Red Route One: A Major Prospect for Argentine Breeding; Country’s First Gun Runner
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A multiple graded-stakes winner in the United States with an outstanding maternal line, Red Route One was acquired by Haras La Pasión, Firmamento, and La Nora, and will stand at La Pasión starting in 2026
By Diego H. Mitagstein
In a move that shakes the market and confirms that, even in challenging times, Argentine breeders remain committed to raising the level of their turf, Red Route One, one of the most accomplished sons of the phenomenal Gun Runner, will arrive in Argentina to begin his stud career in 2026. The acquisition was made possible through a partnership between three of the country’s leading farms—La Pasión, La Nora, and Firmamento—in a transaction that marks a true milestone for national breeding.
The 5-year-old chestnut, a multiple graded-stakes winner in the United States, was purchased by Emmanuel de Serouxof Narvick International at the 2025 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale for $550,000, with the goal of bringing him to Argentina as a stallion. Red Route One, who competed for four campaigns in the silks of his breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds, will stand at Haras La Pasión, joining other prominent stallions such as Gouverneur Morris (Constitution), King Guillermo (Uncle Mo), Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief), Il Mercato (Not for Sale), and Hiper Happy (Cityscape).
The arrival of a Gun Runner son to Argentine breeding is significant. The 2017 U.S. Horse of the Year and one of the most sought-after stallions globally is himself a son of Candy Ride (Ride the Rails), the Haras Abolengo-bred superstar who became a worldwide legend both on the track and as a sire of sires.
Red Route One’s arrival represents not only elite Argentine blood but also genetics proven at the highest levels in one of the most competitive racing markets in the world. It is a bold investment reflecting vision and commitment to raising the genetic standard of Argentine-bred Thoroughbreds.
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Red Route One started 28 times, winning six races while adding four seconds and three thirds, earning $2,165,107. His most notable victories include the G2 New Orleans Classic, G3 West Virginia Derby, G3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, and G3 Essex Handicap, as well as a third-place finish in the G1 Breeders’ Futurity at two. His most recent start came on July 5, when he attempted to defend his Cornhusker title.
Beyond his racetrack record, his pedigree is impeccable. Out of Red House (Tapit), one of the most influential mares of recent decades, Red Route One is a grandson of the extraordinary Fun House (Prized), 2014 Broodmare of the Year and dam of champion Untapable (Tapit) and G1 winner Paddy O’Prado (El Prado). Fun House also produced Double Tapped (Tapit), dam of Majestic Eagle (Medaglia D’Oro), winner of the G3 American Stakes, and stakes-placed Double Medal (Medaglia D’Oro) and Empire Gal (Empire Maker).
His fourth dam, Carols Christmas (Whitesburg), is a foundational mare in the successful Winchell family, a line that has produced countless top-level performers.
The arrival of Red Route One is much more than a new stallion entering the country—it is a strong statement. In a difficult economic environment, the investment by La Pasión, La Nora, and Firmamento reflects a deep conviction that Argentine turf deserves to reach a higher level. Adding a Gun Runner son injects world-class genetics to compete on an international stage.
“The goal is always to grow and provide breeders with the best bloodlines possible,” the operation noted. Red Route One will not cover mares in 2025 due to the recency of the acquisition, so his first Argentine crop will arrive in 2027.
With Red Route One, Argentine breeding gains a stallion that combines precocity, stamina, class, and an exceptional lineage, marking the first direct Gun Runner line in the country—a forward-looking investment that excites and enhances the international projection of local Thoroughbreds.
