Runninsonofagun won the 2022 Bold Ruler S. (G3) by a nose and there was just a nose separating the 5-year-old son of Gun Runner and My Buddy B in Saturday’s 2024 renewal at Aqueduct.
Runninsonofagun was a nose behind his foe on the wire this year, but was placed first after a stewards review found that My Buddy B repeatedly fouled Runninsonofagun in the final sixteenth.
“He was surging past [No. 5, My Buddy B] and that other horse came out and bumped him and knocked him off stride – but he didn’t give up because after the wire he was by him again,” said winning trainer John Toscano, Jr. of the late-race dramatics.
Runninsonofagun was a few lengths off the early pace and tracked behind My Buddy B on the backstretch and around the turn. Coming four-wide into the stretch, Runninsonofagun set his sights on My Buddy B. He narrowed the gap with every stride and looked poised to go by the leader before the bumping occurred and drew the inquiry light following the very tight finish.
The winner, owned by Karen Zimmerman, is now 5-3-6 in 20 starts and has earned $567,865. Bred by Dattt Farm LLC, Runninsonofagun is a half-brother to Alcibiades S. (G1) winner My Conquestadory.
Runninsonofagun is one of Gun Runner’s 10 graded winners and 13 overall stakes winners this year. Currently second on the General Sire list, Gun Runner’s progeny have banked $16.2 million to date in 2024.
