Gun Runner Seeks Whitney/Woodward Double

Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) is favored to become the first horse since Lawyer Ron in 2007 to complete the GI Whitney S./GI Woodward S. double at Saratoga Saturday. A model of consistency throughout his career, the chestnut achieved his first top-level success at the end of his sophomore campaign, capturing last term's GI Clark H. He has proven to be even better at age four, romping in the GIII Razorback H. at Oaklawn Feb. 20 before finishing a gutsy second to an unreal performance from champion Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 25. Dominating by seven-lengths in his U.S. return in the GI Stephen Foster H. June 17, the Steve Asmussen pupil scored a facile 5 1/4-length victory over Keen Ice (Curlin) last time in the Whitney Aug. 5.

“I was very impressed [with his Whitney win] because of the circumstances of Saratoga,” Steve Asmussen told the NYRA notes team. “You rarely ever see the race of a horses' life at Saratoga. When you look back at some great forms, and some great races, it's usually not their best number or fastest race. Visually it was an impressive race, watching it he went through the wire with good energy, and I'm very pleased with that. Staying here and then making one move to California [for the Breeders' Cup] gives us the best chance.”

Todd Pletcher, who saddled Lawyer Ron to that 2007 double at the Spa, sends out two of Gun Runner's four rivals in this test. Third behind Arrogate and MGISW Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper) in the inaugural $12 million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday) completed an American trifecta in the Dubai World Cup and returned to these shores with a narrow optional claimer victory going seven furlongs here Aug. 5.

Besting “TDN Rising Star” Diversify (Bellamy Road) in a Belmont allowance Apr. 30, Rally Cry (Uncle Mo) checked in sixth behind an ultra-impressive performance from Mor Spirit (Eskendereya) in the GI Metropolitan H. June 10. He rebounded with a dominant 8 3/4-length victory in the restricted Alydar S. over this track-and-trip Aug. 6, earning a career-best 110 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Both are doing well, both ran well here,” Pletcher said. “I have a lot of respect for Gun Runner and his ability but we're happy with the way our horses are doing and we'll give it our best shot. It's light in numbers, strong in quality. Both Rally Cry and Neolithic, at a mile and an eighth, have tactical speed so I think some of it will depend on post position, but Gun Runner is a pretty tactical horse as well, so we'll see how it works out.”