Gun Runner got his first stakes winner of the year on Jan. 4 when Guns Loaded battled to a neck victory over Treaty of Rome in the $165,000 Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park.
The newly-turned 3-year-old was making his stakes debut in Saturday’s one-mile race after a Nov. 16 maiden-breaking win at Churchill Downs, when he was named a ‘TDN Rising Star’.
Hustled away from the gate from his inside post, Guns Loaded established a clear lead as he set fractions of :24.54 and :47.61 going into the turn. He maintained his advantage around the turn and through most of the stretch before digging in gamely in the final sixteenth to secure the win.
“I was pretty sure that he was going to be on the lead,” said trainer Jose D’Angelo. “I was just afraid that he would go too fast because it was his first time going the mile and from the number one [post] you have to ask a little bit from the gate, but everything worked perfect.”
Guns Loaded now boasts a record of 2-1-0 in three starts and has earned $180,140 for owners Morplay Racing LLC, Joey Platts and Lady Sheila Stable. The winner was bred in Kentucky by John C. Oxley and sold for $800,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling sale.
D=Angelo said that the Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Feb. 1 would be the colt’s next target.
Guns Loaded is the latest of three dozen lifetime stakes winners for Gun Runner, who finished 2024 ranked second on the General Sire list with over $22.2 million in progeny earnings.
