Gunnevera bound for Woodward after facile comeback score

He’s back!

Gunnevera rolled by 6 1/2 lengths in a Friday allowance at Gulfstream Park in his first start since March. He had been sidelined with an injury to his right front hoof sustained when he finished eighth in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 31.

Gunnevera has a long-range goal of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and trainer Antonio Sano told Gulfstream Park publicity after Friday’s win that the horse is now a candidate for the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward on Sept. 1.

“The horse will work here for the next two weeks and then, maybe Aug. 24 or 25, he will go to Saratoga,” said Sano.

Gunnevera ($2.20) was content to trail in the early stages of his 1 1/16-mile comeback as Asterisk set fractions of 24.58 seconds for the opening quarter and 48.32 for the half-mile, joined by Millionaire Runner. Gunnevera began to advance, moving three wide around and final turn and taking the lead into the stretch. He went on to win in hand, covering the distance on a track rated fast in 1:42.03.

“Just at the three-eighths pole I kind of tapped him on the back because he was kind of lazy,” winning rider Edgard Zayas told Gulfstream. “I just wanted to make sure he was there, and after that it was a hand ride. He was moving beautiful.”

Leitone, the winner of the Group 1 El Derby in Chile in his last start Feb. 4, finished second in what was his first race in the United States and his first for trainer Kathy Ritvo.