Asmussen hoping Gun Runner gets him out of Saratoga slump

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Despite having the best horse in the field and arguably the second-best horse in North America, trainer Steve Asmussen’s comfort level is not high as he prepares to run Gun Runner in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga.

Through the first 11 days of the meet, Asmussen has watched several horses – including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners – struggle with a deep Saratoga main track that has played slow. Asmussen, like everybody else, watched Arrogate, the top-ranked horse in the world, finish next to last in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar two weeks ago. Lastly, his own stable has started this meet winless with 17 starters.

“The parts that are unnerving or worrisome are the way the racetrack has been the first three weeks of the meet and the results of some big races,” Asmussen said Thursday. “Just points out to you how racing can go. You wish things were a little truer to form.”

Perhaps Gun Runner can restore some order when he takes on six rivals – and maybe Mother Nature – in the Whitney, the second-richest race at this meet to the $1.25 million Travers. The Whitney, which offers a fees-paid berth in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Del Mar, is the centerpiece of an 11-race card that also includes the Grade 1 Test for 3-year-old fillies and a trio of highly competitive turf stakes. The Whitney will be shown live on NBC during a one-hour broadcast beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern.

Gun Runner will be a prohibitive favorite in the Whitney, and deservedly so. His 8-for-15 record includes six graded stakes victories. In his last four starts dating to last fall, Gun Runner won the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs and the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn Park. After finishing second to Arrogate in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup in March, Gun Runner rolled to a front-running seven-length victory in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster, running 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.56 and earning a 110 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It was everything we hoped for, and he looked fast,” Asmussen said of Gun Runner’s Stephen Foster win.

Gun Runner is fast. His four most recent victories have been achieved in front-running fashion.

There are other horses with speed in the Whitney. Most notably, Cautious Giant was entered by owner Ron Paolucci as a rabbit for his more-accomplished runner, War Story. Cautious Giant was used effectively as a rabbit for Imperative, also owned by Paolucci, in the Charles Town Classic.

Tu Brutus, who earned a 118 Beyer in running second in the Grade 3 Excelsior, has speed. Discreet Lover, who in post 7 is drawn outside of Gun Runner, has shown speed as well.

Asmussen said Gun Runner will not change tactics in the Whitney, where he will be ridden by Florent Geroux.

“We’ve had a lot more success not worrying about where anybody else is going to be,” Asmussen said. “He’s earned the right to run his race.”

Another wrinkle for Gun Runner is the possibility of a wet track. Rain was in the forecast for late Friday night and into Saturday morning, with the potential for as much as a half-inch. Gun Runner is 0 for 3 on a wet track, but he did run a very good second over a muddy surface in the Dubai World Cup.

“This racetrack right now, a lot of water might not be a bad idea,” Asmussen said.

Keen Ice, who upset Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Travers here two years ago, looms the biggest threat to Gun Runner. He comes off a three-length victory in the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont Park, just his third victory from 22 starts.

“He’s trained well since then,” said Todd Pletcher, the trainer of Keen Ice. “He seems to be in good form. It looks like we’re going to get a little bit of help pace-wise. See what the weather does. If it rains, that could impact the race a little bit, it looks like.”

War Story won the Grade 2 Brooklyn at Belmont Park, beating Tu Brutus, who trainer Gary Contessa said came out of that race with a guttural pouch infection. Breaking Lucky ran fourth, beaten a head, in the Woodward here last year.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Gun Runner, by Candy Ride

Last 3 Beyers: 110-110-111

◗ While Arrogate struggled in his return from Dubai, this horse won the Stephen Foster in spectacular fashion in his first start since that race.

◗ He has trained very well since arriving at Saratoga about a month ago.

◗ He may simply be the speed of the speed.

Keen Ice, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 106-103-96

◗ Showed the ability to lay closer to a slow pace when he knocked off odds-on favorite Shaman Ghost in the Suburban, and he was only five lengths off the pace when he won the Travers.

“I think he’s one of those horses you have to let him be happy early, wherever that is, and hope he keeps coming,” Pletcher said.

War Story, by Northern Afleet

Last 3 Beyers: 102-96-90

◗ Fell into a dream trip in the Brooklyn, stalking Tu Brutus, who chucked it in upper stretch.

◗ He was beaten only a half-length when third to stablemate Imperative in the Charles Town Classic. Cautious Giant, another stablemate, helped set a strong and contested pace in that race.

Tu Brutus, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 97-108-118

◗ If you accept the throat infection as an excuse in the Brooklyn, his other two U.S. performances stack up here.

◗ He has enough early speed to entertain Gun Runner if his connections so choose. But two works back, Tu Brutus started behind another horse, an indication that Contessa might like to see him sitting second or third early.