Gun Runner Colt Hall of Fame Romps to ‘TDN Rising Stardom’ at Fair Grounds

Hall of Fame (c, 3, Gun Runner–Flag Day, by Giant's Causeway), a $1.4-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase, ran to his lofty purchase price with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen at second asking at Fair Grounds Saturday.

The 4-5 favorite was ridden early while passing the stands for the first time and secured a tracking trip in a joint second through a quarter mile in :23.30. He turned up the heat beneath Joel Rosario while racing on the inside of the leader heading into the far turn, hit the front approaching the quarter pole and opened daylight from there to win by 10 1/4 lengths over Sweetalkingbourbon (Twirling Candy). He becomes the 10th 'Rising Star' for Gun Runner.

Hall of Fame, one of seven by Gun Runner to bring seven figures at the 2022 yearling sales, finished second as the favorite on debut going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs Nov. 26. He was racing with first-time Lasix on Saturday.

The unraced Flag Day, a half-sister to MGSP Street Ready (More Than Ready), had a colt by Gun Runner in 2022 ($725,000 RNA yrl '23 FTSAUG) and a colt by Constitution in 2023. She was bred to Justify for 2024. Hall of Fame is bred similarly to the recently retired MGISW Gunite (Gun Runner), who was produced by a daughter of Cowboy Cal (by Giant's Causeway).

5th-Fair Grounds, $60,000, Msw, 1-20, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.27, ft, 10 1/4 lengths.
HALL OF FAME, c, 3, by Gun Runner
                1st Dam: Flag Day, by Giant's Causeway
                2nd Dam: Sense to Compete, by Street Sense
                3rd Dam: Compete, by El Prado (Ire)
Sales history: $1,400,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $60,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Gandharvi LLC & Rocket Ship Racing, LLC; B-Earle I. Mack LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

What a performance from #4 Hall of Fame in R5 at Fair Grounds! The Steve Asmussen trainee graduates impressively at second asking under @jrosariojockey!

You may want to add this son of Gun Runner to your TwinSpires #StableAlerts!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/GhPvF6ArRI

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 20, 2024