Last Gunfighter registered his fourth graded stakes win of 2013 with a
popular win in Saturday’s Grade 2, $350,000
Hawthorne
Gold Cup.
Backed down to 4-5 off Grade 3 wins in the Excelsior, Pimlico Special and
Philip H. Iselin, the four-year-old First Samurai colt tracked in sixth early
before commencing a four-wide bid entering the far turn. Up front, Woodward
winner Alpha was setting pedestrian fractions of :25, :51, 1:15 3/5, and 1:40
4/5.
The soft early pace proved no help for Alpha nor a hindrance to Last
Gunfighter. Within striking range as the three-year-old longshot Street Spice
wrested control from Alpha at the top of the stretch, Last Gunfighter steadily
wore down that foe inside the eighth pole and drew clear to win by a length over
the rallying 14-1 shot Mister Marti Gras.
After completing 1 1/4 miles over a fast track in 2:06, Last Gunfighter
returned $3.80, $2.40 and $2.60.
“This horse just keeps getting better and better,” jockey Joe Bravo said. “It
took everything I had to pull him up even after he ran a mile and a quarter.”
Mister Marti Gras finished two lengths clear of the 29-1 Street Spice, who
had 2 1/2 lengths on Alpha. Completing the order of finish were Suns Out Guns
Out, Fordubai, Hattaash, and Derby Kitten. Prayer for Relief was scratched after
finishing last in Friday’s Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.
The victory by the Chad Brown-trained Last Gunfighter capped an outstanding weekend for Breeders’
Cup Classic participants. On Friday, Classic runner-up Will Take Charge beat
Classic also-ran Game On Dude by a head in the Clark. Earlier Saturday, Classic
also-ran Flat Out came home a strong winner of the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.
Last Gunfighter opened up his stakes account last winter at Aqueduct by
winning a pair of overnight events: the $78,000 Raymond Earl and $73,000 Evening
Attire. He next captured the Excelsior by two lengths and then the Pimlico
Special by 4 1/4 lengths before finishing second to Flat Out in the Suburban
Handicap.
Rebounding to take the Philip H. Iselin at Monmouth by a head, Last
Gunfighter next finished fifth in both the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders’
Cup Classic. His record now stands at 15-8-3-2, $1,025,405.
Bred in Kentucky by owner John D. Gunther, Last Gunfighter was produced by
the winning Sir Cat mare Saratoga Cat, a half-sister to multiple stakes winners
Saratoga Boot and Sexy Boots. This extended family has also yielded Grade 2
winner Costly Shoes.
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