Strategic Focus came five-wide into the Aqueduct stretch on the way to his debut maiden-breaking victory Apr. 19 at Aqueduct, drawing off in the final sixteenth to win by 1 ¼-lengths under a brisk hand ride [WATCH RACE].
The 3-year-old colt is the 18th lifetime TDN Rising Star for Gun Runner, joining the likes of Echo Zulu, Taiba, Locked and Sierra Leone.
Strategic Focus, who was facing older horses in the one-mile maiden special weight event on the main track, was widest of eight in the gate and stayed well off the fence during the half-mile run down the backstretch. He began to make up some ground around the turn and came into the stretch within a length of the lead. Racing down the center of the track, Strategic Focus outfinished his foes to stop the timer in 1:34.99 on a fast track.
The winner is owned by Klaravich Stables, who purchased the chestnut for $500,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling sale. Strategic Focus was bred in Kentucky by Alter Racing Stables, Inc. and is a full brother to Headline Numbers, who won the Top Flight S. just a week ago at Aqueduct.
Gun Runner leads all North American sires in 2025 with nine stakes winners and is third overall with $5.8 million in progeny earnings.
