King Cotton win sets up Gunite for trip to Saudi Arabia

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Gunite remains on course for a trip to Saudi Arabia, trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday, a day after the 4-year-old put up one of the best Beyer Speed Figures of his career in the $150,000 King Cotton at Oaklawn Park.

The horse is being pointed for the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint. It will be run Feb. 25.

Gunite on Saturday earned a 104 Beyer for a standout performance in the six-furlong King Cotton. He tracked the pace in the slop, took command through five furlongs in 57.18 seconds, and finished up six furlongs in 1:08.89.

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“Wow,” Asmussen said Sunday while reflecting on the effort. “He’s a Grade 1-winning millionaire. That’s what separates him. If anything, that’s as fast as he’s run and going into Saudi we feel like we have a lot of horse.”

Asmussen said Gunite would return to Fair Grounds. He’s scheduled to fly overseas Feb. 13.

Gunite on Saturday was making his first start since finishing a close fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 5 at Keeneland. The King Cotton was the sixth stakes win of his career, which includes a win in the Perryville in October at Keeneland with a career-high Beyer of 106.

“He is unbelievably durable, mentally and physically,” Asmussen said. “He’s run some great races on the grandest stages, being a Hopeful winner, and he ran valiant at a mile in the Breeders’ Cup.

“For him to start off running that impressively this year, we expect to have a huge year with him – and the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint seems like a great spot to go next with a very fast horse.”

Gunite is a son of Gun Runner who races for his breeder, Winchell Thoroughbreds.

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