Always Dreaming, Gun Runner have solid works

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Gun Runner, the likely favorite for the Grade 1 Whitney, topped Sunday’s work tab at Saratoga where activity continues to increase daily over both the main and Oklahoma training tracks in anticipation of Friday's opening.

Working solo after the renovation break, Always Dreaming breezed five furlongs in 1:01.16, completing his final quarter-mile in 24.35, going easily to the wire, before galloping out six panels in 1:14.62. The work was the first for Always Dreaming since he arrived here earlier last week.

“I thought he went great,” trainer Todd Pletcher said minutes after the work. “He was nice and relaxed with a steady progression and good gallop out. He’s rounding back to top form, and we’re still on target for the Jim Dandy.”

Gun Runner worked earlier Sunday across the street on the Oklahoma training track where he completed five furlongs in 1:01, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Vesce. Going in company with stablemate Lookin at Lee, Gun Runner galloped out three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.60 before pulling up seven-eighths in 1:26.60.

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“He’s a very impressive horse who continues to do well,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He’s trained phenomenal all year, he really has. I’m very excited about the Whitney here. It should be a very competitive race against some excellent horses on a great stage. It’s a great opportunity for him.”

Asmussen said he will likely work Gun Runner over to the main track next Sunday.

Kentucky Derby runner-up Lookin at Lee will attempt to bounce back from a disappointing performance in the Belmont Stakes and could make his next start against Always Dreaming in the Jim Dandy on July 29.

“He’ll be nominated for the Jim Dandy, the Curlin and the West Virginia Derby,” Asmussen said. “He’s also been invited to the Haskell. I thought he stepped up and worked really well this morning. He’s a big, heavy horse and I needed to do a little more with him today, which is one reason I put him in company with Gun Runner, who is always very generous in his works. I expect him to do more next week, after which we’ll make a decision on where he’ll run next.”

Another potential Jim Dandy starter to work here Sunday was Patch, who went four furlongs in company with Thebigfundamental in 48.60 shortly after the main track opened at 5:30 a.m. Patch is coming off a third-place finish in the Belmont.

“I thought he worked well, but we’re still undecided on where he might go next,” Pletcher said. “The Jim Dandy is a possibility, as is the Haskell.”

** Also on Sunday, Cloud Computing, the Preakness winner, worked a half-mile in 48.29 by himself over the Belmont main track. Cloud Computing went his first eighth in 12.47 seconds and his last three-eighths in 35.82 seconds. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.

“He worked a little fast last week, just did a little maintenance today, well within himself, looked good,” trainer Chad Brown said.

Cloud Computing was scheduled to ship to Saratoga on Monday and have his final workout next weekend over the main track for the Jim Dandy.

-- additional reporting by David Grening