My Gun’s Loaded became Gun Runner’s 15th lifetime Grade 1 winner with her triumph in Saturday’s $600,000 Alabama S. (G1), the first stakes start for the 3-year-old filly.
Gun Runner’s 2026 progeny earnings have surpassed $15 million, placing him third on the General Sire list.
My Gun’s Loaded came into the 1 ¼-mile Alabama to face the likes of Counting Stars and Measure off a sharp one-mile Saratoga allowance win a month ago. Counting Stars set a moderate early pace of :24.55 and :49.44, with My Gun’s Loaded a couple of lengths from the front in third.
Counting Stars continued to hold the lead going into the final bend, but My Gun’s Loaded began her move for the lead and was on even terms turning for home. My Gun’s Loaded took command with a furlong to go, then held off a strong challenge from Measure to win by a neck in 2:94.87 on a fast track.
“Counting Stars is a great horse. I had the benefit of a fresh horse today,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. I mean take nothing away from the way she (Counting Stars) fought, she’s danced every dance from the (Kentucky) Oaks on through, and I needed a fresh horse to beat her, goes to show you how good she is.”
As for what’s next, Brown added, “Off the top of my head, races like the Beldame (at Belmont Park) or the Spinster (at Keeneland) versus older horses might be in play. She is lightly raced and her numbers are fast.”
My Gun’s Loaded, owned by Douglas Scharbauer, has won three of four starts and earned $460,500. She was bred in Kentucky by Corser Thoroughbreds LLC and sold to her owner for $650,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September sale.
