Gun Runner Firster Bests Elders Stylishly, Becomes a ‘Rising Star’

[Wandering Eyes]

Part of a favored Klaravich Stable entry favored at 70 cents on the dollar, STRATEGIC FOCUS (c, 3, Gun Runner–Curlin's Mistress, by Curlin) turned in a highly polished debut effort, outfinishing a pair of older rivals to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' for his boom sire. Drawn widest in a field of eight, the $500,000 Keeneland September purchase broke fractionally to his right and was taken in hand by Dylan Davis to race in the second half of the field behind a good pace. Kept out in about the six path passing the half-mile marker, the clean chestnut was asked to go a bit on the turn and tracked into it nicely three wide, following the move of his more-experienced entrymate Duration (Mitole). Steered out to the grandstand side in upper stretch, Strategic Focus sustained his run to hit the front five off the inside at the entrance to the final furlong and edged clear late to best the well-backed 4-year-old Hop Sing (Curlin), a big-figure second at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27 where he was more or less on even terms at the wire with Duration, who was officially fourth. The winner is a full-brother to Klaravich's Headline Numbers, who earned the first stakes victory of her career in the Top Flight Stakes at Aqueduct on Apr. 12. The winner's dam is a full-sister to Curlin's Approval, the dam of the Brown-conditioned recent GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes third Praetor (Into Mischief). Sales history: $500,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-Klaravich Stable; B-Alter's Racing Stable Inc (KY); T-Chad Brown

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