Leland Ackerley Racing’s Chip Honcho clinched the exciting $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes at the Fairgrounds on Saturday, marking trainer Steve Asmussen’s third victory in five races. With Paco Lopez as jockey, Chip Honcho completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.76, edging out favorite Liberty National by three-quarters of a length, while Crown the Buckeye led most of the race but settled for third place.
Chip Honcho started smoothly, positioning on the outside of the leaders, closely tracking frontrunner Crown the Buckeye, who set quick fractions of 23.62 seconds and 46.66 seconds. Liberty National, who faced early interference, remained at the rear but gradually advanced along the rail. As the race unfolded, Chip Honcho and Liberty National steadily closed in, with Crown the Buckeye tiring in the stretch. Chip Honcho launched a strong move on the outside to take the lead, while Liberty National surged late to claim second.
This victory awarded Chip Honcho 10 points on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Liberty National earned five points for second, and Crown the Buckeye took home three points for third. Quality Mischief and Very Connected also earned points, contributing to a total of six leaderboard points. Chip Honcho, who earlier secured a win over a mile at Churchill Downs, demonstrated impressive strength in the final stages of the Gun Runner Stakes. He now joins Epicenter and Truck Phantom, who won the first of Asmussen’s four local Derby prep races.
Chip Honcho paid $9.80 on the win. The horse boasts a record of 2 wins and 1 second in 3 starts, with earnings of $150,475. Bred in Kentucky by Venelli Racing and Tony Fanticola from the mare Mymis Rose, Chip Honcho was purchased for $210,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale. The next key Derby prep for the Fair Grounds is the $250,000 LeConte Stakes (G3) set for January 17.
Quotes from the race included jockey Paco Lopez praising Chip Honcho’s strong finish, while Liberty National’s rider, Brian Hernandez Jr., acknowledged the early challenges but praised the horse’s resilience. Crown the Buckeye’s jockey, Jareth Loveberry, commended his horse’s effort despite falling short.
Fan Take: This thrilling Gun Runner Stakes highlights emerging talent on the Kentucky Derby trail, showcasing horses with potential to shape the future of racing. For fans, it’s a sign of exciting competition ahead and a reminder of the sport’s enduring appeal through high-stakes drama and raw equine talent.
