Gun Runner Turns Back Older Horses in Clark Handicap
In the $500,000 Grade 1 Clark Handicap, it was the three-year-old colt Gun Runner that led the field of older horses the entire 1 1/8 miles. Coming off a runner-up effort to Tamarkuz in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Gun Runner showed the older competition was no sweat as the Steve Asmussen trainee pulled away to win by 2 3/4 lengths.
Breaking from post one in a field of ten, Gun Runner went to the front as he pleased. Noble Bird, who also prefers to be on the lead, broke poorly from post six and found himself as one of the last to leave the gate. While Gun Runner’s regular jockey Florent Geroux set comfortable fractions of :23.72, :48.00, and 1:11.89, Julien Leparoux had to pump early on Noble Bird to obtain the second position.
Mr. Z tried to make a bid on the front end as well, but ultimately fell further behind. Canadian based Breaking Lucky made sure to be in the mix, as well as eight-year-old Prayer for Relief. The 2014 and 2015 winners, Hoppertunity and Effinex, along with Shaman Ghost, waited to make their move from further back.
With Gun Runner taking the mile in 1:36.33, he and Geroux made their turn for home down the Churchill Downs stretch. Noble Bird failed to go with Gun Runner, but Breaking Lucky was able to give chase. Effinex failed to fire while Hoppertunity and Shaman Ghost made strong bids, but it was Gun Runner and Breaking Lucky to catch.
It seemed as if Breaking Lucky would get the best of his young rival for a split-second, but Gun Runner continued to fight back and eventually pulled free, stopping the clock in 1:48.50.
As the 2-1 favorite, Gun Runner delivered $6.20, $4.20, and $3.00. Breaking Lucky paid well with 46-1 odds, giving his bettors $25.60 and $11.00. 9-2 Shaman Ghost, who missed the Breeders’ Cup Classic due to a fever, returned $4.20. Hoppertunity, Hawaakom, Effinex, Noble Bird, Are You Kidding Me, Prayer for Relief, and Mr. Z completed the order of finish.
The Clark was the first Grade 1 win for Gun Runner. Bred by Besilu Stables, LLC, the son of Candy Ride has been nothing but consistent for Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC and Three Chimneys Farm. His career record now stands at 12-6-2-2 with earnings of $2,037,800. The only two times he finished out of the top three were on sloppy tracks.
“I’m so proud of him,” said Asmussen. “Walking him over, the horse has such confidence about him. He’s kept his strength and his weight with the thousands of miles he’s traveled this year on the stages that he’s been on. For him to beat this year’s Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup winners [Shaman Ghost and Hoppertunity] at the end of his three-year-old year I think speaks wonderful things for him.”
Geroux commented, “I was pretty confident up front. He was always a good horse when he’s forwardly placed and when Noble Bird wasn’t there, I just took it from there and just let my horse do his thing and let him be comfortable and turning for home he showed me a super kick.”
“He deserved it,” Asmussen added. “With all the Grade 1 winners he has beaten and for this to be his first Grade 1, I feel very confident it will not be his last.”
By Christine Oser