Tag: Ron Winchell

Winchell Homebred Recharge Collects 20 Kentucky Oaks Points At Sunland

Recharge (Gun Runner) wound up banking 20 points in her Kentucky Oaks checking account after she got the money at Sunland Park on Sunday afternoon.

The homebred arrived in El Paso with two wins to her credit in as many races. Breaking her maiden by nine lengths in mid-December at Remington Park, the filly shipped to Houston and passed the two-turn test when she cleared the allowance ranks with a 4-3/4 win Jan. 21.

Sent on her way at odds of 2-1 here, the 3-year-old established a lead heading into the first turn and continued to modulate the pace up front along the backstretch. With the field bearing down on her position around the far turn, Recharge responded to Joel Rosario's urging past the eighth pole, turned back a major challenge from Candy Aisle (Gun Runner) and poked her head across the wire in time.

The winner has a 2-year-old full-brother named Remix and a yearling half-brother by Silver State. A full-sister to MGSW and sire Tapiture, and also to SW Retap and GSW Rotation, Remit was bred to Epicenter for this season.

SUNLAND PARK OAKS, $250,000, Sunland, 2-18, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:37.27, ft.
1–RECHARGE, 121, f, 3, by Gun Runner
                1st Dam: Remit (MSW, $257,556), by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Free Spin, by Olympio
                3rd Dam: Spin n Win, by Private Account
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $148,500. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $189,498. *1/2 to Reride (Candy Ride {Arg}), MSW-USA, GSP-UAE, $461,010; 1/2 to Finite (Munnings), MGSW & GISP, $849,869.
2–Candy Aisle, 121, f, 3, Gun Runner–Rosalie Road, by Street Cry (Ire). ($250,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $350,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Randy Andrews, Jim Cone, Brad King and Lee Lewis; B-Gun Runner Syndicate & C. W. Swann (KY); T-Todd W. Fincher. $54,450.
3–Simply Enchanting, 121, f, 3, Nyquist–Enchante, by Bluegrass Cat. ($475,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-MyRacehorse, Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC and Platts, Joey; B-Jumping Jack Racing LLC (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $24,750.
Margins: NK, 4, 4. Odds: 2.30, 2.30, 0.90.
Also Ran: Methods, Raspberry Wine. Scratched: Floating Beauty.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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First Grade I Race Elevates Kentucky Downs Program

Kentucky Downs will host the first Grade I event in its history next year with the elevation of the GI Franklin-Simpson S. announced Saturday by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

“Ownership is laser-focused on the continued elevation of the racing product at their track, and we're appreciative of the recognition by the American Graded Stakes Committee,” Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' Vice President for Racing, said in a press release Sunday. “As delighted as we are about finally getting a Grade I stakes, it's more about the ascent of our entire racing program, with the Franklin-Simpson an exciting result. While we have offered among the highest purses in the world for several years, bringing it all together is the way the horsemen–owners and trainers–have embraced us.”

Under the ownership headed by Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone the past four years, Kentucky Downs has added four Grade III stakes, its first (now at four) Grade II races and its first Grade I.

“Kentucky Downs was a strong regional track when we took over ownership, and our immediate focus was to try to make it more national,” Winchell said. “With our first Grade I and with four Grade II races among our nine graded stakes, we've become entrenched in the national conversation. Our goal now is to make Kentucky Downs an international destination. Part of that is working hard to continue the upward migration of our stakes. We want the Franklin-Simpson to be our first–but not only–Grade I.”

Kentucky Downs' first graded stakes was the Kentucky Turf Cup, back in 2001. The track did not receive another graded stakes until 2017, when it added two. The Franklin-Simpson earned its first grading for 2019, advancing to a Grade II for 2021. The Music City S., run for the first time in 2020, was conducted as a Grade III for the first time this year and will be a Grade II event in 2024.

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Gunite Retired to Ashford; Stud Fee Set at $35k

Gunite (Gun Runner–Simple Surprise, by Cowboy Cal), a two-time Grade I winner and runner-up behind champion Elite Power (Curlin) in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, has been retired from racing and will stand at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud for 2024. His fee has been set at $35,000.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, the Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred defeated the aforementioned two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint winner in this summer's GI Forego S. at Saratoga. Gunite also won the GI Hopeful S. during his 2-year-old season and the GII Amsterdam S. at three, both at Saratoga. His loaded resume also includes a close second to Elite Power in this summer's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H., a runner-up finish in the 2022 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. and a third-place finish in this year's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

“Gunite is extremely important to horse racing in the current climate,” Asmussen said. “He was Gun Runner's first starter for us in April of his 2-year-old year and ran six times in his juvenile campaign and won the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga. He then travelled to California to work with the brilliant Echo Zulu because he is the only thing that I had that could be comparable company for her, and he won four stakes races at Churchill, Keeneland and Saratoga. As a 4-year-old, he then travelled to Saudi Arabia and Dubai and competed at the highest level and returned to the U.S. to beat his rival Elite Power in the Grade I Forego S. at Saratoga. He is a very special horse to race at the level he has for as long as he has and do it consistently.”

