The Gun Runner brings together a deep field of 14 three-year-olds on Monday, September 7, 2026, at Kentucky Downs, with $1,750.000 on the line over one mile on turf. The race is only in its third running, following victories by Team 7 Illusions in 2024 and Nakamura Stables in 2025. This year’s field contains a particularly accomplished collection of turf runners, including Grade I performers, multiple graded-stakes winners and several horses already proven at today’s exact one-mile distance.

1. Hide In Plain Sight — Mb Stables / Velazquez J R — Odds: 6-1

Hide In Plain Sight brings an excellent turf-route foundation into the Gun Runner, with three wins, three seconds and three thirds from 11 turf starts and $511.710 earned on grass. He won a one-mile state-bred allowance in March, finished second in the Murphy at today’s distance, won the 1 1/16-mile American Derby in June and most recently finished third in the Secret (G2) at Colonial Downs. That latest performance found him second through the first three calls before finishing only a length behind the winner. His tactical speed is particularly attractive in a race containing several horses who prefer to settle farther back. Chance: major contender. His combination of consistency, tactical position and proven mile form puts him squarely in the winning discussion.

2. Star Studded — Spankys Barn / Gaffalione T — Odds: 30-1

Star Studded has raced only three times and owns one victory, which came at 1 1/8 miles on firm turf at Turf Paradise. He subsequently faced older allowance competition at Parx and finished seventh after racing prominently early. He has not competed since April, although his August preparation includes a sharp one-mile turf work at Del Mar in 1:34.2. His three career races have all been turf routes, so distance and surface are established, but the jump from a maiden victory and allowance company into this field is considerable. Chance: longshot. Proven around two turns but facing a dramatic rise in quality.

3. Sinissipi Swinger — TwinTowersRacing / Beschizza A — Odds: 30-1

Sinissipi Swinger is a four-time winner from 14 starts, but nearly all of his best accomplishments have come on dirt. He captured the one-mile Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita in February and later finished third in the Maxfield (G3), while his latest start produced a sixth in the ELP Derby. His only turf appearance resulted in an unplaced effort, leaving him with much less grass evidence than the principal contenders. Chance: outsider. His dirt record demonstrates ability, but he must reverse his limited turf evidence against a field loaded with established grass performers.

4. Drummer Boy — D J C Racing Stables / Hernandez R M — Odds: 25-1

Drummer Boy is an experienced turf runner with three wins from nine grass starts, but his 2026 campaign has yet to produce a victory. He finished second in the $150.000 state-bred NYSSBd at Aqueduct in June before finishing seventh in the Quick Call (G3) at Saratoga. His lone 2026 turf-route attempt came in the American Turf (G1) at 1 1/16 miles, where he finished 13th after racing at the rear throughout. He has nevertheless continued working regularly on turf, including a six-furlong drill at Monmouth on August 23. Chance: longshot. Turf experience helps, but his recent route and graded-stakes results leave him needing a significant rebound.

5. Stormy Knight — Mb Stables / Curtis B — Odds: 5-1

Stormy Knight has been competing against strong turf company throughout the season. He won a one-mile allowance at Tampa, captured the Cutler Bay at 7 1/2 furlongs, finished fourth in the American Turf (G1), second in the Penn Mile (G3), fifth in the Belmont Derby (G1) and most recently fourth in the Secret (G2). His turf record stands at three wins and two seconds from nine starts, and his tactical pattern generally places him within striking range rather than requiring the lead. A 1:35.0 one-mile turf work at Parx on August 30, fastest of ten, provides a strong final preparation. Chance: high. He has repeatedly held his own against graded turf competition and the return to one mile is favorable.

6. Magnetic Spirit — Maxmillion Farm / Rivera L R — Odds: 30-1

Magnetic Spirit is lightly raced with two wins from three starts, all on turf. He won his maiden at five furlongs and then successfully stretched to one mile at Fair Grounds, coming from fifth to win by a head. His only 2026 start came at seven furlongs at Fort Erie, where he finished fifth after racing near the rear. His recent preparation includes seven-furlong and one-mile turf works, so Maxmillion Farm has supplied a route foundation. Chance: intriguing outsider. He is already a winner at today’s distance, but the class difference between his previous opposition and this field is substantial.

