Shotgun Hottie Euthanized After Beginning to Founder

Graded stakes-winning millionaire Shotgun Hottie, less than a couple of years into her broodmare career, was recently euthanized after beginning to founder, according to Case Clay, racing manager for owner Wathnan Racing. She was 7. Founder is a painful, structural phase of laminitis where the delicate tissues inside a horse's hoof break down and allow the internal coffin bone to rotate or sink. It can develop in an otherwise healthy leg when a horse transfers its weight from another injured limb. This was what occurred with Shotgun Hottie, indicated Clay, who said she began to founder in her left hind foot after she had sliced an area around her right hind fetlock, likely from a freak paddock injury. He said her condition turned fast, and the decision to euthanize her was made "so that she wouldn't suffer." He praised the staff at Lane's End Farm, where she was boarded, for the care they gave her. He called the initial injury "a flukey thing." Clay noted that of the high-profile mare purchases he made for Wathnan Racing in recent years, "She was the one that everybody asked me about," partially a testament to her popularity from her days on the racetrack. She won six of 22 starts, including the 2023 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park, earning more than $1.1 million for then-owners Jeff Ganje and Omar Aldabbagh. Clay bought the Gun Runner mare as a broodmare prospect for $1.5 million from the 2024 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Shotgun Hottie is survived by one foal, a recently weaned filly by Curlin. "Hopefully she can carry the torch," Clay said. Leading Change to Clark; Late Spring Return Likely for Commandment Wathnan Racing—a worldwide operation for Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar—is in the midst its best year in the United States, buoyed by the achievements of Travers Stakes (G1) winner Leading Change and Florida Derby (G1) winner Commandment, both trained by Brad Cox. Commandment, a son of Into Mischief and the Belmont Stakes (G1) runner-up behind dual classic winner Golden Tempo, is sidelined due to injury and will likely be out of action until late spring of his 4-year-old year, Clay said. Future goals for Leading Change include racing this fall in the Clark Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, followed by a winter race in the United States, such as the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park or the Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, and capped by a trip to the Middle East in March to race in the Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan Racecourse. Wathnan Racing and Cox teamed to win the 2025 Dubai World Cup with Hit Show, who ran fifth in this year's renewal. The Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland is not targeted for the lightly raced Leading Change unless "things change in the older division." The hope is that his 4-year-old season in 2027 will provide additional opportunities for the Gun Runner colt, who is unbeaten in three starts during his 3-year-old season.