Early Voting Gives Gun Runner First Classic Winner in Preakness

[Wandering Eyes]

EARLY VOTING (c, 3, Gun Runner–Amour D'Ete, by Tiznow) gave his sensational young sire a Classic winner in his first crop with a 5-1 upset of favorite Epicenter (Not This Time) in the GI Preakness S. Away alertly, Early Voting allowed Argmagnac (Quality Road) to pass him for early control, stalking from second for the first time in his career through a half-mile in :47.44. Meanwhile, the top two choices, GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter and GI Kentucky Oaks victress Secret Oath (Arrogate) bided their time at the back. Racing three wide, Early Voting continued to bid his time under a patient Jose Ortiz, who inched up his mount to draw even as three-quarters went in 1:11.50. About the same time the late-flying Secret Oath began to make her move some four wide, right off the leaders heels turning for home as Epicenter burst through on the fence. Early Voting kicked clear, despite drifting in and out a bit, finding the fence just as he hit the line 1 1/2 lengths clear of Epicenter in 1:54.54. Creative Minister (Creative Cause) was third over the Oaks winner. It was the first Preakness win for Eclipse winner Jose Ortiz. Chad Brown and Seth Klarman teamed to win the Preakness five years ago with Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music), who followed a similar path to Early Voting in getting to the Pimlico winner's circle. Both started their careers at Aqueduct and came into the Preakness off losing efforts in the GII Wood Memorial S. Early Voting opened his account with a pair of wins at Aqueduct, including the GIII Withers S. in February. He did the heavy lifting in the Apr. 9 Wood Memorial only to be run down late Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), finishing second by a neck. Connections opted to skip the GI Kentucky Derby in favor of this Classic event. Sales history: $200,000 yrl '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0.

O-Klaravich Stables; B-Three Chimneys Farm; T-Chad Brown.

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