Vekoma’s Bottas flies home to win $1.75 million KTDF Gun Runner S.

Bottas earned his third career stakes win Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs in the $1.75 million KTDF Gun Runner S., coming from last in the field of ten to win by 1 ¼-lengths over Conducted.

Bottas, a 3-year-old son of Vekoma, won the Hall of Fame S. (G2) in his start prior to Monday’s one-mile event. The dark bay is one of six graded winners and 15 stakes winner for Vekoma, who leads the Third-Crop list in both categories.

Bottas did not show speed from the gate and was 10^th of 14 runners after a quarter-mile. He held his spot around the sweeping and undulating turn before moving up into seventh at the top of the stretch. Down the lane, Bottas began weaving through horses and in the final sixteenth collared pacesetter Conducted, rolling right by to win going away in 1:34.55 for the mile on the firm turf.

“It was my first time on the horse, but I’ve watched him run and he’s a very nice horse,” winning jockey Jose Ortiz said. “He broke well, I was able to follow a good horse in the two horse [stakes winner Touch of Fire]. When I had the opening I asked him to go, and he responded very well. All the credit goes to the team. The horse was ready. I just had to go out there and give him a good trip.”

Bottas was bred in Kentucky by BCS Thoroughbreds and is owned by Dahman. With the win Bottas is now 4-0-1 in seven starts and has earned $1,455,263. The big payday made Bottas racing’s newest millionaire.