Gun Runner (USA)
March 8, 2013 – Living
Candy Ride (ARG) x Quiet Giant (USA), by Giant's Causeway (USA)
Family 17-b
March 8, 2013 – Living
Candy Ride (ARG) x Quiet Giant (USA), by Giant's Causeway (USA)
Family 17-b
,A good 3-year-old, Gun Runner improved steadily throughout the latter part of his sophomore season and on into his 4-year-old season. After finishing second behind a phenomenal performance by 2016 American champion 3-year-old male Arrogate in the 2017 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), Gun Runner never knew defeat again and finished out a championship season with an authoritative win in the Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1). He concluded his racing career with an equally impressive victory in the second Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) and entered stud at Three Chimneys Farm as the leading performer by his sire, Candy Ride.
Race record
19 starts, 12 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$15,988,500
2016:
2017:
2018:
Honors
Assessments
Earned a Timeform US rating of 142 pounds for his performance in the 2017 Woodward Stakes, the highest rating ever given for a race in the United States.
Gun Runner tied with Cracksman for third place on the 2017 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings with a rating of 130 pounds, 4 pounds below the 134 pounds Arrogate earned for his victory in the Dubai World Cup and three pounds below the great Australian mare Winx (who earned the year's highest rating for a performance on turf).
Gun Runner received a rating of 127 pounds from the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for his performance in the 2018 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes, enough to tie him for fourth in year-end rankings with 2018 European Horse of the Year Roaring Lion and Hong Kong star Beauty Generation.
As an individual
A well-balanced, attractive chestnut with a beautifully chiseled head, Gun Runner has an excellent shoulder and a strong hind leg and is a fluid mover with a light way of going. His chief weapon on the racetrack was his high cruising speed, and he typically ran on or close to the pace. His two unplaced performances were both over off going. He shipped well and held his weight well during his racing campaigns. Those personally familiar with him describe him as highly intelligent with a bit of fire. He enjoys baby carrots as a treat.
As a stallion
Gun Runner stood his first season in 2018.
Notable progeny
Cyberknife (USA), Early Voting (USA), Echo Zulu (USA), Gun Pilot (USA), Gunite (USA), Locked (USA), Sierra Leone (USA), Society (USA), Taiba (USA), Vahva (USA)
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Gun Runner was bred by Benjamin Leon Jr.'s Besilu Stables. He was purchased by Three Chimneys Farm in 2014 as part of a package deal in which Three Chimneys bought majority interests in much of Besilu's bloodstock. Three Chimneys then sold a half interest in the colt to Ron Winchell's Winchell Thoroughbreds. Gun Runner was trained by Steve Asmussen. He retired to Three Chimneys Farm in 2018 following the Pegasus World Cup to begin his stud career.
Pedigree notes
Gun Runner is inbred 4x4 to 1981 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Fappiano, one of Mr. Prospector's most important sire sons, and 4x5 to multiple European champion Blushing Groom, a champion sire, juvenile sire and broodmare sire in England. He is also inbred 5x4 to multiple French Group 1 winner Lyphard, a first-rate sire by the epochal sire of sires Northern Dancer.
Gun Runner is the first foal of 2011 Hill 'n' Dale Molly Pitcher Stakes (USA-G2) winner Quiet Giant, a half sister to 2005 American Horse of the Year Saint Liam (by Saint Ballado) and to 2018 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Funtastic (by More Than Ready). Quiet Giant is also a half sister to 2004 Bay Meadows Derby (USA-G3) winner Congressionalhonor (by Forestry); to stakes winner Dance Quietly (by A.P. Indy; dam of listed stakes winner Dance d'Oro, by Medaglia d'Oro); to Beatem Buster (by Honour and Glory), dam of 2011 Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1) winner Buster's Ready (by More Than Ready); and to Quiet Now (by Tiznow), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Lull (by War Front).
Quiet Giant and her siblings are out of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Quiet Dance (by Quiet American), whose half sister Fog Dance (by Unbridled's Song) is the dam of 2012 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner Rolling Fog (by Posse). Quiet Dance, in turn, is out of Misty Dancer, a half sister to 1986 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Minstrella (by The Minstrel). Minstrella, a successful broodmare, produced Grade 3 winners Minidar (by Alydar; dam of Grade 2 winner A Little Warm, by Stormin Fever) and Colonial Minstrel (by Pleasant Colony; dam of stakes winners Storm Minstrel, by Storm Cat, and Grand Minstrel, by Grand Slam) as well as multiple listed stakes winner Unrestrained (by Unbridled). In addition, Minstrella produced Minicolony (by Pleasant Colony), dam of Grade 3 winner Almasty (by Scat Daddy), and Colonella (by Pleasant Colony), dam of Grade 3 winner Pleasant Strike (by Smart Strike).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Tim Stephansen during the 2016 Matt Winn Stakes. Used by permission.
Last updated: May 5, 2024
Race record
19 starts, 12 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$15,988,500
2016:
- Won Clark Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Veterans Ford Risen Star Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Matt Winn Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (USA-G1, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Pennsylvania Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Parx Racing)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
2017:
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- Won Whitney Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Razorback Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
- 2nd Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (UAE-G1, 2000mD, Meydan)
2018:
- Won Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2024)
- Eclipse Award, American Horse of the Year (2017)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older male (2017)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion older male (2018)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform US rating of 142 pounds for his performance in the 2017 Woodward Stakes, the highest rating ever given for a race in the United States.
