Nominations are in as the Gun Runner and Untapable Fields Take Shape as Draw Day Looms

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Photo: The Aly’s Look; Hodges Photography

Soon to be sophomores hope to earn valuable Derby & Oaks points

New Orleans, La (December 16, 2022) – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots is the last stop for Kentucky Derby and Oaks 2-year-old hopefuls before they turn three. Run for the first time last year, the Gun Runner for the boys at 1 1/16 miles and the Untapable for the girls at 1 mile 70 yards reward 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points for the Derby and Oaks respectively. Nominations closed Dec 10 for all nine $100,000 stakes scheduled on the “Road to the Derby Kickoff” day card, Monday, Dec 26. Due to the holiday racing schedule, the draw is set for Saturday, Dec. 17, nine days out.

Twenty-four boys were nominated for the Gun Runner and 17 fillies were made eligible for the Untapable. A full list of the nominees and past performances can be found at Equibase here: https://bit.ly/3FwJgKm.

Brad Cox leads all trainers with 11 Gun Runner nominations. As of Thursday night, Cox was non-committal when asked which horse or horses he is considering for the 1 1/16-miles event, which was won last year by eventual Louisiana Derby (G2) winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter.

Of those nominees, Champagne (G1) runner-up Verifying, Jace’s Road, the third place finisher in the Iroquois (G3), Churchill Downs allowance winner Victory Formation and maiden breakers Tapit’s Conquest, Corona Bolt, Distorted Pro and Judo have all posted recent workouts at Fair Grounds. Tapit Shoes, a half-brother to Arkansas Derby (G1) and Haskell (G1) winner Cyberknife, broke his maiden convincingly around two turns at Fair Grounds on Dec 3, but he has yet to return to the work tab.

With eyes on the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, trainer Wayne Catalano confirmed his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner Andthewinneris will transition to the dirt in the Gun Runner.

“We’re going to see how he likes the surface,” Catalano said.

The late-kicking son of Oscar Performance won the Bourbon (G2) over Keeneland’s turf course in October. He has put in two local workouts, including going 5 furlongs in 1:01.60 on Dec 10.

After finishing third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on Star of Tomorrow Day at Churchill Downs, Hayes Strike has been confirmed for the Gun Runner by trainer Ken McPeek. The son of Connect breezed 4 furlongs in 49.20 on Wednesday Dec 13, his first workout at Fair Grounds.

Trainer Mike Stidham reports Old Alliance is likely for the Gun Runner. A debut-winner at Laurel Park at the beginning of October, the son of Hard Spun finished third in an allowance race at Keeneland behind Giant Mischief and Arabian Lion. With three local morning breezes, on Dec 7 he traveled 5 furlongs in 1:00.80, the fastest of seventeen.

John Oxley’s Determinedly took six tries to break his maiden, but he did so emphatically in his most recent start at Churchill Downs, winning a seven furlong race on the “Stars of Tomorrow” card by 7 1/4 increasing lengths. The son of Cairo Prince breezed a sharp half mile at Fair Grounds in 47.60 on Dec 10. Luis Saez, who was aboard that day, is scheduled to return to the saddle for trainer Mark Casse. Saez is also expected to ride the Cherie DeVaux-trained Vahva in the Untapable.

Seventeen fillies, including Vahva, were nominated for the Untapable, including the highly-regarded Pretty Mischievous. Last out, the Brendan Walsh trainee finished third in The Golden Rod (G2) on Stars of Tomorrow Day at Churchill Downs. The Godolphin homebred by Into Mischief worked twelfth best of 80 when going 4 furlongs in 48.40 on Dec 10.

Others considered likely for the Untapable are the Brad Cox-trained The Alys Look, a romping winner of a two-turn maiden special weight event at Fair Grounds on Dec. 1; Two Minute Drill, who recently finished third in a Fair Grounds allowance in her two-turn debut for Jason Barkley; and Cotton Candy Annie, the winner of two straight including a two-turn allowance upset (24-1) in the slop at Churchill Downs last out. Claimed out of a win two starts back for $50,000, she is trained by Armando Hernandez.

The Road to the Derby Kickoff Day on Dec 26 will have a first post at noon CT. Fair Grounds will be dark on Dec 24 and 25.

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 151st Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 110th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from Nov 18, 2022 through March 26, 2023. More information is available online at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.