Gun Runner puts in final Churchill work, departs for California

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Gun Runner sure seems to have had a few good weeks at Churchill between his big summer at Saratoga and his impending rematch with Arrogate in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. The star colt completed his local training early Sunday by working five furlongs in company, with his connections expressing satisfaction afterward that he is headed to California in the way they had hoped.

With regular rider Florent Geroux aboard, Gun Runner spotted his Steve Asmussen-trained stablemate Gettysburg a couple of lengths down the backstretch before finishing on even terms under the wire. Churchill clocker John Nichols caught Gun Runner in 59.80 seconds, with out times of 1:13 and 1:27.80.

“He did everything on his own and I just wanted to keep him happy,” Geroux said.

Gun Runner was flown Monday to Southern California, where longtime Asmussen assistant Scott Blasi will oversee things for the next several weeks while based at Santa Anita. Del Mar reopens for training Oct. 23, and Gun Runner is expected to have his final pre-Classic work there.

:: Breeders' Cup PP packages: Get PPs, betting strategies, DRF+ Pro access, and more

Forever Unbridled breezes

Forever Unbridled, one of the top prospects for the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, was sent through her second breeze since defeating Songbird in the Aug. 26 Personal Ensign, going a half-mile in 48.40 seconds Monday over a fast Churchill surface.

“It was one of her basic good works, out in 1:02 and change,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “She’s sitting on tilt, looking good.”

Stewart said Forever Unbridled will remain at Churchill for as long as is practical. “We’ll fly her out to California less than a week out from the race,” he said.

McPeek holds tenuous lead

While Corey Lanerie appears on his way to another Churchill riding title, the race for leading trainer at the 11-day September meet is up for grabs.

Kenny McPeek, with five wins, will have a narrow lead atop the trainer standings when the final four-day stretch of the meet starts Thursday evening, but several trainers with plenty of bullets are on his heels, including Brad Cox with four wins and five trainers with three apiece.

McPeek, a four-time leading trainer at Keeneland, has led the Churchill standings twice, in 2002 (fall) and 2012 (fall, in a tie).