World Cup on table after Gun Runner's big fig

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Gun Runner was bright and alert on Tuesday, the morning after he put up a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 110 for winning the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park. The start was his first at 4, and he covered the mile and a sixteenth on a fast track in 1:40.97.

Gun Runner’s time for the Razorback was the fastest since 1988, when Lost Code won the Oaklawn fixture in a stakes-record 1:40.40. The track record for the distance is 1:40.20. It was set in 1991, by Hang On Slewpy in the Fifth Season Stakes.

Gun Runner’s previous best Beyer Figure was a 104, earned for both his win in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap in his 3-year-old finale Nov. 25, and the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby, when second by a half-length Sept. 24.

“He’d been hinting in his training that he was better than ever," said trainer Steve Asmussen. "I thought he confirmed it with his race yesterday.

“One thing that makes him so special is how he takes his races and comes out of them. Very excited about the year for him, obviously.”

Asmussen said with Gun Runner having come out of the Razorback in “very good shape,” discussions will now be had concerning both the direction of the horse’s campaign and where he will be based going forward. Gun Runner shipped into Oaklawn from Fair Grounds on Feb. 8.

Ron Winchell, a co-owner of Gun Runner, said one race that will be debated is the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 25. Winchell Thoroughbreds owns Gun Runner with Three Chimneys Farm.

Gun Runner set the pace in the Razorback and won off by 5 3/4 lengths as the 122-pound highweight. He was ridden by Florent Geroux. Gun Runner has now won 7 of 13 starts and $2,337,800.

Hawaakom rallied from next to last for second in the Razorback and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 101 – plus a sizable check of $100,000. The start came one race after he captured the $75,000 Louisiana Handicap at his base of Fair Grounds. Trainer Wes Hawley on Tuesday was transporting Hawaakom back to Fair Grounds, and said the probable next start for the horse will be the Grade 2, $400,000 New Orleans Handicap on April 1.

“I thought it was a great race,” Hawley said of the Razorback. “We didn't got up there thinking we’re going to beat Gun Runner. We just felt like it was a good spot to make a lot of money. I own three-quarters of that horse and that’s a lot of money. If the race had been $150,000 or $200,000, we would have stayed in New Orleans and run in the Mineshaft [on Saturday]. And that’s going to be a tough race for $125,000. “

Domain’s Rap ran third in the Razorback, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

“Gun Runner is a monster,” said Danny Caldwell, who owns Domain’s Rap.

Caldwell said Domain’s Rap, who won the Fifth Season opening day at Oaklawn, emerged from the Razorback in good order. He said the horse could target the $250,000 Essex on March 18 at Oaklawn.

“He came out of the race good, and we’ll see how he progresses,” said Caldwell.

Federico Villafranco trains Domain’s Rap, who is 5 for 8 at Oaklawn.