By Jarrod Horak
The road to Kentucky Derby 2024 continues at Fair Grounds on Saturday, December 23, and I have included Gun Runner Stakes 2023 picks below. The non-graded event for 2-year-olds has a $100,000 purse and the eight entrants will be traveling 1 1/16 miles on the main track. It is the 12th race on Dec. 23 and the top five finishers will earn Kentucky Derby points (10-5-3-2-1).
Gun Runner Stakes 2023 Picks & Final Time Ratings
Catching Freedom rallied to win his flat mile debut as the favorite under the Twin Spires on Oct. 1. He was the favorite again in an optional-claiming route at that same venue on Nov. 9, and he rallied mildly to finish 4th of 10. Brad Cox’s $575k Constitution colt will try to get involved from off the pace.
Risk it wired the field as the favorite in his six panel debut at Saratoga. I made him my top choice in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes on Sept. 16, and he stalked the pace and landed the place. He split an 8-horse field in a flat effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) last time. Joel Rosario hops aboard the $500k son of Gun Runner, and he is the first of two entrants for trainer Steve Asmussen.
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