Gun Runner, already the sire of 14 stakes winners and 32 stakes horses, has five runners entered during the Nov. 3-4 Breeders’ Cup, with three of those running on Friday’s card featuring the 2-year-olds.
First up is the pair of Chatalas and Life Talk in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Chatalas drew post six in the 13-horse field. The bay filly has won two of three starts and her way into the race with a front-running score in the Chandelier S. (G1) last month over this same Santa Anita surface and 1 1/16-mile distance. Chatalas is owned by her breeder Dan Agnew, along with Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners.
Life Talk, who has a maiden win and third in the Frizette S. (G1), comes from the powerful Todd Pletcher barn and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. The Repole Stable colorbearer cost $335,000 as a Keeneland yearling. She was bred by the Gun Runner Syndicate, Mulholland Spring LLC and Tom Grether Farms Inc. Life Talk drew post 11 for the 6th race on the card, with a post time of 5:40 pm ET.
Two races later on the card in the $2 million Juvenile (G1), Grade 1 winner Locked carries his sire’s hopes. Locked, also trained by Pletcher, was very impressive in winning the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) last month at Keeneland. Owned by Walmac Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbreds, Locked sold for $425,000 as a Keeneland yearling. He is in post 6 in the 11-horse field. Locked was bred by Rosa Colasanti. The Juvenile is race 8 at 7 pm ET.
Gun Runner, with three crops of racing age, is second on the 2023 General Sire list, behind only Into Mischief, with $14.7 million in progeny earnings, ahead of such standout sires as Uncle Mo, Curlin and Quality Road despite having far fewer crops to race.
