Gun Runner Opens 3-Year-Old Season in Style
Backstretch talk of Gun Runner being an improving 3-year-old proved true Feb. 20 as he opened his 2016 season with a smooth victory in the $400,000 Veterans Ford Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Watch Video
After winning his first two career starts, Gun Runner closed out 2015 with a fourth-place finish in a deep edition of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs. In his 3-year-old season debut Saturday under Florent Geroux, Gun Runner nailed down his first stakes win.
“He’s a very nice horse. We’re very lucky to have him,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen. “I thought Florent gave him a beautiful trip with how the track was playing. He’s shown talent the whole time and it’s definitely good to see him in the winner’s circle in a race like this.”
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm’s Gun Runner tracked inside in fourth through a half-mile in :46.38 cut by longshotCandy My Boy. After improving position inside in the turn, jockey Florent Geroux would angle Gun Runner off the rail after six furlongs in 1:11.33, and the son of Candy Ride would put away Candy My Boy in early stretch then hold off a late rally from Forevamo to register a half-length win.
Co-owner Ron Winchell said the victory had him dreaming of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after Gun Runner moved to the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points list. He added that Gun Runner will be pointed to the March 26 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at Fair Grounds.
“He’s a very nice horse. I’ve really liked him since the first time I was on his back a few weeks ago working in the morning,” said Geroux after picking up his fourth win on the card. “He’s super athletic. I was very confident. I wanted to make sure I saved some ground. Earlier I got beat (with Twinspires.com Rachel Alexandra Stakes [gr. II] favoriteStageplay) and was stuck going wide the whole way. It looked like the track was playing a little bit more inside-favoring. I kept him down there until I asked him to go and he ran a great race.”
Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) winner Mo Tom would rally to finish third with Candy My Boy holding fourth. Gun Runner completed the 1 1/16-mile test in 1:43.94 on a fast track, which was more than a second faster than the TwinSpires.com Rachel Alexandra (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies completed in 1:45.24 earlier on the card.
Favorite Airoforce finished second-last of 11 and never threatened in his first start since winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Airoforce bumped with Gun Runner early, raced three or four wide in the first turn, and never threatened.
The Risen Star awards the top four finishers qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, on a 50-20-10-5 schedule.
A stakes winner at Delta Downs last year, Brittlyn Stables Forevamo earned his first graded stakes placing. Mo Tom checked hard near the three-sixteenths pole when Bistraya drifted in front of him.
“It was really good until we got kind of wiped out,” said Mo Tom’s rider Corey Lanerie. “Someone came from the outside and I lost all my momentum. I hope he’s alright. I definitely thought he was the best horse today. He galloped out so good. I think if that didn’t happen I would have caught him in the last couple jumps.”
Trainer Tom Amoss said Mo Tom got bumped turning for home and sustained a cut on his right leg that the trainer said is superficial.
Gun Runner paid $12.20, $7, and $4.80 across the board. Forevamo returned $33 to place and $12.20 to show while Mo Tom paid $3 to show.
Bred in Kentucky by Besilu Stables, Gun Runner is the first starter out of grade II-winning Giant’s Causeway mare Quiet Giant.
fonte: Bloodhorse.com
DOMENICA 21 FEBBRAIO 2016 Giappone: Mirco Demuro colpisce ancora in G1! E sono 15 di G1. Stavolta in sella a #Moanin nelle February Stakes. Doppietta Dario Vargiu (5) a Kokura
America: Buon debutto per #Ziconic, terzo finendo velocemente dalla coda del gruppo a Santa Anita. Ecco il video
Ziconic More Than Memorable in Debut
Ziconic brought back good and bad memories for John Shirreffs all in one shot during his debut Feb. 20 at Santa Anita Park.
The Jerry and Ann Moss homebred and son of 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyattalooked both like his mother and half brother Cozmic One early on in his debut, a seven-furlong maiden special weight event Saturday.
