Ruggs zipped to a three-length debut maiden special weight win on Nov. 15 at Remington Park to give leading First-Crop sire Gun Runner his 21st overall winner (WATCH RACE).
The chestnut colt was hustled out of the gate to get to the fence and take the early lead. He was joined almost immediately by a trio of opponents and continued to get pressure through the first half-mile. Ruggs began to edge clear while still under a hand ride at the top of the stretch, the widened at will when asked for run with a furlong to go.
The winner is owned by Gus King, who purchased the colt for $170,000 at this year’s OBS 2-year-old sale in June. Ruggs was bred by Bridlewood Farm and is out of the Schuylerville S. (G3) winner Brazen Persuasion.
Gun Runner is by far and away the leading First-Crop Sire of 2021, with over $3.6 million in progeny earnings. His quartet of graded stakes winners is topped by this year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) heroine Echo Zulu.
