Shotgun Hottie earned career stakes win number four in style Friday at Pimlico when she won the Allaire DuPont Distaff S. by six lengths. The 5-year-old daughter of Gun Runner was the first of two stakes winners on the card for her sire, coming a couple of hours before Gun Song captured the Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2).
Sent off as the odds-on favorite in the 1 1/8-mile race, Shotgun Hottie made her way to the rail from her outside post in the field of eight. After a half-mile, she eased her way into the three path for a clear run at the lead. Looming boldly at the top of the stretch, the eventual winner took command soon after and pulled away with ease. She was geared down in the final furlong to finish in 1:49.60 on a fast track.
“Very impressive. Just really pleased for the outcome,” winning trainer Cherie Devaux said. “She’s faced a lot of formidable competition in her last couple of races. This was a step down as far as from a Grade 1, but it’s a steppingstone to get to the Molly Pitcher (On the Haskell undercard at Monmouth Park). She’s a big ol’ filly and she seems to run herself into form. So it takes a few races for her to be at her best, and that’s what we’re hoping for the summer.”
Winner of last year’s Molly Pitcher (G3), Shotgun Hottie is 6-4-2 in 19 starts and has earned $926,557 for Omar Aldabbagh and Jeff Ganje. She was bred in Kentucky by Vincent Colbert.
Pedigree Notes from the TDN:
Shotgun Hottie’s dam Re Entry is a half-sister to GI Frizette S. heroine Sky Diva and MGISP Quick Little Miss. Shotgun Hottie’s third dam produced MGISW Pure Clan, who foaled SW Princesa Carolina.