7. Regal Classic — Mo Mentum Farm / Berrios H I — Odds: 8-1

Regal Classic enters in excellent form. He won a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Woodbine in June, followed with another victory in the Horizon at Belterra Park and then finished second by only a quarter-length in the DMR Derby (G2) on August 23. His route record is particularly strong, with four victories and two seconds from seven starts, while his turf record stands at three wins, two seconds and a third from eight appearances. He also owns tactical speed, having repeatedly raced among the leaders in his best performances. A seven-furlong Kentucky Downs turf work on August 31 adds course-specific preparation. Chance: strong. His current form and route consistency make him a legitimate threat at an attractive price.

8. Renard — Bigchief Stables / Lopez P — Odds: 10-1

Renard has been remarkably productive on turf, recording two victories and three seconds from six grass starts. He won the one-mile Murphy at Laurel in May, rallied from seventh to finish second in the 1 1/16-mile American Derby and most recently finished fifth in the National Museum of Racing (G2) at Saratoga. His preferred pattern is to settle behind the early leaders and make progress later, which could become valuable if the pace becomes contested. His September 1 seven-furlong turf work at Del Mar was fastest of three. Chance: live contender. His closing profile fits the potential race shape, and his best one-mile form is competitive with this group.

9. Perfect Folly — La Canada Racehorses / Bridgmohan S X — Odds: 7-2

Perfect Folly receives the narrow preference after putting together an increasingly strong turf campaign. He won the one-mile Jersey Derby at Monmouth in May, finished fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Saranac and then produced his best recent result in the National Museum of Racing (G2) at Saratoga on August 7, advancing from third to second before winning at one mile. His turf record stands at three wins, one second and two thirds from eight starts, with $391.560 earned on grass. His preparation since the Grade II victory has been exceptionally sharp, including a six-furlong turf work in 1:09.2, fastest of 18, followed by a one-mile turf move in 1:34.2, fastest of two. Chance: very strong. He enters off a Grade II victory at today’s exact distance and appears to be arriving in peak form.

10. Lunar Artist — Nakamura Stables / Centeno D E — Odds: 15-1

Lunar Artist is lightly raced and improving, with two wins from five starts. After beginning his career on dirt, he switched to turf in June and then improved dramatically in his second grass appearance, winning a one-mile allowance at Lone Star by four lengths after moving from fourth to first at the third call. Nakamura Stables has since given him a concentrated turf preparation: his four listed works since that victory are all six furlongs or one mile on firm turf, and all four were fastest of their respective sets. Chance: compelling longshot. He must make a major class jump, but his latest one-mile victory and subsequent work pattern suggest he may have more development ahead of him.

11. Bank Robber — Our Athletes / Ortiz J L — Odds: 12-1

Bank Robber owns one of the strongest dirt records in the race, with four victories from nine starts and lifetime earnings of $948.280. His 2026 campaign includes victory in the Blue Grass (G1), a second in the San Felipe (G2), and appearances in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont before finishing fourth in the Indiana Derby (G3). The crucial piece of evidence is his lone turf start, which resulted in a victory, giving him a perfect one-for-one grass record. He has also been prepared for this switch with a six-furlong firm-turf work at Saratoga on August 24 that was fastest of 40. Chance: dangerous. His dirt class is exceptional and he has already shown that turf is within his capabilities, although his grass experience remains limited.

12. Excavate — Acber Farms / Pennington F — Odds: 35-1

Excavate has spent much of 2026 competing in significant dirt route races, including the Withers (G3), Rebel (G2), Santa Anita Derby (G1), Peter Pan (G3) and Winn (G3). He has often made late progress but has not won this season, and his career record stands at one victory from ten starts. More importantly for this assignment, he has never raced on turf. Acber Farms has attempted to address that with consecutive one-mile turf works at Keeneland and Belterra Park. Chance: outsider. His route experience is substantial, but he is trying turf for the first time against several graded-quality grass specialists.

