GI Stephen Foster H. winner Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) recorded his final major work Sunday ahead of his next start in Saturday's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga. Sent to the Oklahoma training track shortly after 6 a.m., the 4-year-old completed the initial eighth of a mile in :12 4/5 and a quarter in :25 1/5 before rounding out the move in :49.33. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:03 1/5.
“I thought he worked good; he always works well,” said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. “He's a nice horse and [it was] more of the same. He's a very generous workhorse. The weather's been ideal, I think we've been lucky with it so far. Obviously, there's a pretty good chance of rain for the Whitney but that's out of our hands. We'll see how he handles everything.”
Prior to his eye-catching seven-length victory in the Foster June 17 at Churchill Downs, he was second behind Arrogate in the G1 Dubai World Cup in March. Winner of the GII Risen Star and Louisiana Derby before finishing third in the 2016 Kentucky Derby, he closed out his sophomore campaign with a win in the GI Clark H. and a runner-up finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Gun Runner kicked off this year with a front running 5 ¾-length score in the GIII Razorback H. at Oaklawn in February.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
