Gun Runner’s Paladin Elevated to First Out Win at Belmont Big A

[Wandering Eyes]

5th-Belmont The Big A, $85,000, Msw, 10-17, 2yo, 1m, 1:36.11, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.
PALADIN (c, 2, Gun Runner–Secret Sigh, by Tapit) scored his first career win here, albeit not in a way his connections likely believed he would after Renegade (Into Mischief)–first across the line–was disqualified to second.

The even-money favorite for this unveiling, Paladin was never far from the front as he pushed Credit History (Nyquist) through an opening quarter in :23.20 and a half in :46.48. Asked to take command passing the half-mile, he had a slim margin coming off the bend as Renegade loomed the danger behind him. The pair came together inside the final furlong and distanced themselves from the field before Paladin found himself on the receiving end of late contact in the stretch. They hit the wire heads apart, but the inquiry sign was immediate posted afterwards.

After a Stewards' inquiry, it was determined that Renegade had impeded Paladin in the final yards of their duel, and the order was reversed with the son of Into Mischief being disqualified to second as the Chad Brown-trainee was elevated to the first-out score.

Paladin was a $1.9-million yearling pick up at the boutique FTSAUG sale across town in 2024 by M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for a partnership that would ultimately comprise of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith, and Summer Wind Equine LLC.

The victor is out of an unraced daughter of MGSW India (Hennessy), making the dam a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}) in Japan and SW Kareena (Medaglia d'Oro), herself mother of SP Padma (Tapit). Secret Sigh's first to the races was unplaced Pippi Longstocking (Frankel {GB}), who foaled a Practical Joke colt this past spring, while placed Stop the Press (Uncle Mo) was her first to hit the board. Paladin is her most recent of racing age and she has a yearling colt by Into Mischief in the wings. Her 2025 Elite Power foal died.

This is the immediate female family of Pilfer, most famous as the dam of MGISW To Honor and Serve (Bernardini) and his full-sister GISW Angela Renee. A third full-sibling to that pair named Cara Caterina would go on to claim MGISW La Cara (Street Sense) to her broodmare tally. A full-sister to India named GSP-Eng Sing Softly went on in her second career to produce French Group-placed Coetzee (Frankel {GB}). Sales history: $1,900,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B., Smith, Derrick, Brant, Peter M., Smith, Brook T. and Summer Wind Equine, LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

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