Gunderson Goes to $800K For Well-bred Gun Runner Colt

A chestnut yearling colt by Gun Runner, cataloged as Hip 114, sold for $800,000 to MWG on opening day of the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale Jan. 12. The colt became the highest selling yearling at the January Sale in 11 years. Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Spry Family bred the colt out of grade 2 winner Deceptive Vision (A.P. Indy), making the yearling a half brother to graded-placed winner Ancient Peace. Deceptive Vision is a full sister to 2009 Canadian champion 3-year-old male and Queen's Plate winner Eye of the Leopard. Hill 'n' Dale purchased the mare at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale for $900,000, in foal to War Front. "He was always very good, one we had a lot of excitement for coming into the sale," said Jes Sikura with Hill 'n' Dale. "I know there was a lot of popularity. … (The price was) probably about what we were expecting. There's a lot of things happening in that family, so we're happy with the result and excited to see what his plans are for the future." MWG's Marc Gunderson, who operates Twin Oaks Bloodstock, signed for a total of 12 horses during the first day of the January Sale for a total of $2,977,000, including Way to Be Marie, a 5-year-old mare by Not This Time for $750,000. The multiple graded stakes-placed mare was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency. He also purchased the multiple graded stakes-winning Curlin mare Validity for $300,000 and stakes-placed Murky, in foal to Muth for $300,000; amongst others. "I've got like four Gun Runners in training in Ocala right now prepping for the future," Gunderson said. "The ones I like all look the same. They're athletic and guess what? He looked the same, and I couldn't turn it down." Gunderson was active at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale and November Breeding Stock Sale. He purchased 22 yearlings in September for $8,545,000; 16 of them were fillies. Gunderson was back again a couple of months later to make a splash at the November Sale, signing for 20 head, which brought a total of $4,895,000. He was the fourth- and third-leading buyer by total purchases at these sales, respectively. Gun Runner stands at Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky., for an advertised fee of $250,000. The 2017 Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer has sired 12 grade 1 winners and 16 millionaires during his rapid ascent in the stallion ranks. He finished third on the leading sire list in 2025, with his progeny earning $21,601,446. His top earner was grade 1 winner and sire Sierra Leone, who earned just over $2.1 million for the year.