson, Director of Stallion Nominations at Three Chimneys Farm.
