Gun Runner got his fifth First-Crop winner Saturday at Churchill Downs when Gunite beat a full field of 2-year-olds in a six-furlong maiden special weight affair on the closing day of the Spring Meet.
Gunite breaks his maiden on June 26, 2021 at Churchill Downs – Coady photography
After a pair of near misses due to racing luck earlier in the meet, Gunite showed his class on Saturday. He chased pacesetter Call Me Midnight through the first three furlongs before taking command shortly thereafter, and held the field at bay through the stretch to win by 1 1/2-lengths in 1:10.10 on a fast main track.
Gunite is a Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred trained by Steve Asmussen, as was Gun Runner. The dark bay colt is the first foal out of stakes winner Simple Surprise.
Gun Runner also got his first stakes horse as a sire on Saturday at Churchill Downs when Wicked Halo placed in the Debutante S. for 2-year-old fillies. The Three Chimneys stallion started the day leading the First-Crop sire list with progeny earnings of $245,790 and now has five winners from 10 starters.
