Gun Pilot edges away to victory in Churchill Downs Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Gun Pilot established himself as a horse to reckon with in the sprint division while giving jockey Cristian Torres his first Grade 1 win in the process when drawing off to a decisive 2 1/2-length victory over 20-1 Here Mi Song in Saturday’s $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes.

Gun Pilot, a homebred son of Gun Runner owned by Three Chimneys Farm and trained by Steve Asmussen, had finished off the board in all three previous starts against graded stakes opposition before his breakthrough effort in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs. He was the second graded stakes winner on the card for Asmussen, who also sent out Cogburn to upset the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint.

Stretching out to seven furlongs for the first time in four starts this season, Gun Pilot broke alertly and rated along in perfect striking position on the run down the backstretch behind early pacesetters Here Mi Song and Zozos. Torres asked Gun Pilot to commence his bid approaching the quarter pole, the pair joining the leaders inside the three-sixteenths marker before edging away readily through the final furlong.

Here Mi Song, fourth behind Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish after contesting the early pace in the 2023 Churchill Downs, showed the way in this year’s edition as well while stalked from the outset by Zozos. Here Mi Song fought on gamely after dropping back to third along the rail near midstretch to prove second best while no match for the winner.

Zozos – supplemented into the field at a cost of $10,000 after not being nominated to the race and making his first start since a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile six months earlier – gradually weakened through the final furlong to finish third, a neck behind Here Mi Song.

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Hoist the Flag, the tepid 3-1 favorite in a field of 10 older runners, was slow to begin, recovered to race forwardly placed into the stretch, but faded to finish fifth while trapped wide throughout.

Gun Pilot (101 Beyer Speed Figure) completed seven furlongs over a track upgraded to fast earlier in the card in 1:21.95. He paid $12.68.

“He’s just a beautiful Gun Runner, that was [Gun Runner’s] 10th Grade 1 winner, and he was absolutely meant for this stage,” Asmussen said. “And for him to come through today means so much to us.”

Asmussen said shortening Gun Pilot to one turn has been the key to his success thus far this season. The Churchill Downs was his third win in four starts in 2024.

“I chased the Derby with him last year, but this is what he’s meant for,” Asmussen said.

Asmussen also praised the job Torres did orchestrating the winning trip in the Churchill Downs.

“Cristian believed in this horse like I did, and we felt seven-eighths was perfect for him,” he said. “We talked about the importance of him getting away clean and not giving him too much to do. I told him to just use him enough not to be in the middle of the track, and it was a textbook ride by Cristian. I didn’t realize it was his first Grade 1. He’ll have many more.”

Asmussen said Gun Pilot will get a much deserved break following his big effort Saturday.

“We’re going to pet on him for a while,” Asmussen added. “We targeted this, and he came through for us.”

Tyler Gaffalione, who guided Here Mi Song to his first Grade 1 placing, was proud of his horse’s performance in defeat.

“I thought it was an incredible effort, he was very game down on the inside,” Gaffalione said. “They said he’s had trouble getting out the gate in the past, but he broke alertly and I didn’t want to take anything away from him. He was very comfortable being out there on the lead.”

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