TDN RISING STARS

August 6, 2022 - Saratoga, Race 6, Msw, USD $105,000, 7F

Disarm, C, 2, 2020 by Gun Runner

1st Dam: Easy Tap, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Easily, by Vicar
3rd Dam: White Jasmine, by Whitesburg

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC
Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY)
Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen

Disarm (c, 2, Gun Runner-Easy Tap, by Tapit), a visually impressive rallying third behind subsequent GIII Sanford S. winner Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) going 5 1/2 furlongs on debut at Churchill Downs June 19, took a big step forward to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors in his second trip to the post at Saratoga Saturday.

Drawn on the fence in this seven-furlong affair, the Winchell homebred traveled nicely on the inside in fifth through an opening quarter in :22.77. The 9-5 second-choice was tipped out three deep leaving the quarter pole and powered home in style down the stretch to graduate by 6 1/4 lengths over Arthur's Ride (Tapit). Crupi (Curlin), part of the Todd Pletcher-trained favored entry, came flying late from another zip code to just miss second.

"Lots of talent-he was highly touted coming from mom and dad's," winning trainer Steve Asmussen said on FS2's Saratoga Live. "High expectations. Didn't do much correctly first time out, just because he's a big boy. Looks like he's gonna stretch out beautifully. We will definitely get to dream with him for a while."

The Gun Runner over Tapit cross-two of the best to ever carry the maroon-and-white Winchell silks-is already responsible for last term's GII Adirondack S. heroine Wicked Halo, Monomoy Girl S. winner Society and Texas Turf Mile S. winner Red Run.

Disarm's dam Easy Tap-a $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling purchase-won one of five starts for the Winchells and Asmussen. The 12-year-old has produced Tap Daddy (Scat Daddy), a winner of Pimlico's James W. Murphy S. and runner-up in the GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. for these same connections. He was also a champion stayer in Venezuela after being sold privately. Easy Tap is also responsible for the multiple stakes-placed Total Tap (Candy Ride {Arg}) and a Gun Runner colt of this year. Easy Tap was bred back to Silver State for 2023.

For more on Disarm, click here for a recent column in Steve Sherack's 'Second Chances' series.