2022 Gun Runner Stakes Cheatsheet
By TwinSpires Editorial Team, Sponsored Content
By Vance Hanson (TwinSpires.com)
1. HAYES STRIKE (7-2) – Slow starts have limited his overall effectiveness this fall, but did manage to get slices in all three of Churchill’s fall features for juveniles; third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) was especially good, given he had no pace in which to close into; half to classic-placed G3 winner Senior Investment reunites with Hernandez, who was aboard for the maiden win; some things to offer.
2. JACE’S ROAD (3-1) – Effort in the Street Sense S. looks like a tossout, given the pre-race antics of unseating Geroux and his early fade out of contention over a sloppy track; his third in the Iroquois (G3) was much more encouraging, and the winning Curly Jack was subsequently runner-up in the Kentucky Jockey Club; threat to rebound, though having Cox/Geroux in his corner will depress the price.
3. DETERMINEDLY (7-2) – Took a while for this colt to find the winner’s circle, but he when he did so it was in fine style as he turned in one of the standout performances of the Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs; carries a lot of momentum into this tougher assignment, but stretch-out should prove little hindrance and he’s seemingly fast enough with a repeat or better of his maiden win.
4. OLD ALLIANCE (10-1) – Distant third in a Keeneland allowance on Breeders’ Cup weekend in which the top two turned a lot of heads while finishing more than 18 lengths ahead of this colt; however, Giant Mischief went on to finish second in the Remington Springboard Mile, while Arabian Lion was a puzzling last in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2); winning margin on debut at Laurel was impressive enough, but done in slow time; barn off to a hot start this meet, but this one will need to quicken.
5. MAZING MARK (10-1) – Despite making only mild late impacts in a pair of maidens in Kentucky, he was bet down to 5-1 in the Jean Lafitte S. at Delta Downs and graduated in style; that doesn’t quite reflect well on the quality of that field, so he’ll need to step up his game in this tougher spot.
6. RAISE CAIN (8-1) – Ran into one of the more talented juvenile sprinters in the country in Super Chow when a distant third to that rival at Keeneland last out; we didn’t learn a lot more there off his fine maiden win earlier that meet going longer, other than perhaps he’ll be more effective more like this one; improvement needed as he takes on a few with more positive stakes experience.
7. ANDTHEWINNERIS (7-2) – Established turf performer tries the dirt again here to gauge whether he’s a legit classic prospect; no threat to Gulfport in his one prior try on the main, in the Bashford Manor S., and that rival went on to place three times in NY graded stakes; this one went back to the lawn and landed the Bourbon (G2) before finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), a race dominated by European invaders; strong fit class-wise, though not a standout here given lingering questions about his relative dirt ability.