Gun Runner (KYD)- $100.000 Purse
FG- For Two Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
December 21, 2024

Valuable points for the KYD were on the line in the Gun Runner, and twelve horses were looking to grab the win, then hope to continue the perfect streak of the Gun Runner winner actually making the KYD. That race is down the road, but now we have that winner, and it would be a longshot from Night Rider Stables in Ref You Def. This horse had his stake opportunities early, but the results, while not horrible, were not quite good enough. After a geld, and a couple of outings in overnights, Ref You Def steps and grabs the big win and the KYD points that go with it. This is the first win in the race for both Night Rider Stables and jockey E J Zayas. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:41.85, which is not one of the quicker times, but was all that was needed. Let’s take a look at it now:

(1/4 Mile- :22.96)- Our pick to win, Checkered, shoots out of the gate for Mb Stables and will lead by a length and a half into the opening turn. From the outside, and while five wide around the turn, Williams9’s Food Man is second and nearly clear by a length over a group of four. Amongst this group are Barn Breath, who has a neck in front of the others for Our Athletes, and then Tudor Vate, from Blue Ridge Racing to his inside. Link Wray is next in the second lane for South Shore Stables, and then the Mb Stables- trained Harmonic Stride on the rail. Behind them, it’s the trio of Magadonia (TwinTowersRacing), Ashurbanipal (Jerry Garcia Racing), and the race’s eventual winner from Night Rider Stables, Ref You Def. The back threesome consists of Total Stud (Mo Mentum Farm), Rubbing Is Racing (Alydar Stables), and Cross Traffic (D J C Racing Stables).

(½ Mile- :46.61)- Checkered continues to be the leader as the field moves down the backstretch, and Food Man is able to tuck in right behind him. It’s another length to Barn Breath, who is on the outside of three, but has the edge on the other two. Link Wray and Tudor Vate are the ones on the inside, then we have a gap of about two lengths to Harmonic Stride and Magadonia. Ref You Def is in the third lane here, running in the eighth position, with Ashurbanipal nearby. Continuing to trail are Total Stud, Rubbing Is Racing, and Cross Traffic.

(Top of Stretch, 2F To Go)- Checkered looked like he was going to live up to the hype we gave him as he comfortably rounded the turn and entered the stretch and seemingly pulling away from those who were closest to him. Food Man was weakening, and dropped to third as Link Way inherits the second spot. Tudor Vate is still with them in the fourth spot. They didn’t look like they would be the ones to catch Checkered, but that did not mean his work was done. Further back, Ref You Def was picking up the pace and closing in, moving into fifth and needing to make up about three lengths. Ashurbanipal was going to try and run with him and also loomed as a threat, while Barn Breath was backing out quickly. Harmonic Stride and Magadonia were lacking response. Rubbing Is Racing was looking the best of those that had been in the back,

(Finish- 1:41.85)- Checkered is looking good with a furlong to go, and at this point of the race, Ashurbanipal had actually passed Ref You Def and was looking like he would be the toughest challenger. Ref You Def was about four wide here, so did not have it set up quite as nicely as it might have been for Ashurbanipal, creating a bigger challenge for the Night Rider Stables gelding. Approaching the wire, Ref You Def was determined, and the trainer could appreciate the strong ride that E J Zayas was giving as they were laying it all on the line to grab this win. Ashburbanipal was running well and Checkered still had plenty left to make it a fight. In the closing moments, Ref You Def was back by Ashurbanipal and is able to get up in time on Checkered to secure the victory. Great effort by that one, for sure! Checkered hung on for second over Ashurbanipal, and the fourth-place check goes to Rubbing Is Racing, who came on late, but never threatened the top three. Give fifth to Link Way, who holds off Tudor Vate for that spot, and the rest of the order will read Total Stud, Food Man, Cross Traffic, Harmonic Stride, Magadonia, and Barn Breath.

About The Winner- Ref You Def, trained by Night Rider Stables and ridden to victory by E J Zayas, is a two-year-old gelding by Sinissippi Star and is out of Foul Batty. He was bred in Kentucky as a yearling by Night Rider Stables, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in seven starts and first stake win. His career earnings are now $136.200.

Track: Fast
Time: :22⁴  :46³  1:10³  1:41⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 9 Paid 70.70
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 9 – 2 Paid 1,020.80

Scratched: Dragon

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded