Brant (c, 2, Gun Runner–Tynan, by Liam’s Map), the record-setting $3-million OBS March breezer, lived up to the hype for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert with a spectacular ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance on debut at Del Mar Saturday. The 4-5 choice sat the trip in third through an opening quarter in :21.56, revved up three deep at the top of the stretch and leveled off with powerful strides to win going away by 5 1/4 lengths. Civil Liberty (Independence Hall) was second.
Brant, a $200,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by St. Clair Stables, brought a record-setting $3 million via agent Donato Lanni for Amr Zedan after powering through a :9 3/5 breeze from the Eddie Woods consignment at OBS March. The previous record for a horse sold at OBS was the $2.45 million paid by agent John Moynihan on behalf of Coolmore for a Tiznow colt at the April sale in 2017. Zedan and Baffert also campaigned Gun Runner’s three-time GISW and ‘Rising Star’ Taiba.
Brant becomes the 20th ‘Rising Star’ for leading young stallion Gun Runner.