Spun to Run works, picks up Castellano for Pegasus World Cup

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run worked four furlongs in 47.51 at Palm Meadows late Tuesday morning and picked up Javier Castellano as his rider for Saturday's $3 million Pegasus World Cup.

Spun to Run posted early splits of 24.34 and 36.00 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:00.75, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Donald Harris.

"I didn't think he went that fast, but he makes it look so easy," said trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero said.

Guerrero found himself in need of a rider for Spun to Run after Irad Ortiz Jr., who guided him to victory in the Breeders' Cup and a second-place finish behind Maximum Security in the Cigar Mile, opted to ride Mucho Gusto for trainer Bob Baffert in the Pegasus World Cup. Guerrero said Tuesday morning that Castellano was his first choice to ride Spun to Run, and a little while later Castellano confirmed he had picked up the mount.

Guerrero said Spun to Run is dealing with a little skin issue, but otherwise he couldn't be happier with how the horse has been doing since arriving in South Florida about a month ago. He worked Spun to Run twice without Lasix at Palm Meadows to make sure he did not have a bleeding issue because he will not be able to treat him with the anti-bleeding medication prior to the Pegasus World Cup, and both times the horse scoped clean after the work, he said. Spun to Run worked with Lasix on Tuesday

Spun to Run is scheduled to ship to Gulfstream Park early Wednesday afternoon.

Spun to Run was one of three prospective Pegasus World Cup starters to work around the local area on Tuesday. Diamond Oops blew out three furlongs from the gate in 36.20 at Palm Meadows, while Bodexpress breezed five furlongs in 1:04.20 in company at Gulfstream Park West.

Entries for the Pegasus World Cup and $1 million Pegasus Turf Invitational will be drawn at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.