Beholder to be bred to Gun Runner in 2022

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Horse of the Year Gun Runner is off to a stellar start in his stud career, with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Echo Zulu, Juvenile runner-up Pappacap, and Grade 1 winner Gunite leading his freshman crop.

His season earnings stand at $3,521,956 through Sunday, closing in on the earnings record for a North American freshman, Uncle Mo’s $3,632,314 from 2015.

Off this breakout season, Gun Runner, whose fee is rising to $125,000 for 2022 at Three Chimneys Farm, is expected to garner a star-studded book of mares. He recently landed a major one, as Spendthrift Farm announced Sunday that it will send its four-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder to his court.

“Beholder is the crown jewel of an extraordinary book for Gun Runner,” Three Chimneys vice chairman Doug Cauthen said in a press release. “The whole Gun Runner team is excited and appreciative that she is coming. Three Chimneys will be rolling out the red carpet for her.”

Beholder, a 10-time Grade 1 winner who earned more than $6.1 million, is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and leading sire Into Mischief and versatile Grade 1 winner Mendelssohn.

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She is the dam of four foals to date, two of racing age – Q B One, an unraced 3-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, and Karin With an I, an unraced juvenile filly by Curlin. The mare has a War Front yearling filly named Teena Ella, a weanling filly by Bolt d’Oro, and was bred to Curlin for her 2022 foal.