Gunning For lights up tote

ELMONT, N.Y. - Denise Walsh owns Artie Schiller, one of the best grass horses in the country and a contender for the Breeders' Cup Mile. Gunning For, another Walsh runner, although not in the same league as Artie Schiller, won Saturday's $110,100 at Belmont Park.

Gunning For, ridden by Joe Bravo, was a half-length winner over favored Rousing Victory in the 1 1/2-mile Lawrence Realization over the yielding turf. Second Performance finished third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Rousing Victory in the Grade 3 for 3-year-olds.

Gunning For came from last in the seven-horse field. Second Performance and Dark Equation dueled for the lead through a mile in 1:37.59. Early in the stretch, Gunning For made a bold move to the front and was able to hold off Rousing Victory, who was making up ground on the inside in the final yards.

Gunning For ($34) was timed in 2:29.21.

Gunning For provided his trainer, Tim Walsh, with his first graded stakes win and first New York win.

A son of Dove Hunt, Gunning For ran for a $25,000 claiming price this summer. He became a stakes winner in the ungraded Stanton at Delaware Park in September.

Walsh wheeled Gunning For right back in the Lawrence Realization after the gelding finished third in the Paterson at The Meadowlands on Oct. 8.

Earlier, Badge of Silver, in his first race since February, ran second to Mike's Classic in an optional claimer. Mike's Classic won the six-furlong race by a length.

Badge of Silver, who was sidelined with foot problems, was making his first start for trainer Bobby Frankel.

In his last race, Badge of Silver finished fifth as the favorite in the Grade 2 General George at Laurel in February.