Talk of the Nation unleashed a spirited stretch run and landed the most lucrative victory of his career in the $1-million Gun Runner for 3-year-olds Saturday at Kentucky Downs.
Under Jose Oritz, the Quality Road colt collared pacesetter Smokey Mandate nearing the final sixteenth, then held off the closing charge of Wadsworth to score by a half length.
Sent off the favorite in the eight-horse field, Talk of the Nation covered one-mile turf test in 1:32.93 on firm footing and returned $4.74.
Smokey Mandate finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Smokey Mandate.
Talk of the Nation scored a breakthrough stakes win March 11 in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Down and followed with a pair of runner-up finishes in the Jersey Derby June 3 and Manila Stakes (G3) in his graded debut July 7 in his start prior to the Gun Runner.
Campaigned by Joseph Allen and breeder China Horse Club and trained by Shug McGaughey, his overall record improved to 4-2-0 from seven starts. The $600,840 winner's share of the Gun Runner purse boosted his lifetime bankroll to $778,610.
Kentucky-bred Talk of the Nation was produced by the Street Cry mare She's Not Here.
The post Talk Of The Nation Bests Wadsworth For Gun Runner Triumph appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