13. Kuykendahl — Luz International / Prat F — Odds: 4-1

Kuykendahl is one of the strongest horses in the field on established turf class. He owns five victories from ten grass starts and comes directly from a second-place finish in the SAR Derby (G1) at 1 3/16 miles, where he progressed from fourth to third to second. Before that he won the 1 1/16-mile Pennine Ridge (G3). Earlier in the year he also won on yielding turf at one mile, demonstrating versatility across turf conditions and distances. His 2026 record shows three wins and a second from six starts, and his four most recent published works are all six-furlong turf drills. Chance: extremely strong. His Grade I placing and Grade III victory give him perhaps the strongest recent class credentials among the established turf runners.

14. Destined Charge — Mb Stables / Santana R Jr — Odds: 12-1

Destined Charge brings Grade I dirt credentials after winning the Florida Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles in March. His subsequent dirt campaign included the Belmont, and he most recently made his turf debut in the 1 3/16-mile SAR Derby (G1), where he raced prominently before finishing sixth. That effort did not produce a placing, but it gave him valuable grass experience against top company. Mb Stables has kept him on turf since, with four substantial grass works that include two one-mile drills and two six-furlong moves. Chance: dangerous at a price. His Florida Derby victory establishes the underlying ability, and the cutback from 1 3/16 miles to one mile could suit his more forward running style.

Pace Structure & Race Outlook

This should be a fascinating tactical mile because the field contains plenty of horses capable of securing position without requiring a runaway early lead.

Hide In Plain Sight has repeatedly raced first or second through the opening stages of turf routes. Regal Classic has shown similar tactical speed, including wire-to-wire success at 1 1/16 miles, while Destined Charge has frequently been on or immediately behind the pace. Star Studded and Sinissipi Swinger also have races in which they have been prominent early.

Immediately behind that group should be horses such as Perfect Folly, Stormy Knight and Kuykendahl. That is an important advantage because all three have demonstrated the ability to make their decisive move without surrendering excessive early ground.

Farther back, Renard is the most obvious horse who could benefit if the leaders apply sustained pressure to one another. Bank Robber has also demonstrated the ability to make substantial advances from well behind the pace, although most of that evidence comes from dirt.

The key tactical distinction is that Perfect Folly does not appear dependent upon one specific race shape. He has won today’s one-mile distance after settling fifth early, and in his latest Grade II victory he sat third before advancing to second and then taking command. That versatility gives Bridgmohan S X several options depending upon how aggressively the horses around him approach the opening stages.

Projected Finish

1st — Perfect Folly — 7-2
2nd — Kuykendahl — 4-1
3rd — Stormy Knight — 5-1
4th — Hide In Plain Sight — 6-1
5th — Regal Classic — 8-1

Projected Winner — Perfect Folly

Perfect Folly gets the call in an unusually deep Gun Runner. His most recent race is the strongest argument: a victory in the National Museum of Racing (G2) at Saratoga at exactly one mile on firm turf. That was not an isolated performance, as he had already won the one-mile Jersey Derby earlier in the season. His subsequent works—six furlongs in 1:09.2 and a mile in 1:34.2, both fastest of their respective sets—provide additional evidence that he has maintained his form since the Grade II victory.

Main Danger — Kuykendahl at 4-1. His latest second in the SAR Derby (G1), combined with his Pennine Ridge (G3) victory, gives him the strongest recent graded-stakes profile. The cutback to one mile is not a concern because he has already won at the distance.

Best Value — Regal Classic at 8-1. His narrow second in the DMR Derby (G2) followed consecutive route victories, and his seven-furlong Kentucky Downs turf work gives him direct preparation over today’s course.

Live Longshot — Lunar Artist at 15-1. He lacks the stakes experience of the principals, but his four-length one-mile turf victory followed by four consecutive highly ranked turf works makes him the most interesting developing runner at a larger projected price.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded