Meet the Contenders: 2023 Gun Runner Stakes
Nash at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
Meet the horses running in the 2023 Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography)
#1 Next Level **
Pro: Exits game maiden win at Fair Grounds; Grade 1-placed
Con: Faces class check following pair of slow route efforts
Catching Freedom at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#2 Catching Freedom ***
Pro: Sharp debut winner may show more after troubled trip
Con: Late runner must work out trip, trouble cost him
Risk It (Photo by Adam Coglianese)
#3 Risk It **
Pro: Grade 3 runner-up caught in traffic last time, adds Rosario
Con: Best effort at 6f, two turns a question despite pedigree
Gun Runner holds off Foreveamo (Photo by Fair Grounds)
#4 Neat *
Pro: Constitution colt switches to dirt off pair of sharp turf wins
Con: Modest numbers on turf, surface switch a legit question
Footprint at Keenland (Photo by Coady Photography)
#5 Footprint *
Pro: Convincing debut winner exits runner-up vs alw rivals
Con: Must show more to contend vs stakes foes
Nash at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#6 Nash *****
Pro: Rolled to fast 10-length maiden win; imposing front-end presence
Con: Other speed entered, must work out trip on class hike
Snead at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#7 Snead **
Pro: Improving closer switched to dirt with pair of convincing wins
Con: Must run faster to offer serious challenge in stakes debut
Track Phantom breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#8 Track Phantom ***
Pro: Stretched to two turns with sharp frontrunning maiden win
Con: Steps up, dominated on soft fractions last time
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