A slow break had him well back early, and his deficit expanded to 15 3/4 lengths behind early leader One More Round after a half-mile in :44.34. He was even 10 lengths behind his closest competitor in the seven-horse field.
“I thought, ‘Oh my goodness. Come on. I hope something changes,’” Shirreffs said, recalling the first two runs by Cozmic One, Zenyatta’s first foal, when the Bernardini colt similarly trailed early but didn’t make up any ground.
BALAN: Cozmic One Lacks Late Kick in Debut
What came next was somewhere in between his half brother and his mother. The 3-year-old Tapit colt unfurled a reminiscent, furious rally, but couldn’t quite get to the wire first. In the end, he came up 1 3/4 lengths short in third, behind first-time starter Fast Munny andDalmore, but he gave Shirreffs that thrill again. Watch Video
“He responded very well. … You always have big expectations. You dream,” Shirreffs said. “With Zenyatta, we realized the dream. Now you dream about her foals. They bring part of that dream back.”
“We knew he was going to break slow and it took him a little while to get wound up,” Stevens said. “I was at the three-eighths pole and was so far back. I said, ‘Buddy, your mama could win from here, can you?’ “
“I never got to ride the big mare, Zenyatta, but I know what it felt like now… I’ve never been cheered for finishing third in a maiden special weight before.”
Shirreffs said after the race that Ziconic will likely race next in a two-turn maiden special weight race.
SABATO 20 FEBBRAIO 2016 Australia: #Chautauqua all’ultimo tuffo nelle Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Lo sprinter australiano guarda al Royal Ascot
Lightning Stakes (AUS)
LIGHTNING STAKES 2016 (1000 metres), 1st $300,000. 2nd $90,000. 3rd $45,000 – Group 1, WFA. Field Limit 20 + 4em.
The 2016 Lightning Stakes field at Flemington.
- Our tip for the Lightning Stakes
#1 CHAUTAUQUA $2.5
(full set of HRA Tips)
1 CHAUTAUQUA – D Dunn 2 – 58.5kg
2 TERRAVISTA – D Oliver 6 – 58.5kg
3 DELECTATION – C Williams 7 – 58.5kg
4 VA PENSIERO – C Newitt 4 – 58.5kg
5 EXOSPHERE – J McDonald 1 – 55.5kg
6 JAPONISME – G Schofield 5 – 55.5kg
7 KINGLIKE – D Lane 3 – 55.5kg
The 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes is a 1000m sprint race up the straight at Flemington, that takes place on Saturday February Cha20th and marks the start of the Autumn Carnival in Melbourne. The Lightning Stakes is a WFA group 1 race, and has been won in recent time by such greats as Black Caviar, Scenic Blast, Apache Cat and Takeover Target. There is nothing quite like a sprint race up the straight at Flemington!
The odds for the 2016 Lightning Stakes will be updated here along with the barrier draw, weights and the final field. Want to bet on the Lightning Stakes online? Then make sure you go to our betting page, and take advantage of the many joining offers available. They all offer joining incentives and or bonus bets, so why not take advantage of the bonus bet offers available now (not available in NSW).
This years Lightning Stakes Result:
• 1st – CHAUTAUQUA
• 2nd – Terravista
• 3rd – Japonisme
Past Lightning Stakes results & times
Year – Winner – 2nd – 3rd
2016 – Chautauqua – Terravista – Japonisme
2015 – Lankan Rupee – Brazen Beau – Deep Field 0:56.2
2014 – Snitzerland – Shamexpress – Samaready 0:57.1
2013 – Black Caviar – Moment Of Change – Golden Archer 0:55.4
2012 – Back Caviar – Hay List – Buffering – 0:56.5
2011 – Back Caviar – Hay List – Warm Love – 0:57.2
2010 – Nicconi – Wanted – Shellscrape – 0:57.1
2009 – Scenic Blast – Typhoon Zed – Grand Duels – 0:56.9
2008 – Apache Cat – Swick – Stanzout – 0:57.3
fonte: Horse Race in Australia