It was a monumental moment in the winners' circle of the $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) as Gun Pilot earned jockey Cristian Torres his first grade 1 victory and became sire Gun Runner 's 10th grade 1 winner.
"It feels great," Torres said. "It's my first Derby week riding here. To get a grade 1 is a special day. It's something I cannot explain. I feel like I'm in a cloud right now. I'm blessed."
Torres did not disappoint on the big stage, giving what trainer Steve Asmussen called a "textbook" ride. Breaking well, Torres tucked Gun Pilot in behind the speed battle of Here Mi Song and Zozos.
After fractions of :22.56 and :44.87, Torres called upon his steed approaching the quarter pole. Drawing alongside the pacesetters with a furlong to go, Gun Pilot moved clear to open up and win by 2 1/2 lengths, stopping the clock for seven furlongs in 1:21.95 and paid $12.68 for a $2 win bet.
Here Mi Song and Zozos continued their duel the length of the stretch, respectively finishing second and third.
#10 Gun Pilot hits another gear down the stretch and wins the @ChurchillDowns Stakes at odds of 5/1!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 4, 2024
Jockey: Cristian Torres
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owner: Three Chimneys Farm LLC
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/XgDxstCsQy
"He's a nice horse, he does everything that I ask him for," Torres said. "When I asked him to run at the quarter pole, he was there for me."
The first top-level victory was the fifth career win from 11 starts for Gun Pilot as he increased his career earnings to $975,575.
"He's unbelievably talented," Asmussen said. "I chased (the Kentucky) Derby with him last year. This is what he's meant for. I'm so fortunate to have him. I am so pleased for Three Chimneys and the whole group."
It was an extra special day for Three Chimneys, who bred the son of Gun Runner, as it was the stallion's 10th grade 1 winner, and second on Saturday's Churchill Downs card.
Gun Runner stands for $250,000 at Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky. Gun Pilot is Gun Runner's fifth graded stakes winner this season, a group that includes Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Sierra Leone and Vahva, who captured the Derby City Distaff (G1) four races earlier May 4 to become the stallion's ninth grade 1 winner; as well as grade 2 winner Red Route One and grade 3 winner Il Miracolo. Sierra Leone is entered in the Kentucky Derby (G1) Saturday.
"Huge win with this beautiful Gun Runner," Asmussen said. "He's absolutely beautiful, meant for this stage. For him to come through today means so much to us. Such a big horse for Three Chimneys and winning for (Three Chimneys chairman) Mr. (Gonçalo Borges) Torrealba in those silks today means a lot."
Asmussen said there is no immediate target for Gun Pilot, as he had been pointing specifically at this race all winter. The June 8 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course was mentioned as a possibility for his next start.
"We targeted this and he came through for us," Asmussen said. "Cristian believed in this horse like I did. He had come back so good this spring. We felt seven-eighths was perfect for him, and he came through today on a stage that matters."
Frank Angst contributed to this story.
