By J.N. Campbell

Facing down a heavy favorite, Disruptor (Gun Runner) was extremely game down the lane in the GIII Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.

Named a ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’, at second asking a little over a year ago when he graduated by 9 1/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park, Disruptor tried deeper waters in the GI Curlin Florida Derby and finished a well-beaten fifth.

The chestnut took a break for the rest of the year and returned to training in early December at Todd Pletcher’s South Florida base. To get ready for another crack at graded company, the 4-year-old cleared an optional claimer at Tampa Jan. 31.



As the 5-2 second choice behind chalk Disco Time (Not This Time) here, at the bell Disruptor took the lead, but a massive longshot worked his way up the rail to become the pacesetter.

When the leader began to fade, the Pletcher trainee earned the front by the far turn, but Disco Time was just to his outside to make a race of it in the straightaway.

The favorite looked to be in control inside the final furlong, but Disruptor began to put in his own rally and in the end proved stubborn. The victory was the $1.15-million Keeneland September grad’s first higher level score.

Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs
MICHELOB ULTRA CHALLENGER S.-GIII, $100,000, Tampa Bay Downs, 3-7, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:41.40, ft.
1–DISRUPTOR, 119, c, 4, by Gun Runner
                1st Dam: Margate Gardens, by Speightstown
                2nd Dam: Ellesmere, by Tabasco Cat
                3rd Dam: Empress Aly, by Alydar
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’. ($1,150,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable, Spendthrift Farm LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Titletown Racing LLC, Winners Win, Golconda Stable, Goodrich, Ali and Parkinson, Mark; B-Runnymede Farm LLC & Peter J Callahan (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-0-1, $155,125. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Disco Time, 121, c, 4, Not This Time–Disco Chick, by Jump Start. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $20,000.
3–Solo Venturi, 119, c, 4, Constitution–Solo Uno, by Medaglia d’Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($1,300,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP). O-OXO Equine LLC; B-Kindred Stables, Inc (KY); T-William Walden. $10,000.
Margins: 1, 7HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.80, 0.40, 4.30.
Also Ran: Freedom Principle, Racing Driver, Paynter’s Prodigy, Catalytic.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

💥 #1 DISRUPTOR ($7.60) fought off Disco Time in the $125,000 Challenger Stakes (G3) at @TampaBayDownsFL! @Iradortiz piloted the Gun Runner (@Three_Chimneys) colt for trainer @PletcherRacing. @repolestable @spendthriftfarm pic.twitter.com/pUxDMugxuF

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 7, 2026