Confirming his greatness, Gun Runner scored the third Grade 1 victory of his career Saturday in a premier event at an historic venue.
Moving boldly to the lead before the field hit the far turn, the 4-year-old Candy Ride colt ran away with the $1.2 million Whitney at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. Ridden confidently by Florent Geroux, Gun Runner pranced home by 5 1/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite with Keen Ice, Saratoga's 2015 Travers winner, a distant second.
Gun Runner, third in last year's Travers, went the fast-rated nine furlongs in 1:47.71 carrying 124 pounds.
The victory was his second straight in Grade 1 competition, Gun Runner taking the Stephen Foster Handicap in June at Churchill Downs after finishing second to champion Arrogate in March's Dubai World Cup. The Clark Handicap winner at Churchill Downs late in his 3-year-old campaign, Gun Runner made an impressive seasonal debut in February's Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
"He's spoiling us. He really is," said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. "He came to the paddock with his game face on. For him to win a race of the quality of the Whitney at Saratoga under the pressure that Saratoga brings only elevates his status."
A rematch with Arrogate, to whom he finished third in the 2016 Travers, is possible in the $6 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Del Mar in Southern California. Arrogate won last year's Classic at Santa Anita, defeating two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, but was soundly beaten by Accelerate at Del Mar last month in his first start since returning from Dubai.
"He's beat us both times," Asmussen said. "Hopefully, the stars will align and we'll have another opportunity at the end of the year. I got on the plane leaving Dubai thinking that way. He beat us 15 lengths in the Travers and 2 1/2 in Dubai. I feel like it's headed the right direction. He needs to finish off his year [to be considered a great horse].
"Gun Runner gives us the confidence. We're up to the challenge and if he can finish off the year, it'll be deserving."
Sports on 08/06/2017