Gun Runner gets serious for Razorback

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Gun Runner was among a handful of horses putting in final works at Oaklawn Park on Monday for a rich holiday card on Presidents Day, breezing a bullet five furlongs in 59.80 seconds. Gun Runner is set to launch his season in the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap, while some others drilling Monday were prepping for the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest.

Gun Runner last raced on Nov. 25, winning the Grade 1 Clark Handicap by 2 3/4 lengths and pushing his earnings to more than $2 million. The win capped an outstanding 3-year-old season for Gun Runner, who won the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby before finishing third in both the Kentucky Derby and Travers.

“I think he’s doing extremely well, and it’s time for him to get started,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Gun Runner for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm.

With temperatures in the 50s and on a fast track, Gun Runner worked by himself in the second set Monday. Arkansas state clocker Jim Hamilton caught Gun Runner in fractions of 12.80 seconds for his opening eighth of a mile, 25.20 for the first quarter, 37.60 for three-eighths and galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.80. Hamilton had Gun Runner’s final quarter in 22.20 seconds.

“We let him do something today,” Asmussen said. “He’s a week out from the race. He’s going up against older horses that have been running. We’ve got to hit the ground running.”

Florent Geroux has the mount in the Razorback, according to Asmussen.

Also working Monday for the Razorback was Shotgun Kowboy, a Grade 3 winner and earner of $800,000 who worked a half-mile by himself in 48.80 seconds. He is coming off an allowance win at Oaklawn.

The Razorback closed with 31 nominations. The weights for the race were to be released Wednesday, according to Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope. Entries for the Razorback and the Southwest will be taken Friday.

Pope said Oaklawn will put on a 10-race card next Monday for Presidents Day. The track will also have a 10-race card Saturday topped by the Grade 3, $150,000 Bayakoa.