Gun Runner Maidens Shine at Saratoga Race Course

My Gun's Loaded upset the field June 6 at Saratoga Race Course.

Under jockey Manny Franco at odds of 18-1, the 3-year-old daughter of Gun Runner  broke awkwardly and settled at the back of the field off pacesetter Nakoma, who posted fractions of :22.44 and :45.26. On the far turn, the Chad Brown trainee began to move closer to the leader, and by the time they hit the stretch, she found the lead.

My Gun's Loaded continued to open up on the field under a drive, with no oncoming competition, hitting the wire 4 1/4 lengths the best. She completed the 7 furlongs on the dirt in 1:22.33, and paid $38.02 for the win. She earned an 84 Equibase Speed Figure and a 92 Beyer Speed Figure in her second career start.

Owned by Douglas Scharbauer, My Gun's Loaded was purchased for $650,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She is out of the Congrats dam Strive, who won three times on the track in her 3-year-old season. Bred by Corser Thoroughbreds, My Gun's Loaded is the first winner for Strive. 

Video: Race 1 (MSW) at SAR on 6/6/26

Half Brother to Emollient breaks maiden

The day before My Gun's Loaded broke her maiden, the third time was the charm for Bill Mott's Silent Impact, who earned his first victory June 5 at Saratoga.

Under jockey Junior Alvarado, Silent Impact settled comfortably midpack, tracking the pacesetter He's a Piper, who posted fractions of :23.48, :47.43, and 1:10.90. Down the backstretch, the 3-year-old son of Gun Runner continued to track patiently under a hard hold. As the field rounded the turn, he went outside of horses and came under a ride into the stretch. Alvarado had the colt under a heavy drive and, inside the final sixteenth, he drew past his competition and held off any challengers to score by a half-length. Silent Impact completed the mile on the turf in a final time of 1:34.28 and paid $14.14 for a $2 wager. He earned a 92 ESF and a 78 Beyer. 

A homebred for Juddmonte, Silent Impact is out of the Touch Gold mare Soothing Touch. She has produced seven winners from 13 foals of racing age, including Emollient. The daughter of Empire Maker, who also was campaigned by Mott and Juddmonte, made more than $1.3 million from her six wins from 18 starts. A dual-surface grade 1 winner, her most notable victories came in the 2013 Ashland Stakes (G1) and Spinster Stakes (G1) on the all-weather track, and the 2013 American Oaks (G1T) and 2014 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) on turf. Soothing Touch is also the dam of 2018 Kentucky Derby (G1) alum Hofburg, who earned his way into the starting gate when he finished second in the Florida Derby (G1) behind Audible. After finishing seventh in the Derby, he finished third in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and won the Curlin Stakes. 

Video: Race 14 (MSW) at SAR on 6/5/26