TDN RISING STARS

December 22, 2018 - Fair Grounds, Race 4, Msw, USD $41,000, 1 1/16M

Gun It, C, 2, 2016 by Tapit

1st Dam: Miss Besilu (MGISP, $187,829), by Medaglia d'Oro
2nd Dam: Quiet Dance, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: Misty Dancer, by Lyphard

Owner: Whisper Hill Farm & Three Chimneys Farm
Breeder: Three Chimneys Farm & Besilu Stables (KY)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen

The well-bred Gun It (Tapit) made amends for a troubled-trip fourth on debut at Churchill Downs Oct. 28 with an ‘TDN Rising Star’-worthy graduation at the Fair Grounds Saturday. Sent off at 6-5, the $2.6 million KEESEP buy saved ground in mid-pack off early fractions of :24.40 and :48.54. Tipped out for a bid on the backstretch, the gray displayed some greenness, lugging in a bit at the top of the lane. However, once righted by Ricardo Santana, the May 5 foal powered clear of the field to win for fun by 4 1/4 lengths over By My Standards (Goldencents).

Gun It’s MGISP dam Miss Besilu, who was also named a ‘TDN Rising Star’ in her second-out graduation, summoned the same $2.6 million sum at auction, except she did it as a weanling at Keeneland November in 2011. It is price befitting her pedigree as Miss Besilu is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado), GISW young sire Funtastic (More Than Ready); GSW Quiet Giant (Giant’s Causeway), who is the dam of reigning Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}); GSW Congressionalhonor (Forestry); SW Dance Quietly (A.P. Indy); and the dam of MGSW Lull (War Front). Gun It is Miss Besilu’s first foal and she has since produced a yearling colt by Candy Ride (Arg) and a weanling filly by Curlin. The 7-year-old mare was bred back to Into Mischief. (Click here for Thorostride video).