Gun Runner carried extra weight in his last race, a rival's loose shoe hooking on his tail all the way to the winner's circle in the Grade 1 Whitney Aug. 5 at Saratoga.
The 4-year-old has a more figurative load in today's Grade 1 $750,000 Woodward at the Spa in upstate New York. Prepping for the Grade 1 $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in Southern California, Gun Runner enters the Woodward ranked No. 1 in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll for the second week.
A powerful Whitney winner by 5 1/4 lengths, Gun Runner carries 124 pounds over nine furlongs in what Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen says will be his final prep before the Nov. 4 Classic. Florent Geroux keeps the mount on the early 2-5 favorite, breaking from post two in a five-horse field.
"Staying here and then making one move to California gives us the best chance," said Asmussen, whose Candy Ride colt won his seasonal debut in February's Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
Gun Runner scored his second-straight Grade 1 victory and third of his career in the Whitney, his first start at Saratoga since running third behind Arrogate in the 2016 Travers. Gun Runner finished second to last year's old Classic winner and 3-year-old champion in March's Dubai World Cup, overtaking Arrogate in the NTRA poll after the latter's twin defeats at Del Mar.
"You rarely ever see the race of a horse's life at Saratoga," Asmussen said. "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."
Todd Pletcher sends out Dubai World Cup third-place finisher Neolithic and Rally Cry. War Story and Discreet Lover, making the 30th start of his career for owner-trainer Uriah St. Lewis complete the field in the Woodward. Post time for the Woodward, following the Grade 1 $350,000 Spinaway for 2-year-old fillies, is 5:46 p.m.
Lawyer Ron, Oaklawn's Arkansas Derby winner of 2006 for the late Bob Holthus, swept the Whitney and Woodward as older male champion of 2007 when trained by Pletcher. The filly Rachel Alexandra, a multiple stakes winner at Oaklawn, gamely captured the 2009 Woodward under Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel and was named Horse of the Year after beating males three times in her 3-year-old campaign.
Sports on 09/02/2017