Gun Runner drills easy half-mile for Pegasus World Cup

Gun Runner began the serious preparation for the last start of his tremendous career when he worked an easy half-mile in 51.40 seconds on Sunday morning at Fair Grounds.

The work was Gun Runner’s first since he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Del Mar, and the first drill in preparation for his career finale Jan. 27 in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park.

“It was traditional Gun Runner,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He was traveling well. He moves easy. All is well with him.”

All continuing to be well, Gun Runner will now get on a steady work schedule for the Pegasus. Asmussen said he plans to ship Gun Runner from Fair Grounds to Gulfstream about 10 days from the race and give him his final work over the Gulfstream surface.

“Next week we’ll do a little more and add to it from there,” said Asmussen. “He won’t go in company for another month. He’s been feeling real good, and I just wanted to stretch his legs a touch today. We’re not going to do too much for a while.”

Gun Runner is certain to be named Horse of the Year for 2017 after capping a campaign that began with a win in the Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park with his definitive BC Classic score. Following the Pegasus, Gun Runner, a 4-year-old son of Candy Ride, will be let down and stand stud for the 2018 breeding season.

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