Tapit, the runaway leading sire of the 2017 Keeneland September sale, saw his last yearling of the auction go through the ring Sept. 16. Mike Ryan paid $300,000 for a colt that is a half brother to grade 1 winner Pyro.
Gun Runner continued his wash, rinse, repeat pattern of excellence Sept. 2 when the chestnut stunner rolled past pacesetter Neolithic on the far turn and drew off to capture the Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) by open lengths.
After a less-than-ideal trip resulted in a second-place finish in the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3), Copper Bullet delivered a professional effort to win the $200,000 Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Coors Light (G2) Aug. 13.
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys' Gun Runner turned in his penultimate work July 23 for the $1.2 million Whitney Stakes (G1) Aug. 5, with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.01 over the main track at Saratoga Race Course.
Gun Runner is set to make his first start since finishing second to champion Arrogate in the March 25 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), and looms as the overwhelming favorite in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1).
Gun Runner lost the battle to Arrogate in the Dubai World Cup (G1), but connections of the son of Candy Ride are already planning for at least one rematch in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 4 at Del Mar.
No one questions whether Gun Runner will show up in the Dubai World Cup. What he'll answer at Meydan Racecourse is whether his best is good enough to challenge the favorite Arrogate, who is so far without peer.
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner elicited the usual strong reviews for his final work before shipping for the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), covering six furlongs in 1:12 March 11.
After turning in his first workout since capturing the Feb. 20 Razorback Handicap (G3) in his seasonal bow, Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner let his connections know he is willing to be Dubai bound.
With the entire Fair Grounds backstretch currently under quarantine due to an EHV-1 outbreak, no horses are permitted to ship in or out of the track—an issue that could complicate hopes to run Gun Runner in the Pegasus World Cup (G1).
The complexion of two of the biggest stakes on Churchill Downs' fall schedule hinges on whether a pair of Breeders' Cup runners-up take one more stab at ending their 2016 campaigns on winning notes.
The Steve Asmussen pair of classic winner Creator and multiple grade II winner Gun Runner each worked a half-mile Aug. 8 on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga.
Untapable, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2014, has been retired, owner Ron Winchell of Winchell Thoroughbreds said June 19.
The graded stakes-winning son of Candy Ride makes his first start since a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Steve Asmussen officially took Gun Runner, the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner who finished third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), out of consideration for the May 21 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) the morning of May 17.
Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner Gun Runner completed his major work before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with an easy half-mile breeze May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Undefeated Taxable and four other entrants will vie with Stonestreet's runner on a win streak for a total of 170 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) points in the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. III) April 9 at Oaklawn.
Louisiana-based owners and a Louisiana-based trainer hope the home cooking works for their Mo Tom, who hopes to turn the tables on Gun Runner in the March 26 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds
Miller Racing's Call Pat ran down champion Untapable with a powerful closing kick March 19 to win the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park.
Winchell Thoroughbreds' champion racemare is set for her return to the races for the second year in a row in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II) March 19 at Oaklawn Park.
Winchell Thoroughbreds' champion Untapable moved closer to her 5-year-old debut by working five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 over a sloppy surface the morning of March 1 at Oaklawn Park.
This week we take a closer look at Gun Runner, winner of the $400,000 Veterans Ford Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) on Feb. 20 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Backstretch talk of Gun Runner being an improving 3-year-old proved true Feb. 20 as he opened his 2016 season with a victory in the $400,000 Veterans Ford Risen Star Stakes (gr. II).
The 5-year-old daughter of Tapit returned to the worktab with a four-furlong breeze in :52 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 28 and is gearing up for a 2016 racing campaign.
Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) contender Untapable was withdrawn from the Oct. 30 race for fillies and mares the morning of Oct. 27 after the champion 2014 Distaff winner spiked a temperature.
In the early morning hours, Asmussen worked Untapable, Tapiture, Holy Boss, and Nickname for their respective Breeders' Cup races.
Untapable was a dominating winner of the 2014 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) but has underwhelmed thus far this season. She gets a chance at redemption when she goes for a Distaff repeat Oct. 30.
A pair of Winchell Thoroughbreds' leading contenders for the Breeders' Cup were on the track at Keeneland early Oct. 18, with Untapable breezing five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 and Tapiture getting the same distance in 1:00 3/5.
In a rare matchup of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winners, Winchell Thoroughbreds' Untapable and Brereton Jones' Lovely Maria were entered Thursday as part of a field of nine fillies and mares for the 60th Spinster.
After rallying from seventh to win her stakes debut in the Pocahontas Stakes (gr. II) Sept. 12 at Churchill Downs, Dothraki Queen will try for a victory at the highest level Friday, Oct. 2 in the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades.
Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tapiture returned to winning form Sept. 26 at Churchill Downs, gamely holding off favored Viva Majorca to win the $100,000 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III).
Still looking to find his stride in 2015, Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tapiture will dial back to try a one-turn turn mile in the $100,000 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) Sept. 26 at Churchill Downs.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey were named National Owner of the Year and National Breeder of the Year the evening of Sept. 11 during the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association national awards dinner held at Hill 'n' Dale Farms.
Tapiture, Winchell Thoroughbreds' multiple grade II-winning son Tapit, will stand at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington following the 2015 racing season.
Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) victress Just Wicked heads a field of eight for the $200,000 Pocahontas (gr. II) Sept. 12 at Churchill Downs, an event that officially launches the 2015-16 Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
Just Wicked was content to let Tonasah set the pace in the $200,000 Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 15 at Saratoga Race Course, but when it came down to a stirring stretch duel, the 2-year-old Tapit filly would not be denied.
Decked Out, with a pair of 91 Equibase Speed Figures under her belt, holds the experience edge in Saratoga's Aug. 15 Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-old fillies.
Champion Untapable will seek class relief in the $200,000 Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course, coming off a five-length loss to Wedding Toast in the June 6 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park.
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association July 6 named many of those who will be honored at its National Awards Dinner Sept. 11 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington.
Untapable will try to unleash the same form that saw her cruise to victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) when the champion daughter of Tapit returns from a short layoff in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (gr. I).
Two-time grade II winner Honor Code remains on track for his scheduled start in the $1.25 million NYRA.com Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) June 6 at Belmont Park.
Winchell Thoroughbreds' Eclipse Award-winner Untapable remains on track for the June 6 $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park after working five furlongs in 1:00.84 at June 25 at Belmont.
Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Untapable, winner of last year's Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), breezed five furlongs May 11, and on May 14 was shipped to Belmont Park to prepare for the Ogden Phipps Handicap.
Workouts of note May 4 included last year's 3-year-old champion filly Untapable and grade I winner Lea, who both worked in Kentucky.
Fun House was named Kentucky broodmare of the year for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, which took home four awards at the April 16 Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Kentucky-bred champions awards luncheon.
Champion Untapable moved to take charge at the top of the stretch after rating in fourth early and drew clear to win $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 10 at Oaklawn Park.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said champion Untapable exited her runner-up effort in the $300,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II) March 14 in good condition and will remain in training at Oaklawn Park until early April.
Untapable wasn't unstoppable in her season debut March 14, missing the victory by half a length to gate-to-wire winner Gold Medal Dancer in the $300,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park.
Last year's 3-year-old filly champion and Breeders' Cup Distaff winner faces five opponents in 1 1/16-mile test at Oaklawn Park.
Two-time grade II winner Tapiture, who closed out last season with a runner-up finish to Goldencents in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I), is scheduled to make his 4-year-old season debut March 14, in the Razorback H.
