Gun Runner can make statement in Woodward Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The landscape of the older-male division has changed since that late-March evening when Arrogate overcame a disastrous start to beat Gun Runner by 2 1/4 lengths in the $10 million Dubai World Cup.

Since then, Arrogate has lost both of his starts, while Gun Runner has recorded dominant Grade 1 victories in both the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June and the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga in August. On Saturday, Gun Runner looks to put himself in position to make a bid for Horse of the Year at the Breeders’ Cup when he heads a field of five in the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga.

“We’re extremely pleased with the position we’re in, knowing we have two races left,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Thursday. “What has put us in this position is what’s happened to some of the others. When you see that, it gives you an opportunity, but you also realize how easy it is to get off course. Watching Songbird get run down the other day, they don’t make you feel easy about any of it, that’s for sure.”

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Asmussen was referring to Songbird losing the Grade 1 Personal Ensign here by a neck to Forever Unbridled. He made his comment before it was announced Thursday that Songbird had been retired.

Gun Runner participates in the Woodward just four weeks after he recorded his lifetime-best Beyer Speed Figure (112) in winning the Whitney by 5 1/4 lengths over Keen Ice. Asmussen thought the Woodward, a two-turn 1 1/8-mile race, was the best available prep for the Breeders’ Cup for Gun Runner. He’ll have nine weeks before the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar – and presumably a showdown with Arrogate – on Nov. 4.

Asmussen, who trains Gun Runner for Three Chimneys Farm and Winchell Thoroughbreds, said the Whitney “went as nice and as smooth as I could have hoped, and the horse has trained very smoothly since.”

“Being back in a month, two mile-and-an-eighth races at Saratoga, we have not asked him for a lot between these two races,” Asmussen said. “[Nine] weeks back to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is the whole reason to be in training this year, gives us some time to dial it up a notch.”

The day after the Whitney, Rally Cry dialed it up a notch when he rolled to an 8 3/4-length victory in the Alydar Stakes, also at 1 1/8 miles. He earned a career-best 110 Beyer, and returns Saturday in the Woodward.

“This was the first time around two turns where he was able to get into that same kind of rhythm that we’ve seen him get into in his works in the morning, where he kind of keeps going and going and going,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Rally Cry for Paul Pompa Jr.

Pletcher also trains Neolithic, who finished third behind Arrogate and Gun Runner in the Dubai World Cup. After getting a freshening, Neolithic won a seven-furlong allowance race on the Whitney card.

“I think he’s a horse that’s shown on a given day he can compete with some of the best horses,” said Pletcher, who trains Neolithic for Starlight Racing and Qatar Racing. “That’s what we need from both of them to compete with a horse like Gun Runner, but I do feel very good about the way they’re coming up to it.”

War Story won the Grade 2 Brooklyn at Belmont in June and most recently finished fourth, beaten 13 1/2 lengths by Gun Runner, in the Whitney.

Discreet Lover, who finished fifth in the Whitney, completes the field.

The Woodward goes as race 11 on a 12-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Eastern. The Woodward and the Grade 1 Spinaway for 2-year-old fillies will be shown live on NBC Sports Network in a one-hour telecast starting at 6 p.m.

The card also includes the Grade 3 Saranac for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf and the Grade 3, $200,000 Glens Falls at 1 3/8 miles for fillies and mares on turf.

KEY CONTENDERS

Gun Runner, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 112-110-NA

◗ Figures to be on or near the lead after breaking from post 2 under Florent Geroux at 124 pounds.

“He has been a horse that’s been away from the gates cleanly, and I hope that continues,” Asmussen said. “He’s been bouncing away from there, and that puts you in a pretty good spot usually. He’s never been a need-the-lead horse. Hopefully, he is traveling as comfortably in the Woodward as he was in the Whitney.”

◗ He has had two easy half-mile workouts since the Whitney.

Rally Cry, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 110-91-105

◗ Comes off a career-best effort in the Alydar, stalking Conquest Windycity for seven furlongs before taking over in upper stretch and running away under a hand ride.

◗ Will either be in front of or sitting just off Gun Runner early on.

“There’s a concern about reproducing that race in four weeks, but the bigger concern is can he reproduce it against a horse the caliber of Gun Runner?” Pletcher said. “Happy he was able to draw outside of him. I think that gives [jockey John Velazquez] some options. We’ll just try to get into the same rhythm he was in last time and see what he can do with it.”

Neolithic, by Harlan’s Holiday
Last 3 Beyers: 92-NA-106

◗ Third to Arrogate in both the Pegasus World Cup and Dubai World Cup.

◗ Had an extremely wide trip to get up in a seven-furlong allowance here in his first start in 4 1/2 months.

“I think he’s really come forward since his comeback race,” Pletcher said.