Gun Runner romps to victory in the Woodward

Gun Runner, romped to victory in the $750,000 Woodward at Saratoga for his third consecutive grade one victory and in doing so strengthened his position as the number one ranked thoroughbred in the country. The son of Candy Ride drew off to win the mile and an eighth stake by 10 ¼ lengths in a final time of 1:47.43.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen maintained his perfect record in the Woodward, as Gun Runner joined his other two winners, Curlin in 2008 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009. Those two went on to be named Horse of the Year in those same years.

Five horses went into the starting gate and when the bell rang four of them were eager to get to the early lead. It was Neolithic that succeeded and he took position on the rail and opened up a comfortable lead.

Jockey Florent Geroux and Gun Runner were content to sit patiently behind the pace setter in second position just as they had done in their last race, the Whitney. Rally Cry was closest to Gun Runner in third, while War Story and Discreet Lover ran as a pair in the last two spots.

Neolithic was setting fast fractions and opened up a comfortable margin of 2 ½ lengths after going 23.20, 46.56, and 1:10.45 for the three quarters of a mile. Geroux then moved Gun Runner into the two-path and began to close the gap on the leader.

Rounding the final turn, Gun Runner was able to make up ground easily as Neolithic tired. As he straightened for home, Gun Runner was gobbling up ground and the only questions that remained were the margin of victory and who would get closest to Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm runner. Gun Runner opened up to a six-length lead in mid-stretch as the mile went in 1:34.78. In the end, Rally Cry was ten lengths back in second place and Neolithic was not threatened for third.

"I kind of expected one of them [the two entries by Todd Pletcher, Neolithic (No. 1) and Rally Cry (No. 3)] to go, I didn't know which one,” explained Geroux. “My horse broke so sharp I could pretty much do anything I wanted with him, he broke beautifully and from there, when he starts leading on his left foot he is very strong. From the three-eighths pole, I just knew it was a matter of how many lengths I am going to win. I was just hanging on. That is it.”

Gun Runner joins an illustrious list of thoroughbreds, who have won the Woodward. Decade after decade, the greats of racing have captured this top-level stake in the Older Male division. In the 60’s, there was Sword Dancer, Kelso three times, Buckpasser, Damascus, and Arts and Letters. The 70’s had Forego four times, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed. Spectacular Bid began the parade of stars in the 80’s and was joined by Slew O’ Gold, Alysheba, and Easy Goer. No let down in the 90’s with winners like Holy Bull, Cigar twice, and Skip Away. This century has had stars like Ghostzapper, Curlin, Rachel Alexandra, and Havre de Grace.

Looking ahead to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Geroux was confident, "That was better than the Whitney. Stronger. Faster. Overall, he is just getting better and that was four weeks and he is doing good on the track. And I don't think he is 100% cranked up yet. I really do think he has another step forward with him.

"We need [a race] against Arrogate. I am sure Bob Baffert is going to have his host of his horses ready. Who knows he may have some more. He is a very dangerous trainer in California, that is for sure.”

The Woodward victory moves Gun Runner’s career record to 17: 10-3-2 and pushed his earnings up to $5,738,500. At the windows he returned $2.70, 2.10, and there was no show wagering. The $2 exacta with Rally Cry paid $5.00 and the $2 trifecta with Neolithic in third was worth $9.00.

Asmussen said that Gun Runner will now train up to the Breeders’ Cup. "I think everything culminates with the Breeders' Cup Classic. That is why he is in training this year and that has been the goal and continues to be the goal. We will do our best to get him there in as good a shape as possible. If we are fortunate to have success there everything else will take care of itself. I've tried my best not to look ahead and respect today. I want to leave here before we grow a winter coat and it's too hot to get to California right now, with the weather they're having over the next week. Over a 100 every day I don't want to be a part of that. Two or three weeks at Churchill is becoming a strong possibility."