Churchill Downs witnessed a commanding debut performance Friday as Spice Runner, a full-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Gunite, validated his 1-4 favoritism with a comfortable victory in a maiden special weight contest.
The 2-year-old Gun Runner colt, homebred by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, pulled away to win by 2 1/4 lengths in the $114,600 five-furlong sprint, completing the distance in :58.36 on a fast track.
Breaking from the outside post in a field reduced to five juveniles, Spice Runner displayed exceptional gate speed under jockey Jose Ortiz. Rather than utilizing that early speed to set the pace, Ortiz positioned the colt three-wide just off the leaders.
The Steve Asmussen trainee traveled smoothly around the turn and accelerated when asked in upper stretch. Despite racing on his incorrect lead past the eighth pole, Spice Runner eventually switched leads and drew clear professionally.
Spice Runner continues the impressive production record of his dam Simple Surprise (by Cowboy Cal), who has already produced multiple graded stakes winner Gunite ($2,493,009). Gunite has compiled an impressive resume as a multiple Grade 1 winner in the United States with Group 1 placing in the UAE and graded stakes placing in Saudi Arabia.
The colt’s second dam Simplify (Pulpit) was a stakes winner at Saratoga and placed in the GIII Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2009. She has produced seven winners from nine foals to race, including juvenile stakes winner Optionality and GIII Monmouth Cup third-place finisher Counterspy.
Simple Surprise foaled another full-brother to Spice Runner and Gunite this past February 16.
The victory earned Spice Runner $69,000 for his connections.
Spice Runner scores in R2 at @churchilldowns under @jose93_ortiz for trainer Steve Asmussen! 💪
🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/mNrCoanQSy
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires)
Spice Runner scores in R2 at May 23, 2025
