Clocker: Gun Runner, Creator impress Asmussen
Trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday had been an "ideal" morning after he sent out his two Kentucky Derby contenders - Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner and Arkansas Derby winner Creator - for their penultimate and most serious works at Churchill Downs in advance of the race.
"Extremely proud of the shape that both of these horses are in coming into the Derby," Asmussen said. "Our team has done wonderfully with them. Their works were ideal for what we think that we need. Very proud of the guys."
Gun Runner and regular rider Florent Geroux finished up well ahead of workmate Gold Hawk while going five furlongs in 59.63 and six furlongs in 1:12.88 on Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch's watch. Gun Runner was officially credited with the six-furlong time on the Churchill Downs work tab. Gold Hawk was a full second behind at the six-furlong clocking, and Gun Runner continued to gallop out well ahead.
After Gun Runner worked five furlongs in 1:00 last week, Asmussen said he wanted the colt to "stretch" in his next move, and was pleased with the execution on Monday.
"I thought that [last week's] was a very good work, but that he needed a little bit more of a blow," Asmussen said. "Thought that we would get a good blow in him today, and that's exactly what we got out of the work."
Creator, who was very keen to break off in his first serious exercise since winning the Arkansas Derby nine days prior, got five furlongs in 1:02.23 and six in 1:15.44 under Ricardo Santana, who has the mount in the Derby. He finished a shade ahead of workmate Hundred Years (1:02.80) and was galloping out ahead around the clubhouse turn.
"Creator's coming around at the right time," Asmussen said. "I really liked his focus, how much more professional he's been the last two, three weeks. We're just trying to keep him in a rhythm. I was extremely pleased with how well he maintained his focus today with everything there is to look at here."
Asmussen also worked his Kentucky Oaks contenders in company Monday morning, with Terra Promessa and Taxable going five furlongs in 1:02.62, and Royal Obsession and Nickname going in 59.91.