Gun Runner's tail, Cautious Giant's shoe, make great tale

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Gun Runner didn’t just collect $650,000, his third career Grade 1 victory and the plaudits that go along with the dominant performance he put forth in winning Saturday’s $1.2 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga.

He also took home a lucky rabbit’s foot.

The shoe that flew off Cautious Giant and landed in Gun Runner’s tail with a half-mile remaining in the Whitney is now in the possession of his connections, who shelled out $100 for the souvenir after initially discarding it.

“We actually have a rabbit’s foot,” said Gun Runner trainer Steve Asmussen, referring to the fact Cautious Giant was entered in the Whitney to serve as a rabbit, or pacemaker, for stablemate War Story.

Assistant trainer Scott Blasi said he didn’t know the shoe had lodged in Gun Runner’s tail. The shoe was handed to him by a groom in the winner’s circle. Walking back to the test barn, Blasi flung the shoe along the outside rail. When he got back to the test barn, Blasi’s phone blew up with photos of the shoe being stuck in Gun Runner’s tail.

After checking to make sure Gun Runner was okay, Blasi jumped in his golf cart and rode back to where he tossed the shoe. He saw a man holding it.

“He said ‘this is the coolest thing I’ve ever had,’ " Blasi said. “I said, ‘I’ll give you $100 to give it back to me.’ It cost me $100 for littering.”

Gun Runner will take his skill - and his new lucky charm - most probably to the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward Stakes here Sept. 2, Asmussen said Sunday. The Woodward would be used as a steppingstone to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

“He gives us a tremendous amount of confidence,” Asmussen said. “Pleased with how he came back; obviously had an easy day, he’ll have a couple of easy days and then we’ll attempt to try and get in the same rhythm with him. With us being here, the Woodward is extremely probable.”

Gun Runner earned a career-best 112 Beyer Speed Figure in the Whitney, his ninth victory in 16 career starts. He increased his career earnings to $5,288,500 for his owners, Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm.

With dominant performances in the Stephen Foster and Whitney - both Grade 1 races - Gun Runner has put himself in the conversation for Horse of the Year. Of course, that title figures to come down to the Classic, when Gun Runner will most likely face Arrogate, who defeated Gun Runner in last year’s Travers and this year’s Dubai World Cup.

Arrogate finished next-to-last in the San Diego Handicap last month. He is being pointed to the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 19.

“It all depends on how we finish off the year,” Asmussen said of possible championship honors for Gun Runner. “Like everything else, all you got to do is keep winning.”

In the Whitney, Gun Runner defeated Keen Ice by 5 1/4 lengths. Keen Ice, who stumbled badly at the break, came out of the Whitney in good order, trainer Todd Pletcher said. He will be pointed to the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Oct. 7 at his preferred distance of 1 1/4 miles.

Pletcher will have at least one runner in the Woodward. Neolithic, who finished third in the Dubai World Cup in which Gun Runner finished second, won a second-level allowance race by a neck at Saratoga on Saturday.

That race - for which Neolithic earned a 92 Beyer - was designed as a prep for the Woodward.

“I think we’re going to move forward from that race and we’re going to be able to run a mile and an eighth, which is more in his wheelhouse,” Pletcher said. “But Gun Runner’s very good so we’ll do the best we can.”

Pletcher is also likely to run Rally Cry in the Woodward. Rally Cry was visually impressive winning Sunday’s $100,000 Alydar Stakes at Saratoga by 8 3/4 lengths.