Tipsheet: 2024 Gun Runner Stakes

A compact field of five juveniles will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Fair Grounds dirt on Saturday in the $100,000 Gun Runner S. The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series tilt will reward the group with qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 structure. 

Gun Runner Stakes Picks

• #5 Admiral Dennis
• #3 Magnitude
• #2 Render Judgement

Gun Runner Stakes Wagers

• $30 win #5 Admiral Dennis
• $10 exacta 5 with 3

Gun Runner Stakes Contenders

#1 BUILT (7-2): Hard Spun colt looked good in graduating at second asking at Keeneland for conditioner Wayne Catalano. The $260,000 juvenile purchase is bred to run long and received a good post draw on the rail to save ground throughout in his stakes bow. The April foal shows two useful morning drills on the course and will have Corey Lanerie in the stirrups. 

#2 RENDER JUDGEMENT (4-1): Talented son of Blame graduated in smart fashion in a two-turn race beneath the Twin Spires in October and was last seen checking in fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) for Kenny McPeek. The colt had no pace to rally into in a mostly solid field in his initial stakes try and landed in a more reasonable spot on Saturday. Brian Hernandez, Jr. will pilot the contender. 

#3 MAGNITUDE (2-1): Steve Asmussen pupil was dusted in his lone prior run with stakes foes, but the son of Not This Time came home a nice allowance winner at Churchill most recently, and the colt has to be given a chance with any improvement in this endeavor. The Winchell color bearer has solid early foot and also gets a nice rider upgrade with Jose Ortiz taking the reins. He will be forcing the tempo throughout. 

#4 CHRIS’S REVENGE (6-1): Instagrand colt takes a huge rise from starter allowance to the stakes ranks for Brittany Russell. The March foal was a solid maiden winner at Aqueduct two back, prior to checking in a decent fourth last time out, but others have a lot more appeal to me. 

#5 ADMIRAL DENNIS (9-5): Top pick from the Brad Cox shedrow appreciated the move to a mile when dominating special weight foes at Churchill Downs second time out. The $425,000 son of Constitution came home swiftly in his tally and seems poised to appreciate more ground for a barn that has been sensational with two-year-old runners this season. The Kentucky-bred retains Luis Saez and will take command in early stretch before pulling away late.