Gun Song Left Randomized With No Answers in the Beldame
- Turf Diario
- Sep 28, 2025
- 2 min read
The Gun Runner filly returned to winning ways under Velázquez and could now set her sights on the Breeders’ Cup Distaff
SOUTH OZONE PARK, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- With a perfect trip guided by the relentless John Velázquez, the chestnut Gun Song (Gun Runner–Nicole H., by Mr. Greeley) returned to the top tier Friday, capturing the Beldame Stakes (G2, 1 1/8 miles, $250,000) at Belmont Park, decisively defeating heavy favorite Randomized (Nyquist).
Trained by Mark Hennig for R. Lee Lewis, Gun Song had stumbled in the Shuvee Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, but this time everything went her way: she broke cleanly, settled just off the early duel between Randomized and Margie’s Intention(Constitution), and produced a strong stretch drive to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:49.45 over a fast track. Margie’s Intention completed the trifecta a neck behind.
“When we decided to freshen her in July for this spot, we knew we were taking a big risk, because everything depended on this one race,” Hennig said. “But it all worked out: she broke perfectly, Johnny gave her a flawless trip, and the filly responded. It was very satisfying.”
Velázquez, instrumental in the victory, added, “It helped that another filly went with Randomized up front. I was able to sit comfortably behind them, and when I asked, Gun Song responded with authority.”
For Randomized, who dominated in 2023 with wins in the Beldame, Alabama (G1), and Wilton, the return to Belmont did not go as planned. Flavien Prat offered no excuses: “She broke well, ran her race on the lead, but just couldn’t hold on to the end.”
The Beldame was part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen, awarding Gun Song a $30,000 credit toward the Distaff (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1, with $15,000 and $7,500 going to Randomized and Margie’s Intention, respectively.
Gun Song had shone as a 3-year-old with victories in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) and Cathryn Sophia, along with runner-up finishes in the Mother Goose (G2) and Cotillion (G1), narrowly losing to champion Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna). With this win, her record now stands at five victories in 16 starts, with earnings surpassing $900,000.
“Finally, we got her right on her feet, and the last couple of months have gone wonderfully,” Hennig concluded, leaving the door open for a possible Breeders’ Cup Distaff bid: “It will depend on how she comes out of this race and what happens in the other preps, but we’re excited about the possibilities.”
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