Gun Runner heads strong contingent of BC workers at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – Gun Runner, the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, led a roster of prominent potential Breeders’ Cup participants who worked on Monday morning at Santa Anita.

Trainer Steve Asmussen was in town for the day and watched Gun Runner go five furlongs in 1:01.60. The work was the second of four planned for Gun Runner here at Santa Anita before he heads to Del Mar for his final work prior to the $6 million Classic on Nov. 4.

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Gun Runner worked at about 7 a.m., and went by himself with exercise rider Angel Garcia aboard. It was a textbook work for a colt who’s as steady as a metronome.

“Looks like Gun Runner,” Asmussen said. “Good to see. He’s a very special horse. He really is.

“He’s playing coming off the track like you’d expect him to act before the work. That’s who he is, thank goodness.”

Asmussen said Gun Runner would work in company next week, and that Florent Geroux – his regular jockey – would be in town for the work.

Also working on Monday were Drefong, who is readying to defend his title in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 4, and Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman, who will be taking on elders in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 3.

Both Drefong and Abel Tasman are trained by Bob Baffert, who sent each horse a half-mile under Martin Garcia. Drefong worked in company, Abel Tasman went by herself.

Drefong sped through his work in 47.20 seconds.

“Just cruising,” Baffert said. “Went really nice. He couldn’t be doing any better.”

Abel Tasman was working for the first time since finishing second after breaking slowly and making an early move in the Cotillion at Parx. She was timed in 48.60 seconds.

“Just a little maintenance drill,” Baffert said.