Clairita (Gun Runner) broke last but finished a respectable third beaten 2 1/2 lengths in her Keeneland debut going this distance on a fast main track Oct. 17. Meant for the turf Friday but rained onto the slop under the Twin Spires, the 6-5 favorite got off to a smoother beginning and found herself fourth in the leading pack around the clubhouse turn as Lady Iva (Uncle Mo), who drew in off the also-eligible list, set a tempo of :24.07 and :48.79.
Making steady progress towards the front on the run past the half-mile pole, Clairita hit the front three furlongs from home, put away a mild challenge from Miss Pharoah (American Pharoah) and opened up with style into the stretch, pulling away in a romp to graduate by 12 lengths.
A $375,000 Keeneland September yearling, Clairita is a half-sister to both Uncapped (First Samurai), GSP, $262,302 and Wicked Lick (Maclean's Music), GSP, $230,429. Yet another half-sister, Vindictive Ways (Broken Vow), produced SP Gram (Maclean's Music). First dam Here Music is herself a half to both GSW Noble Moon (Malibu Moon) and MGSP Mambo Fever (Stormin Fever). Now a producer of six winners from seven to race, Here Music has a winning 2-year-old of this year in Bert's Knoty Girl (Mitole) reported a filly by Essential Quality this year. She visited Early Voting for her 2026 cover.
8th-Churchill Downs, $117,975, Msw, 11-21, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m (off turf), 1:45.59, sy, 12 lengths.
CLAIRITA (f, 3, Gun Runner–Here Music, by Dehere) Sales History: $375,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $80,025. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Rigney Racing LLC; B-Lee P. Mauberret & Cheryl Mauberret (KY); T-Philip A. Bauer.
Clairita is dominant in R8 at @churchilldowns for trainer Phil Bauer with @gabe__saez in the irons! 🌟
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/O5cNcRHJ96
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 21, 2025
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