Gunnevera begins march to Breeders' Cup in optional claimer

Gunnevera returns from the sidelines Friday at Gulfstream Park to start a second-half-of-the-year campaign that his connections hope will lead to a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“It’s go time now,” trainer Antonio Sano said.

Gunnevera, a multiple Grade 2 winner who has earned $2.9 million, returns in the fourth race, an optional $62,500 claiming route for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles. He will break from the rail in the field of five that also includes Leitone, who is making his first start since winning the Group 1 El Derby in Chile in February, and Asterisk, a threat to wire the field.

Gunnevera will be making his first start since March 31, when he emerged from an eighth-place finish in the $10 million Dubai World Cup with an injury to his right front hoof. He sustained the wound not long after the start when he stumbled. He spent two months healing on a farm in Ocala, Fla., and rejoined Sano at Gulfstream Park West in June.

“He’s been doing very well, has been working very well, especially his last two works,” Sano said.

Gunnevera went five-eighths in a bullet 1:00 in his final prep Aug. 4 at Gulfstream Park West. Edgard Zayas, who has the mount Friday, has been aboard for at least the horse’s last four works, agent Tito Fuentes said.

Gunnevera is not scheduled to wear any special shoes Friday.

Sano said Gunnevera has a couple of paths to the Breeders’ Cup, with all dependent on how he runs Friday and emerges from the race. He could advance to the Woodward at Saratoga for his final prep or await the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont. Last year, Gunnevera ran second in the Travers at Saratoga, one start before finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Gunnevera has made two starts this year, including a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup in January at Gulfstream. Last year, he won the track’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Gunnevera, by Dialed In, has used closing tactics in his races and could find himself trying to reel in a lone speed horse Friday. Asterisk, a full brother to Dialed In, enters off a wire-to-wire win in a first-level allowance route June 17 at Gulfstream.

However, Leitone could be part of the pace. He tracked the early leader and took over on the final turn of the El Derby on turf Feb. 4. Earlier in his career, Leitone made all the pace when winning the 2000 Guineas, a Chilean Group 1 on dirt in which he covered the distance of about a mile in 1:34.71. The son of Dunkirk will add Lasix in his first start for trainer Kathy Ritvo.