Listed, $98,000 Gun Runner Stakes, Fair Grounds, Dec. 26, 2021 (10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: Epicenter, by Not This Time Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC Beyer Speed Figure: 87 EPICENTER left his rivals quaking in their shoes as he rolled to an authoritative victory here, his second straight and, importantly, in his first try going two turns. He was coming off a win in a one-turn mile against maidens at Churchill Downs. His Beyer Speed Figures have moved forward with each start, the kind of development you want to see at this stage. It looks like there’s more there, too, and with top connections, he’s worth watching to see if he continues to progress. In this race, Epicenter showed good speed from his inside draw to head into the first turn in second. At this point, Hernandez made a clever move to put Epicenter in an ideal spot. He let pacesetting SURFER DUDE clear him, then got outside to move into a perfect stalking position. Epicenter turned up the pressure heading up the backside, and raced outside Surfer Dude in the two path on the far turn while vying for the lead. He put away Surfer Dude soon after turning into the lane, and bounded clear while looking as though he wanted to drift to his inside, which Hernandez addressed with some evenly spaced taps of the whip. He ran through the wire as though the extra distances he will be asked to travel in upcoming starts won’t be an issue. :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analytics, and expert picks. TEJANO TWIST, who finished second, bobbled leaving the gate and went into the first turn in front of just one horse while saving ground. He moved closer nearing the far turn, continued to hug the rail on the turn, angled off the rail coming off the bend to loom outside Epicenter, was no match for Epicenter through the final furlong but was clearly second best. After nine starts – hooray trainers who run their horses! – he does seem exposed, and I don’t think extra distance will suit him like it will Epicenter. This was his first try going two turns. Surfer Dude, who was third, had the best speed leaving the gate and crossed over to the rail early on the first turn. He led narrowly from Epicenter turning into the backstretch, volleyed for the lead down the backstretch and around the far turn, was unable to stay with Epicenter coming into the lane, and steadily retreated while drifting out late. He’s got a route pedigree, but looks like a blocky sort and certainly doesn’t act like extra distance will suit. KEVIN’S FOLLY, who was fourth, raced mid-pack while three paths wide around the first turn, advanced between rivals heading to the far turn, was under a heavy ride beginning three furlongs out, cut to the rail past the midway point of the turn, and went evenly through the lane. RICH STRIKE, who was fifth, trailed early and was kept in the three to four path around the first turn, lost ground heading down the backside, was sent along with a half-mile to go and made minimal progress, was angled inside for the far turn, but never got close at any point. ROCKET DAWG, who was sixth, was wrangled back leaving the gate and threw his head in resentment, and continued that way around the first turn while saving ground mid-pack. He pulled hard entering the backside while still failing to adhere to his rider’s wishes, advanced in the three path heading to the far turn to be just behind Epicenter 3 1/2 furlongs out, but began to tire shortly thereafter despite being under a drive, and gave way readily. He was heavily favored off a decent debut win sprinting, but was dreadful here. Perhaps he wants to sprint, perhaps he’d be better suited if allowed to go for the lead if/when he next tries two turns - perhaps a horse who runs a 73 Beyer in his debut sprinting shouldn’t be 4-5 in a stakes race going two turns in start number two against several rivals with superior figs. Regardless, this wasn’t encouraging. WAITA MINUTE HAYES, who finished last of seven, raced mid-pack while just outside Rocket Dawg around the first turn, was floated out to the middle of the track down the backside, had zero response when a pair of rivals came up inside him early on the far turn, and continued to fade the rest of the way.