Wakuda became Gun Runner’s newest stakes winner on Nov. 25 when the 2-year-old filly won the $100,000 Zia Park Princess S. in her black-type debut.
Gun Runner has accounted for 22 stakes winners in 2025, including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Super Corredora, as well as Grade 1 winners Brant, Sierra Leone and Locked. Gun Runner has 85 lifetime stakes winners and progeny earnings that recently surpassed the $80 million milestone.
In the six-furlong Princess, Wakuda tracked the pace set by Mother of Pearl, who took the field through an opening quarter in 22.28 seconds and a half-mile in 45.68. Wakuda was on even terms with the early leader at that point, then after putting her away, was joined the length of the stretch by In the Aggregate. Wakuda gamely held off her foe through the lane to finish a half-length in front at the wire. It was another 7 1/4 lengths back in third to Mother of Pearl.
The winner covered six furlongs in 1:11.45 under Erik Asmussen.
Wakuda is owned and bred by Winchell Thoroughbreds and is the first foal out of stakes-placed Simply Sovereign, who like Wakuda, was trained by Steve Asmussen. Simply Sovereign’s half-sister Optionality, who was also by Gun Runner, won this same race in 2021 for these same connections.
Wakuda is 2-2-0 in six starts and has earned $138,088.
