John Gunther

Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile), a half-brother to undefeated Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy), took one more try than his brother did, but followed in that Horse of the Year's hoofprints with a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy graduation at Keeneland Saturday. Runner-up to another impressive 'TDN Rising Star' in Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) in his seven-panel debut at Gulfstream Jan. 23, the bay was hammered down to 9-5 favoritism to get the money this time. Breaking on top, the Gunther homebred was overtaken by a pair of foes just before the...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 11th-KEE, $79K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 6:38 p.m. ET A pair of Pioneerof the Nile brothers to high-profile champions look to go one better off of runner-up debuts to close out the Keeneland card Saturday. John Gunther homebred Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) is half to none other than Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) as well as the ill-fated GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense). A $950,000 Keeneland September RNA, the Chad Brown trainee was beaten 8 1/2 lengths by super impressive 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence...

He has bred a Triple Crown winner, but John Gunther has yet to have his first superstar as an owner. He's hoping that may soon change. Gunther is the owner and breeder of Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile), a half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), who will make his debut in Saturday's sixth race at Gulfstream. And while no one is predicting that Stage Raider will win the Triple Crown, both Gunther and trainer Chad Brown are optimistic that the 3-year-old colt has above average talent. "He seems...

John and Tanya Gunther's Glennwood Farm produces stallions at a rate which must be the envy of some of the larger operations in the business. On its roll of honour the names of ten sires are inscribed, led of course by the Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), now ensconced on Coolmore's American roster. In 2021, the international wing of the Gunthers' operation can add a British-based stallion to its list with the return of Without Parole (GB) to his birthplace of Newsells Park Stud. The son of Frankel (GB)...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a half-brother to an American Grade I winner. 4.30 Dundalk, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, 7f (AWT) Joseph O'Brien trainee DEVIL'S OUTLAW (War Front) was led out unsold at $785,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and is a half-brother to GI American Oaks heroine Competitionofideas (Speightstown), herself a...

The Jockey Club's unilateral decision to regulate the market by imposing a mare cap on the breeding industry during a period of time when the sport of horse racing has been left staggering breathlessly against the ropes following a series of jabs, crosses and uppercuts, intensifies my fears about the future of our industry. That The Jockey Club chose to deliver this edict amid a global health crisis that threatens to bring many small breeders and operators to their knees, delivers a telling body blow. On the topic of the...

Stage Magic (Ghostzapper-Magical Illusion, by Pulpit), dam of champion Justify (Scat Daddy), produced a half-sister by Curlin to the Triple Crown winner in the early hours Tuesday at John Gunther's Glennwood Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. "We are quite excited to have a filly," Gunther's daughter Tanya said Tuesday morning. "We don't fetal sex our mares, so we never know what we are going to get. We were very keen to get a filly since we don't have one out of the mare. So that was very good news. And just...