Gun Runner aims at Saratoga's Whitney

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Gun Runner is scheduled to leave Churchill Downs for Saratoga next Monday, with the next start for the superstar colt most likely to come in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 5 at the upstate New York track.

David Fiske, racing manager for co-owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, confirmed Monday that Gun Runner and other Steve Asmussen-trained horses will be shipped ahead of the balance of the stable to escape the hot Kentucky weather and begin preparations for the Saratoga meet, which runs July 21 to Sept. 4.

“We couldn’t be happier with him,” Fiske said.

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Gun Runner, owned by Winchell and Three Chimneys Farm, wowed the racing world Saturday night at Churchill with a front-running triumph in the Grade 1, $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap. Ridden by Florent Geroux, the 4-year-old colt led throughout as the 124-pound highweight in prevailing by seven lengths, the largest margin in the 36-year history of the 1 1/8-mile race. He earned an expenses-paid berth in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar when getting a 110 Beyer Speed Figure and increasing his career bankroll to $4,638,500.

Beyond the $1.2 million Whitney, which goes at 1 1/8 miles, Asmussen and Fiske aren’t talking about what would come next. “The main thing was to get the Win and You’re In and get him to the Breeders’ Cup the best way we can,” Asmussen said.

Gun Runner’s romp was the apex of a very eventful Downs After Dark program that included four other graded stakes. Three of the other four winners – McCraken in the Grade 3 Matt Winn, Forever Unbridled in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis, and Sweeping Paddy in the Grade 3 Regret – also will be pointed to Saratoga races, while Kasaqui, the winner of the Grade 2 Wise Dan, has the Aug. 12 Arlington Million as his summer goal.

Huge night for Hernandez

Lost amid all the stakes action Saturday night was one of the greatest feats in more than 13 years of riding for Brian Hernandez Jr., who booted home five winners, including the heavily favored McCraken in the Matt Winn. He also won aboard Cerro ($9), Fifth Title ($10.40), Miss Kentucky ($3), and Portal ($4.60).

Hernandez, 31, said he believes it’s the third time he has won five on a card, with the others coming at Evangeline Downs and Fair Grounds in his native Louisiana.

“It was just great that all the horses showed up on such a big night,” said Hernandez, second only to Corey Lanerie in the current meet standings.

Record handle on Foster Night

All-sources handle Saturday night was $9,400,176, the highest for a Downs After Dark card since Churchill began conducting night racing in 2009 and an increase of 31.5 percent over last year’s Stephen Foster card, also held at night.

The previous high among 42 night cards was $8,864,178 on opening night of the 2011 spring meet, when the Downs After Dark record attendance of 38,142 turned out.

Attendance on Saturday was 20,669. The 38-day spring meet will close with the third night card of the year June 30.

Tragedy befalls filly Sunday

A sad scene played out in the Churchill paddock prior to the sixth race Sunday, when My Bright Idea, a 3-year-old maiden filly, died after suddenly rearing up and falling backward, hitting her head on the ground. Emergency personnel and the equine ambulance were required to address a tragic situation that transpired before hundreds of horrified onlookers.

“Obviously, it was very traumatic,” trainer Buff Bradley said. “We don’t know why or how it happened. Your heart absolutely breaks for everybody involved. I’m just thankful no people got hurt.”

My Bright Idea, bred and owned by Judy Hicks, had two seconds and a third from seven career starts. Bradley said the remains were transported to the University of Kentucky, where a necropsy was to be performed.

A Father’s Day to remember

Kenny McPeek has won training titles and major races in more than three decades of training Thoroughbreds, but he’d be very reluctant to trade his three-win day here Sunday for anything. It came on Father’s Day, and there’s nothing more dear to McPeek than his two daughters, Jenna, 16, and Ann, 19 months.

“It was a great day,” said McPeek, who won with Dorodansa ($4.60), Wholehearted ($8), and Loran Holiday ($12.80). “I’m so proud of my horses, owners, and staff that works so hard.”

Classic Empire back in rhythm

Classic Empire was expected to resume galloping this week after returning to light training last Friday at Churchill, assistant trainer Norman Casse said.

“He’s just been jogging,” Casse said, adding that the colt has been fitted with a custom-made protective bar shoe on his right front foot, where an abscess developed that precluded the colt from starting as the favorite in the June 10 Belmont Stakes. “We’re hoping to breeze him by closing weekend [July 1 or so],” with the July 30 Haskell at Monmouth Park being his tentative next start.

Sub announcers for Stone

With Travis Stone back in his hometown of Schroon Lake, N.Y., this week to deliver the commencement speech at his former high school, Mike Battaglia (Thursday) and Paul Espinosa (Friday) will fill in as the Churchill race-caller for a couple of days.

Battaglia, who still makes the Churchill morning line, was the caller here from 1978-96. Espinosa calls at Charles Town.