8th-Churchill Downs, $130,041, Alw (NW2X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 9-14, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.85, gd, 4 lengths.
GUNS LOADED (c, 3, Gun Runner–Sky My Sky {GSP-Can, GSP-USA, $204,011}, by Bernardini) debuted at the Spa during his juvenile year and overcame a stumble at the start to finish as the runner-up. Shipping to Louisville in mid-November, the colt posted an 88 Beyer and broke his maiden by 2 3/4 lengths, which resulted in him earning a 'TDN Rising Star' badge.
Guns Loaded was then seen winning the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park in early January by a neck. Well-beaten in his next pair of starts in Hallandale–the GIII Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 1 & the Hutcheson Stakes Mar. 15–the dark bay was given a break.
Returning to the racetrack under the Twin Spires as a 9-2 shot here, Guns Loaded was forced to check hard shortly after the bell which stymied his momentum as a longshot got loose on the engine. Following the lead of favorite Kalahari Dreams (Country House), who was mounting a charge to the outside around the far turn, the 'Rising Star' followed suit and was firing a big shot beginning at the top of the lane. The Jose D'Angelo trainee took over at the sixteenth pole and went on to clear the condition by four lengths over the chalk.
A $450,000 buy for Up Up & Away Stables during the 2015 OBS Spring 2-Year-Old sale, the winner's dam is responsible for unraced 2-year-old colt Rockin N Roastin (Curlin), a yearling filly by Gun Runner and a weanling colt by Flameaway. She was bred to Nyquist for next spring. The winner's second dam is a full-sister to French multiple Group 1 winner Nebraska Tornado. Sales History: $800,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 6-3-1-0, $262,878. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Morplay Racing LLC, Joey Platts and Lady Sheila Stable; B-John C. Oxley (KY); T-Jose Francisco D'Angelo.
GUNS LOADED ($11.98) sling shot by them all to claim the 8th at @ChurchillDowns. @JFDAngelo had him ready to fire. @flothejock had the call for owners @MorplayRacing, @Lady__Sheila, and Joey Platts.
Another winner for @Three_Chimneys' Gun Runner! Nice Pick by @andie_biancone. pic.twitter.com/D97ETh8VN9
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 14, 2025
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