Winchell Thoroughbreds' Disarm (Gun Runner), last seen finishing fourth in the GI Kentucky Derby, surged past Verifying (Justify) in the final strides to win the relocated GIII Matt Winn S. at Ellis Park Sunday. Sent off the even-money favorite in the race originally scheduled to be run at Churchill Downs, Disarm rated along the rail within striking distance in third as the lightly raced Bo Cruz (Creative Cause) took the field through fractions of :24.46 and :48.73 over the sloppy going. Verifying, who was tracking the pacesetter throughout, took charge with a furlong to run, but his advantage was short-lived as Disarm, tipped out three wide at the top of the lane, was finding his best gear late and glided to the lead in the final strides to win going away.
“It was a little wet today which is always concerning to see how horses would like it,” winning rider Joel Rosario said. “[Disarm] seemed to like it and got over the track well. It was a very good performance. [Trainer] Steve [Asmussen] told me to get him into position after we broke from the gate and just let him handle things on his own. At the three-eighths pole I had to start to ride him a little bit to keep position, but he responded very nicely after that and continued to do so down the lane.”
Disarm was second in the GII Louisiana Derby in March and earned his spot in the Kentucky Derby with a third-place effort in the Apr. 15 GIII Lexington S.
Pedigree Notes:
Disarm is the 11th graded winner for Gun Runner and following, Society and Wicked Halo, the third out of a mare by the Winchell family's other stallion sensation, Tapit. Also by Gun Runner out of a Tapit mare's is the Winchell's graded-placed Red Route One, who was fourth in the GI Preakness S.
Easy Tap, who the Winchells purchased for $300,000 as a yearling at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton July sale, produced a full-brother to Disarm last year and a filly by Silver State this year. Her now 4-year-old daughter Gun Slingin (Gun Runner) sold for $77,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.
Sunday, Ellis Park
MATT WINN S.-GIII, $400,000, Ellis, 6-11, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.59, sy.
1–DISARM, 118, c, 3, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Easy Tap, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Easily, by Vicar
3rd Dam: White Jasmine, by Whitesburg
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $242,850. Lifetime Record: 7-2-2-2, $720,700. *1/2 to Tap Daddy (Scat Daddy), Ch. Stayer-Ven, SW & GSP-USA, MSW-Ven, $252,384; 1/2 to Total Tap (Candy Ride {Arg}), MSP, $221,112. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Verifying, 118, c, 3, Justify–Diva Delite, by Repent. ($775,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor; B-Hunter Valley & Mountmellick Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $78,500.
3–Bo Cruz, 118, c, 3, Creative Cause–Quick Breeze, by Ghostzapper. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($45,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Skyscraper Racing, LLC, Racingwithbruno, Brian Pagano, and Patrick Grippo; B-Douglas Scharbauer (KY); T-Albert M. Stall, Jr.. $39,250.
Margins: HF, 4 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.12, 2.26, 4.06.
Also Ran: Raise Cain, Denington, Go Soldier Go, King Russell.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs.
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