Gun Runner tied with Cracksman for third place on the 2017 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings with a rating of 130 pounds, 4 pounds below the 134 pounds Arrogate earned for his victory in the Dubai World Cup and three pounds below the great Australian mare Winx (who earned the year's highest rating for a performance on turf).
Gun Runner received a rating of 127 pounds from the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for his performance in the 2018 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes, enough to tie him for fourth in year-end rankings with 2018 European Horse of the Year Roaring Lion and Hong Kong star Beauty Generation.
As an individual
A well-balanced, attractive chestnut with a beautifully chiseled head, Gun Runner has an excellent shoulder and a strong hind leg and is a fluid mover with a light way of going. His chief weapon on the racetrack was his high cruising speed, and he typically ran on or close to the pace. His two unplaced performances were both over off going. He shipped well and held his weight well during his racing campaigns. Those personally familiar with him describe him as highly intelligent with a bit of fire. He enjoys baby carrots as a treat.
As a stallion
Gun Runner stood his first season in 2018.
Notable progeny
Cyberknife (USA), Early Voting (USA), Echo Zulu (USA), Gun Pilot (USA), Gunite (USA), Locked (USA), Sierra Leone (USA), Society (USA), Taiba (USA), Vahva (USA)
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 3rd on the North American general sire list in 2022; 4th in 2023.
- Led the North American juvenile sire list in 2021.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 2023; 5th in 2022.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 2021.
- Led the American freshman sire list in 2021.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Gun Runner was bred by Benjamin Leon Jr.'s Besilu Stables. He was purchased by Three Chimneys Farm in 2014 as part of a package deal in which Three Chimneys bought majority interests in much of Besilu's bloodstock. Three Chimneys then sold a half interest in the colt to Ron Winchell's Winchell Thoroughbreds. Gun Runner was trained by Steve Asmussen. He retired to Three Chimneys Farm in 2018 following the Pegasus World Cup to begin his stud career.
Pedigree notes
Gun Runner is inbred 4x4 to 1981 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Fappiano, one of Mr. Prospector's most important sire sons, and 4x5 to multiple European champion Blushing Groom, a champion sire, juvenile sire and broodmare sire in England. He is also inbred 5x4 to multiple French Group 1 winner Lyphard, a first-rate sire by the epochal sire of sires Northern Dancer.
Gun Runner is the first foal of 2011 Hill 'n' Dale Molly Pitcher Stakes (USA-G2) winner Quiet Giant, a half sister to 2005 American Horse of the Year Saint Liam (by Saint Ballado) and to 2018 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Funtastic (by More Than Ready). Quiet Giant is also a half sister to 2004 Bay Meadows Derby (USA-G3) winner Congressionalhonor (by Forestry); to stakes winner Dance Quietly (by A.P. Indy; dam of listed stakes winner Dance d'Oro, by Medaglia d'Oro); to Beatem Buster (by Honour and Glory), dam of 2011 Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1) winner Buster's Ready (by More Than Ready); and to Quiet Now (by Tiznow), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Lull (by War Front).
Quiet Giant and her siblings are out of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Quiet Dance (by Quiet American), whose half sister Fog Dance (by Unbridled's Song) is the dam of 2012 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner Rolling Fog (by Posse). Quiet Dance, in turn, is out of Misty Dancer, a half sister to 1986 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Minstrella (by The Minstrel). Minstrella, a successful broodmare, produced Grade 3 winners Minidar (by Alydar; dam of Grade 2 winner A Little Warm, by Stormin Fever) and Colonial Minstrel (by Pleasant Colony; dam of stakes winners Storm Minstrel, by Storm Cat, and Grand Minstrel, by Grand Slam) as well as multiple listed stakes winner Unrestrained (by Unbridled). In addition, Minstrella produced Minicolony (by Pleasant Colony), dam of Grade 3 winner Almasty (by Scat Daddy), and Colonella (by Pleasant Colony), dam of Grade 3 winner Pleasant Strike (by Smart Strike).
Fun facts
- Gun Runner ran the final half-mile of the 2017 Whitney Stakes with a horseshoe entangled in his tail. The shoe, which had been thrown by rival Cautious Giant, was tossed away by Steve Asmussen's assistant Scott Blasi, who after learning the circumstances paid US$100 to the fan who had picked up the shoe to get it back. The shoe eventually ended up in the possession of Asmussen's children, adding to the racing memorabilia their father has collected.
- Gun Runner was the third American Horse of the Year trained by Steve Asmussen. The others were Curlin (2007-2008) and Rachel Alexandra (2009).
- Gun Runner received a rare honor when he was named as an Eclipse Award finalist in the older male category off just a single 2018 start---the 2018 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes, which took place all the way back in January and would normally be "out of sight, out of mind" a year later.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Tim Stephansen during the 2016 Matt Winn Stakes. Used by permission.
Last updated: May 5, 2024