Gun Runner’s Disarm Fires a Big One at the Spa for ‘Rising Star’ Honors

[Wandering Eyes]

Disarm (c, 2, Gun Runner–Easy Tap, by Tapit), a visually impressive rallying third behind subsequent GIII Sanford S. winner Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) on debut at Churchill Downs June 19, took a big step forward to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors in his second trip to the post at Saratoga Saturday.

Drawn on the fence in this seven-furlong affair, the Winchell homebred traveled nicely on the inside in fifth. The 9-5 shot was tipped out three deep leaving the quarter pole and powered home in style to graduate by six lengths over Arthur's Ride (Tapit). Crupi (Curlin) came flying late to just miss second.

“Lot of talent, he was highly touted coming from mom and dad's,” winning trainer Steve Asmussen said on FS2's Saratoga Live. “High expectations. Didnt do much correctly first time out, just because he's a big boy. Looks like he's gonna stretch out beautifully. We will definitely get to dream with him for a while.”

The Gun Runner over Tapit cross-two of the best to ever carry the maroon-and-white Winchell silks-is already responsible for last term's GII Adirondack S. heroine Wicked Halo, Monomoy Girl S. winner Society and Texas Turf Mile S. winner Red Run.

Disarm's dam Easy Tap-a $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling purchase-won one of five starts for the Winchells and Asmussen. The 12-year-old has produced Tap Daddy (Scat Daddy), a winner of Pimlico's James W. Murphy S. and runner-up in the GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. for these same connections. He was also a champion stayer in Venezuela after being sold privately. Easy Tap is also responsible for the multiple stakes-placed Total Tap (Candy Ride {Arg}) and a Gun Runner colt of this year.

For more on Disarm, click here for a recent column in Steve Sherack's 'Second Chances' series.

O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Ky); T-Steve Asmussen.

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