Monday’s Racing Insights: Pricey Gun Runner Filly Debuts at Churchill

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4th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 2:13 p.m.
Heider Family Stables' STUNNINGLY (Gun Runner) makes her first trip to the post Monday for trainer Steve Asmussen. Out of stakes winner Happy Mesa (Sky Mesa), the chestnut filly was a $675,000 Keeneland September acquisition.
Trainer Mark Casse sends outs firster Forever Dixie (Quality Road). The John Oxley homebred is a daughter of graded winner Dixie Strike (Dixie Union). Ken McPeek saddles the debuting Aunt Mischief (Into Mischief), a daughter of Grade I placed Motown Lady (Uncle Mo). TJCIS PPs

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Mott Reveals A Major Goal For Stephen Foster Winner Olympiad

Olympiad is set to head back to his summer home of Saratoga in the coming days after his impressive 2 ¼-length score in $750,000 Stephen Foster (G2) Saturday at Churchill Downs

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott for Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, and LNJ Foxwoods, Olympiad recorded his fifth-consecutive victory with his win in the Stephen Foster.

The talented 4-year-old son of Speightstown was doing well Sunday morning, according to Mott's longtime assistant Kenny McCarthy.

Olympiad was stabled next to fellow Saratoga-based shipper Cody's Wish, who will start in $175,000 Hanshin Stakes at Churchill. Both colts are slated to van back to Saratoga after Monday's card.

Mott reported Olympiad is likely to target the Aug. 6 Whitney (G1) as his next start.

“The goal is to get him a Grade 1 win,” Mott said. “We've always thought about running him in the Whitney. So I'd say that would be the next likely target.”

The victory in the Stephen Foster, a Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” qualifier, earned Olympiad a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the $6 million Longines Classic (GI), which is scheduled for November 5 at Keeneland

Olympiad earned a stout 109 Brisnet Speed Rating, the highest rating of a Stephen Foster winner since Noble Bird recorded the same figure in 2015. Olympiad's Stephen Foster was the fastest Brisnet Speed Rating of his career.

The Stephen Foster ended its 17-year run as Grade 1 race in 2019. In the last 10 years, the winners of the Stephen Foster have won or placed in 28 Grade 1 races (not including their wins in the Foster). Some of the top horses of the last decade that have won the Stephen Foster include Maxfield, Ron the Greek, Seeking the Soul, Tom's d'Etat, and 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner.

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Fireworks Possible: Talented Juveniles Gulfport, Andthewinneris Seek First Stakes Win In Bashford Manor

William and Corrine Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, and Whispering Oaks Farm's impressive seven-length maiden winner Gulfport will try stakes company against five rival 2-year-olds in the $175,000 Bashford Manor Stakes on Monday, July 4, at Churchill Downs.

The 121st running of the Bashford Manor, a listed stakes, will go as Race 6 of 9 with a post time of 3:18 p.m. (ET) on the track's closing day card, which will also feature the $175,000 Debutante Stakes for juvenile fillies and the $175,000 Hanshin Stakes, both also listed events.

Gulfport and three other entrants are making their stakes debuts.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Gulfport dazzled on debut June 10 at Churchill Downs. The bay son of Uncle Mo dominated eight other juveniles as the heavy 1-2 favorite, completing five furlongs in a swift :56.85 and earning a solid 92 Brisnet Speed Rating. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the return call.

Asmussen has won the Bashford Manor six times, most recently with Cazadero in 2020.

Another promising entrant is Susan Moulton's homebred debut winner Andthewinneris, who tries dirt for the first time in the Bashford Manor.

Trained by Wayne Catalano, Andthewinneris caught the eyes of many in his first start April 28 on Keeneland's turf course when he closed from 7 ¾ lengths off the early pace to win by two lengths under Flavien Prat. He earned a 79 Brisnet Speed Rating for the victory in the 5 1/2-furlong event.

The bay son of Oscar Performance has worked twice at Churchill Downs, including a swift half-mile move in :46.80, the best of 155 horses at the distance on June 18. James Graham has the mount.

Trainer Mark Casse will send out D. J. Stable's Stayhonor Goodside. The Ontario-bred son of Honor Code trounced six rivals in his debut on Woodbine's all-weather track with Kazushi Kimura aboard, romping gate to wire for a 5 ½-length victory as the 6-5 favorite. Florent Geroux has the mount.

Owen's Leap, trained by Tom Amoss, captured his debut May 27 at Churchill Downs with Edgar Morales in the irons. The Bolt d'Oro colt won by 1 ¾ lengths going five furlongs.

Two other entrants have previous stakes experience: Mr. Gordy and Simply Super, both unplaced (fourth and eighth, respectively) behind Tom's Regret in the five-furlong Kentucky Juvenile Stakes May 5 at Churchill. Each won their respective debuts: Mr. Gordy, a son of Mo Town, on April 13 at Keeneland; Simply Super, by Super Saver, on April 20 at the Lexington track.

All runners carry 120 pounds.

$175,000 Bashford Manor Stakes in post-position order (with jockey and trainer):

  1. Gulfport (Brian Hernandez Jr., Steve Asmussen)
  2. Owen's Leap (Edgar Morales, Tom Amoss)
  3. Andthewinneris (James Graham, Wayne Catalano)
  4. Mr. Gordy (Gerardo Corrales, John Hancock)
  5. Stayhonor Goodside (Florent Geroux, Mark Casse)
  6. Simply Super (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker)

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