Gun Runner’s Red Route One became racing’s newest millionaire Sunday with a stellar come-from-behind win in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Park.
The 3-year-old earned his first graded stakes win with the victory and is the 13th graded winner for Gun Runner, who leads the 2023 Third-Crop Sire list and is in the top five on the General Sire list with over $9.4 million in progeny earnings.
Red Route One, who had a trio of graded placings prior to Sunday’s breakthrough win, was some 15 lengths off the pace after the first quarter mile of the nine furlong race. He began to close the gap with a half-mile to run, yet was still a half-dozen lengths from the lead as the frontrunners hit the top of the stretch. The margin proved no problem for the chestnut colt, who came four-wide down the lane, flying past the leaders and drawing off to a three-length win in 1:49.49 on the “good” main track.
The Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC homebred is now 3-2-1 in 12 starts and has earned $1,045,025. His dam Red House is also responsible for Red Run, a stakes-winning full brother to Red Route One. Red House is a full sister to champion filly and five-time Grade 1 winner Untapable.
