By J.N. Campbell<\/p>\n
Facing down a heavy favorite, Disruptor (Gun Runner<\/a>) was extremely game down the lane in the GIII Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> Florida Derby and finished a well-beaten fifth.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n
As the 5-2 second choice behind chalk Disco Time (Not This Time<\/a>) here, at the bell Disruptor took the lead, but a massive longshot worked his way up the rail to become the pacesetter.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs \ud83d\udca5 #1 DISRUPTOR ($7.60) fought off Disco Time in the $125,000 Challenger Stakes (G3) at @TampaBayDownsFL<\/a>! @Iradortiz<\/a> piloted the Gun Runner<\/a> (@Three_Chimneys<\/a>) colt for trainer @PletcherRacing<\/a>. @repolestable<\/a> @spendthriftfarm<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pUxDMugxuF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
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MICHELOB ULTRA CHALLENGER S.-GIII, $100,000, Tampa Bay Downs, 3-7, 4yo\/up, 1 1\/16m, 1:41.40, ft.
1\u2013DISRUPTOR, 119, c, 4, by Gun Runner<\/a>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1st Dam: Margate Gardens, by Speightstown
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2nd Dam: Ellesmere, by Tabasco Cat
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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<\/a>. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree<\/a>.
2\u2013Disco Time, 121, c, 4, Not This Time<\/a>\u2013Disco Chick, by Jump Start. O\/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $20,000.
3\u2013Solo Venturi, 119, c, 4, Constitution<\/a>\u2013Solo 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<\/a> or the TJCIS.com PPs<\/a>. VIDEO, <\/a>sponsored by FanDuel TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n