Asmussen added, “I'm a walking infomercial for Gunite. I apologize in advance. I am such a huge fan of his. The story of Gunite is so unique as in the first crop of Gun Runners, in Laredo, I laugh at it to myself because you want Gun Runner to do well, and you're nervous as to whether they'll be any good when they're yearlings. They all look good, but we all know how looking good and running can be different. And looking around the barn at my dad's place over the holidays at the Gun Runners, and Gunite's out of a nice precocious family we've had success with, and I immediately identify him as the Gun Runner you're going to come out with. He was our first starter for Gun Runner, in April of his 2-year-old year. He ends up running six times as a 2-year-old, second in the Saratoga Special, wins the Hopeful at Saratoga, and I reward him off of six runs and a Grade I win at Saratoga by taking him to California because I don't want to change Echo Zulu's workmate leading into the Breeders' Cup. So not only does he have the six runs as a 2-year-old, he's got three stiff works with her, because he's the only thing good enough to work with her leading up the Breeders' Cup, and then as a 3-year-old, he wins three stakes, at Churchill, Keeneland, and another graded stake at Saratoga. And then as a 4-year-old, he goes to Saudi, Dubai, wins another Grade I at Saratoga against Elite Power, finishes off 21 races with 17 firsts and seconds at the highest level, running I believe a 2 3/4 Rag in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, and is enough horse to pass the regulatory veterinarian scenario that we're racing under now. That's how important a horse to racing he is now. He's unbelievable. Needless to say, I am a huge fan of his. He's still running 3 Rags at this stage of his career. Incredilble.”

What qualities will make him a good stallion?

“First and foremost, his ability,” Asmussen said. “He's obviously got a tremendous amount of ability. He's extremely attractive. He's very correct. He's unbelievably sound. He is everything horse racing needs right now. For me, he's got tremendous balance. He's very smooth. He's a very athletic horse, smooth as can be, great balance. He looks a picture from all angles. Just great constitution. Always a tremendous appetite, no matter where in the world he is, day before the race or the day after. He's very strong mentally and physically. Unbelievably honest. Extremely straightforward, has a ton of confidence about him, not overly aggressive, but always, always capable if needed. How important he is under the current climate is what's amazing. Six runs as a 2-year-old, starting in April racing at that level, running his fastest he's ever run on his 21st run, on seven or eight different surfaces at the highest level.”

Owner/breeder Ron Winchell added, “Like many of the Gun Runners, Gunite got better and better throughout his racing career and gave us many great days. We also raced his first and second dams and they were both stakes winners at Saratoga. Gunite has retired sound and I very much look forward to supporting him at stud.”

“He was unusual in that he was top class at two, three and four, he was one of the best sprinters in the country and had top Beyer figures of 108 at both Saratoga and Churchill,” said Ashford's Director of Sales Charlie O'Connor. “He's a very good-looking horse and we can't wait for breeders to see him.”

Gunite retires with a record of 21-9-8-2 and earnings of $2,493,009.

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Wagering Up 4.3% at Kentucky Downs

Edited Press Release

The key indicators to measure the success of a race meet were either up or maintained a lofty level at the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs, which came to a close Wednesday.

Purses paid out to horse owners were a record for the 12th straight year. Money wagered was another record, increasing 4.3%. Field sizes remained among the highest in the country with an average of 10.42 starters per race.

“Kentucky Downs' ownership led by Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone continually pushes us to present racing in a different way, to look for ways to innovate and improve,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' Vice President for Racing. “We put a premium on creating a memorable experience for our guests, horsemen and our sponsors. Horse owners put on the show. We want to show our recognition and appreciation for that with our hospitality.”

All-sources wagering on the meet totaled $83,640,261, up from $80,175,928 last year. A total of $25,065,000 was offered in purses for 76 races, including $10,523,750 in purse supplements from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Of the 11 stakes offering $1 million or more in purses, 10 were won by Kentucky-breds.

Total purses paid out this meet is still being verified but is certain to top last year's $17,863,177 for 73 races. Seventy-two different ownership entities won races.

Damon Thayer, Kentucky's Senate Majority Floor Leader, has seen up close the transformation of Kentucky Downs.

“Yes, the financial success is there with the handle being up,” said Thayer, who attended five of the meet's seven days. “But it also has a cool vibe factor going for it. I also think the prestige of the meet is starting to get baked in across North America. It used to be kind of a quirky, novelty track, and there were some people who wouldn't run here. Now everybody is coming. All the jockeys are here, all the trainers, the big outfits. It exemplifies what's going right with Kentucky racing.”

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