Three Chimneys Farm's GUN RANGE (c, 3, Gun Runner–Bella Carina, by War Front) went up to the leading duo three abreast at the midstretch marker and kicked home to score by five convincing lengths, giving trainer Wesley Ward his 300th training victory at Keeneland. He is just the third to accomplish that particular feat, joining Bill Mott and Rusty Arnold.
“This is such a special place,” Ward told FanDuel TV. “When I came here 19 years ago, I knew this was a place for me. It's such a wonderful, wonderful place to be.”
Bet in half from his morning line of 6-1 to be off at odds of 16-5, the homebred broke alertly from an outside gate and settled just off the early pace established by rail-runner Island Town (Echo Town) and the debuting National Charter (Constitution) through the opening quarter in :22.16.
Given his cue three or four wide on the swing for home, Gun Range began to zero in on the leaders while racing on his left lead approaching the eighth pole and kicked on nicely once switching his legs to score by daylight.
“He's always been a special colt,” Ward added. “Thankful to Doug Cauthen and Goncalo Torrealba for giving me such a nice colt. I saw him as a yearling and knew he was one for me.”
A half-brother to Tempus Volat (Not This Time), SW & GSP, $200,558; and Delahaye (Medaglia d'Oro), GSW, $490,815, Gun Range is out of a daughter of SW Grand Prayer (Grand Slam), whose notable produce includes MGSW & GISP Valid (Medaglia d'Oro) and GI Ruffian Handicap winner Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon), the dam of recent Jimmy Winkfield Stakes winner Igniter (Volatile). The third dam features GISW Swagger Jack (Smart Strike) and MGSW Tap Dance (Pleasant Tap). Bella Carina produced full-sisters to Gun Range last year and this season.
9th-Keeneland, $110,000, Msw, 4-24, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.71, ft, 5 lengths.
GUN RANGE (c, 3, Gun Runner–Bella Carina, by War Front) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $64,790. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Three Chimneys Farm (KY); T-Wesley A Ward.
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