First mares confirmed in foal to Gun Runner

The Northern Hemisphere breeding season officially began in mid-February, and an accomplished class of first-year stallions have adjusted well to their second careers. Horse of the Year Gun Runner and multiple Grade 1 winner Lord Nelson had their first mares confirmed in foal this week, while champion and leading money-winner Arrogate has already had several prominent runners visit his court.

Gun Runner arrived at Three Chimneys Farm on Jan. 28, the day after he concluded his career with a victory in the Pegasus World Cup. The shift came at a later date than that for most retiring stallions – requiring him to make the transition to farm life in an expedited time frame – but his second career has gotten underway in good order.

The first two mares bred by the Candy Ride horse, Ramspring Farm’s But for Money and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Untapped, have been confirmed in foal. But for Money, by Not For Love, is the dam of Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Eskenformoney. Untapped, by Tapit, is a full sister to champion Untapable, who was campaigned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, which co-owns Gun Runner with Three Chimneys.

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“We couldn’t be happier with the response from breeders to Gun Runner, and we are delighted that Gun Runner has adapted to his new job smoothly and with the kind of class he has always shown throughout his career,” Grant Williamson, director of stallion seasons at Three Chimneys, said in a release.

Meanwhile, Lord Nelson also had his first mare in foal confirmed this week. It was a major accomplishment for the Spendthrift Farm stallion, who overcame a battle with a leg infection and the subsequent onset of laminitis that forced him to miss what would have been his first breeding season in 2017.

“It’s very gratifying to see this horse clear yet another hurdle – he’s really a remarkable animal,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said in a release. “We appreciate all of the breeders’ faith in sticking with him, and we believe he’s going to reward them handsomely for it.”

That first mare in foal for Lord Nelson, by Pulpit, is the Grade 3-placed stakes winner Jennie R., dam of stakes winners La Grange and Magic d’Oro and the second dam of stakes winner Ruffenuff. The Awesome Again mare is out of Grade 3 winner Petrouchka.

Arrogate also entered stud this season at Juddmonte Farm, and the Unbridled’s Song horse has had a busy week.

On Tuesday, Arrogate met two-time Eclipse Award champion Songbird in the breeding shed. It was the first cover for the Medaglia d’Oro mare, who was purchased by Mandy Pope for $9.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale, the second-highest price ever paid for a broodmare prospect in North America. Arrogate also covered multiple Grade 1 winner Paulassilverlining this week.