Pegasus Profile, Gun Runner, and the Search for the Next Sierra Leone
Every September, the Thoroughbred world turns to Keeneland. From September 8–20, nearly 4,700 yearlings will go under the hammer at the Keeneland September Sale—the world’s most important yearling auction. This year’s catalog includes 57 yearlings by Gun Runner, the Hall of Fame inductee whose influence at stud continues to climb. Separating blue-blooded hype from true racing class—that’s where Pegasus Profile comes in.
Gun Runner: The Sire on Fire
Few stallions have launched their stud careers as explosively as Gun Runner. The 2017 Horse of the Year has already sired:
- 2 champions
- 10 Grade 1 winners
- 29 graded stakes winners
- 44 blacktype winners
- Over $70 million in progeny earnings
His sales record is equally impressive: yearlings by Gun Runner average more than $400,000, with colts often surpassing the half-million mark. Buyers know he gets results—but the numbers also tell a sobering truth. An impressive 12% of his foals reach blacktype success, but for every future champion, there are many who don’t make the cut.
Sierra Leone: Proof of the Peak
Standing above the crowd is Sierra Leone, a colt who has delivered on every bit of his seven-figure auction price. Purchased for $2.3 million at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, he has gone on to earn over $6.8 million on the track, with victories in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Blue Grass Stakes (G1), and Whitney (G1). He came within a nose of winning the Kentucky Derby, and he remains one of the most reliable closers in training, always hitting the board in 12 career starts (5 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds).
Sierra Leone exemplifies what Gun Runner can produce at his best: a classic-distance, durable, high-class horse who thrives against the strongest competition. But he also underscores the difficulty—among hundreds of Gun Runner foals, only a select few reach his level.
Why Pegasus Profile is the Key at Keeneland
This is where Pegasus Profile separates the extraordinary from the ordinary.
Traditional buying relies on catalog pages, physical inspection, and gut instinct. But those methods can’t reveal the genetic code that truly drives performance. Pegasus Profile uses DNA markers and genomic analysis tied to proven racing outcomes—speed, stamina, and soundness. The result is a Prediction Summary that helps buyers identify which yearlings are genetically wired for elite performance.
For Gun Runner yearlings, this insight is critical. With Keeneland prices soaring and competition fierce, the difference between owning another claimer and a future Breeders’ Cup champion can come down to unseen genetics. Pegasus Profile gives you that vision before you step into the ring.
Keeneland 2025: The Moment of Opportunity
With 57 Gun Runner yearlings cataloged, the Keeneland September Sale offers enormous opportunity—and enormous risk. Somewhere in that group could be the next Sierra Leone. But statistically, most will not achieve that level.
Pegasus Profile arms you with the data to know which yearlings are most likely to deliver returns on the track, not just in the sales ring.
Final Word
Gun Runner has already secured his place among the great sires, and Sierra Leone has proven just how high his ceiling can be. At Keeneland this September, the challenge for buyers is clear: spot the next Sierra Leone before the rest of the market does.
Pegasus Profile gives you the advantage—science-driven insight to ensure your investment isn’t just a gamble, but a calculated step toward the winner’s circle.