Gun Runner Anchors Three Chimneys Stallions at $250K, Sky Mesa Pensioned

[Wandering Eyes]

Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), the sire of 11 graded winners in 2025 (17 black-type winners in total), including three at the elite level, will stand the 2026 breeding season at Goncalo Torrealba's Three Chimneys Farm for a fee of $250,000 LFSN, the nursery announced Friday.

During another banner season for his offspring at the races, Gun Runner is the sire of 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Sierra Leone, who made this year's Whitney Stakes the third Grade I success of his career and who remains on track to defend his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in two weeks' time. Fellow 'Rising Star' Locked was imperious in romping to a daylight victory in the GI Santa Anita Handicap, while 'Rising Star' Brant, who topped this year's OBS March Sale on a bid of $3 million from Zedan Racing, became the most recent of his sire's 11 overall top-level scorers in September's Del Mar Futurity and figures one of the choices for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Gun Runner's influence was not just confined to the racetrack, as his youngest progeny continued to make headlines in the sales ring. According to TDN Sales Statistics, Gun Runner is the leading general sires of yearlings in 2025, with 49 sold from 56 through the ring for an average of $974,591. No fewer than 17 of his yearlings sold for pricetags in excess of $1 million and he made history at this year's Keeneland September Sale, becoming the first sire to account for the toppers in the four sessions comprising Books 1 and 2. A colt out of Grade II Adirondack Stakes heroine Thoughtfully (Tapit) topped the sale on a bid of $3.3 million from M.V. Magnier, White Birch and Winchell Thoroughbreds.

“Gun Runner is continuing to prove our dreams can become a reality,” Torrealba said. “Three Chimneys and our partners continue to breed our best mares to him which we believe will further his influence on the breed.”

Newgate (Into Mischief) will command a service fee of $17,500 in 2026.

“Into Mischief's son Newgate, who won the GI Santa Anita Handicap, competing among the best of his generation, defeating eight Grade I winners during his career, was extremely popular with breeders,” said Three Chimneys board member Chief Stipe Cauthen. “Newgate is one of the best-looking horses you will ever see,” added Cauthen.

Gun Runner's Grade I winner Gun Pilot enters his second season at Three Chimneys and will cover mares at $12,500.

“He is very much like his sire Gun Runner–scopy and strong,” said Three Chimneys Director of Stallion Nominations Rebecca Nicholson. “He bred a full book of mares in his first season, and we want to continue the momentum by offering great value on him.”

Volatile (Violence) is the sire of 10 stakes performers in 2025, 50% of which were graded performers, and will stand for a fee of $10,000. Among his leading earners this year are GSW and track-record setting 'TDN Rising Star' Tip Top Thomas, GIII Southwest Stakes winner Speed King, and promising 2-year-old Igniter, who is targeting the GII Remsen Stakes.

Rounding out the roster is Funtastic (More Than Ready) who hails from the family of Gun Runner. His top earner, Funtastic Again, captured the GIII Dominion Stakes at Woodbine. Funtastic will stand for a fee of $2,500 LFSN.

Three Chimneys has also announced that Sky Mesa (Pulpit) will be pensioned. Now 25, the son of Caress (Storm Cat), accounted for 80 stakes winners, 26 at the graded/group level, and four at the highest level–General Quarters, Perfec Alibi, Sky Diva and Uruguyan Group 1 winner Giulia.

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