Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Gun Runner Leaves No Doubt

That’s a wrap on the 34th Breeders’ Cup! For the first time ever, the Breeders’ Cup came to Del Mar, and the track and city of San Diego hit a major home run. After a fantastic two days of racing, let’s now see who made our Three Stars of the Week:

1. Gun Runner

What an insane performance it was from a horse who has had an insane season! After setting fractions that were faster than that of Sharp Azteca in the Dirt Mile, Gun Runner was still able to repel a major challenge by Collected to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic by 2 1/4 lengths. His brilliance has been on full display all year long, and now he will undoubtedly be the Horse of the Year. Perhaps the best news of all: It looks like he will be back next year, as he will most likely be pointed towards the Grade 1 Pegasus to kick off 2018.

2. World Approval

Since cutting back to a mile, World Approval has turned into an out-of-this-world type of horse. He earned Grade 1 victories in the Fourstardave and Woodbine Mile leading up to his triumph last Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. After stalking just behind a very solid pace, World Approval opened up down the stretch and defeated a very tough field somewhat easily by 1 1/4 lengths. The Woodbine Mile turned out to be a key race, as second-place finisher Lancaster Bomber was also second in this race. For trainer Mark Casse, it was his second Breeders’ Cup Mile victory in the last three years.

3. Good Magic

Bolt who? Everyone believed it would be Bolt d’Oro who would take a giant steps towards the Kentucky Derby with an impressive win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but instead, the Chad Brown-trained Good Magic stole the show. Good Magic made history on Saturday with his win, becoming the first-ever maiden to win the Juvenile. Not only did he win the race, but he did it very impressively while earning a Beyer speed figure of 100. The $1 million son of Curlin was going two turns for the first time in this spot and should like it even more as the distances get longer. Chad Brown has a serious Kentucky Derby contender on his hands.