Gun Pilot, a Three Chimneys Farm homebred, won the Churchill Downs Stakes at 5-1 odds, marking his first Grade I victory and contributing to his sire Gun Runner’s sweep of the day’s Grade I races.
‣ Gun Pilot, a Three Chimneys Farm homebred, won the Churchill Downs Stakes, marking his first Grade I win and demonstrating the prowess of his sire, Gun Runner, by completing a sweep of the day’s seven-furlong Grade I contests.
‣ Winning jockey Cristian Torres celebrated his first Grade I victory with Gun Pilot, highlighting the effective strategy and belief in the horse’s capabilities by both trainer Steve Asmussen and the jockey, emphasizing the simplicity of their winning approach.
‣ Gun Pilot’s victory underscores the significant pedigree lineage, being the 10th Grade I winner for sire Gun Runner and showcasing the strength of Smart Strike as a broodmare sire, further enriching the pedigree value of Gun Pilot and his connections at Three Chimneys Farm.
#10 Gun Pilot hits another gear down the stretch and wins the @ChurchillDowns Stakes at odds of 5/1!
Jockey: Cristian Torres
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owner: Three Chimneys Farm LLC🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/XgDxstCsQy
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 4, 2024
Gun Pilot, a homebred from Three Chimneys Farm, really showed what he’s made of. In a thrilling moment, he burst through from between horses in the final furlong. After hanging back in midfield for most of the race, he suddenly took off. And boy, did he take off at odds of 5-1, leaving everyone in his dust. This victory handed his sire, Gun Runner, a clean sweep of the day’s Grade I contests over seven furlongs at Churchill Downs.
Now, let’s talk about Here Mi Song, who was in a head-to-head duel early on with ‘TDN Rising Star’ Zozos. It was quite the battle, but Here Mi Song managed to fight back inside to secure the exacta. Quite the performance, really.
Gun Pilot wasn’t always in the spotlight, though. Briefly on the Triple Crown trail in 2023, he found himself fifth in the GII Pat Day Mile S. on the same program. Before this big win, he had three starts over six furlongs this term. He clinched victories in allowance races at the Fair Grounds and Oaklawn. Then, there was a bit of a hiccup when he finished runner-up as the favorite in the Apr. 7 Eclipse S. in Hot Springs. But hey, every story needs a bit of a struggle, right?
Steve Asmussen couldn’t hide his excitement. “This is so special,” he said, beaming. It meant a lot, not just to him but to Mr. (Goncalo) Torrealba of Three Chimneys Farm. “This is a special horse,” Asmussen continued, his belief in Gun Pilot unwavering. Cristian (Torres), the jockey, shared this belief. They kept things simple, no fancy tactics. Just get Gun Pilot out in the middle and let him do his thing. And did that strategy pay off? Absolutely.
Torres, on cloud nine after winning his first Grade I race, was almost at a loss for words. “I don’t know what to say,” he admitted, still riding the high of victory. He’d been chasing this dream for a long time, always doing his homework, always striving to do his best. And now, with Gun Pilot, his efforts had finally paid off. “Gun Pilot is a great horse,” he said, gratitude and pride evident in his voice. The Asmussen team had played their cards right, and Torres found Gun Pilot an easy horse to ride.
Pedigree-wise, Gun Pilot is making waves as the 10th Grade I winner for Gun Runner, who’s quickly becoming a leading young sire. This victory marks Gun Runner’s 21st graded/group winner worldwide. And let’s not forget the late Smart Strike, shining through as a broodmare sire. His legacy continues with two graded winners on the program, now boasting 15 Grade I winners, including GI Kentucky Derby champs Mine That Bird and Rich Strike. Bush Pilot, Gun Pilot’s dam, was a strategic purchase by Three Chimneys Farm, adding more intrigue to this horse’s story. She’s related to MGSW Global View and had a colt by Volatile in 2023.
So, there you have it. #10 Gun Pilot, against the odds, clinched the win at Churchill Downs, making headlines and proving once again the unpredictability and sheer excitement of horse racing. Jockey Cristian Torres, trainer Steve Asmussen, and the folks at Three Chimneys Farm must be over the moon. What a race, what a horse, and what a day at Churchill Downs!
