By Jill Williams
Gun Runner, the Three Chimneys sensation whose yearlings topped the first four days of the ongoing Keeneland September sale, showed once again why he's in such demand as Spice Runner (c, 2, Gun Runner–Simple Surprise, by Cowboy Cal) captured the GIII Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs Saturday. The one-turn, one-mile Iroquois awards the first points of the 2025-26 season to the 2026 GI Kentucky Derby starting gate on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale. Comport (Collected), who had finished in front of Spice Runner in their two previous meetings, was second, while maiden winner Vost (Instagrand) finished third and 'TDN Rising Star' Nothing Personal (Violence) was fourth.
The Iroquois is run out of the chute at Churchill. As the field emerged from the early fray and stepped onto the main track, it was Ohio-bred No More Cents (Goldencents) and Comport in front, while Spice Runner sat well behind the pacesetters in midpack. No More Cents ticked off :22.69 and :46.06 fractions as Comport pressured to his outside. With three furlongs remaining, Comport kicked clear as Spice Runner ramped up and looked for a way through. Leaving the turn, the Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC homebred found it and split horses, then weaved down the stretch, swapping deftly to his wrong lead and staying there as he reeled in Comport in a perfectly timed Jose Ortiz ride. Although the margin was a head at the wire, Spice Runner gave the impression he was just getting going and galloped out strongly.
“He's definitely got room to grow,” said winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. “The tactics he set today was a good improvement. He traveled very nicely. We might have a little mental issue because I think there's more there. He has to be ridden hard to get there. It didn't look like he was going to go by at first then got a little more focused. It definitely appears the talent is there.”
A debut winner at Churchill May 23 before tiring and finishing off the board behind $1.7-million Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age topper Romeo (Honor A. P.) and Comport in the June 29 Bashford Manor Stakes, Spice Runner was second behind Comport again in the Aug. 10 Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes after setting the pace that day. He got the mile Saturday in 1:36.59.
Pedigree Notes:
After his otherworldly sales success this week, it is only fitting Gun Runner should drop a little reminder of why he is in such demand. Spice Runner, a member of just his fifth crop to race, is his 46th black-type winner and 31st graded winner. The Iroquois victor also marks Gun Runner's third 2-year-old stakes winner this summer, joining undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Del Mar Futurity winner Brant and unbeaten Blue Hen Stakes winner Jumping the Gun.
Spice Runner is a full-brother to GI Forego Stakes and GI Hopeful Stakes winner Gunite and also bred similarly to GSW Hall of Fame, who is out of a Giant's Causeway mare (Giant's Causeway is the sire of Spice Runner's broodmare sire, Cowboy Cal). Gun Runner's damsire is also Giant's Causeway, making Spice Runner and Gunite 3×3 to that son of Storm Cat, and Hall of Fame 3×2.
Simple Surprise, the dam of Spice Runner, is also a Winchell homebred, as was her dam. The mare produced another full-brother to Spice Runner and Gunite Feb. 16 and was bred back to Into Mischief for next term.
Saturday, Churchill Downs
IROQUOIS S.-GIII, $299,400, Churchill Downs, 9-13, 2yo, 1m, 1:36.59, ft.
1–SPICE RUNNER, 122, c, 2, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Simple Surprise (SW, $185,446), by Cowboy Cal
2nd Dam: Simplify, by Pulpit
3rd Dam: Classic Olympio, by Olympio
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.
O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen;
J-Jose L. Ortiz. $177,525. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $293,170.
*Full to Gunite, MGISW-USA, G1SP-UAE, GSP-KSA, $2,493,009.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Comport, 122, c, 2, Collected–Bartlett Narrows, by Flatter.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($135,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP).
O-Joseph W. Sutton; B-Edwin Anthony (KY); T-Eddie Kenneally.
$57,750.
3–Vost, 122, c, 2, Instagrand–Water White, by Conveyance.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-OXO Equine
LLC (KY); T-William Walden. $28,875.
Margins: HD, 5, 3/4. Odds: 5.19, 1.31, 5.87.
Also Ran: Nothing Personal, Maximus Prime, Shake and Rattle, Nine Ball, So Special, Sometime, No More Cents. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Spice Runner is on the Road to the Kentucky Derby! https://t.co/JY0vEeEgMb
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) September 13, 2025
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