Gun Runner to Return in Stephen Foster Handicap

While most of the attention at Steve Asmussen's barn this week has centered around his contenders for the first Saturday in May, the most accomplished member of the Hall of Famer's shedrow has quietly gone about the business of returning to the spotlight.

Grade 1 winner Gun Runner has been steadily training since returning from a brave runner-up finish in the March 25 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), and is targeting the June 17 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs, Asmussen said May 1.

Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm, Gun Runner ran one of the best races of his life in the Dubai World Cup, stalking the pace and taking the lead in the lane before being caught in late stretch by Juddmonte Farms' champion Arrogate—who uncorked a rally for the ages after breaking dead last in the field.

The 4-year-old son of Candy Ride   bounced out of the trip in strong order, leaving Asmussen once again marveling at Gun Runner's indefatigable constitution.

"He's enjoying Kentucky Derby week this week. He wants another shot at everything," Asmussen laughed, referencing Gun Runner's third-place finish in the first leg of the Triple Crown last year. "That's what we love about Gun Runner. Gun Runner has qualities that we all wish we had in ourselves. The way he accepts challenges and responds to toughness is an amazing quality.

"(The Stephen Foster) is the plan. Absolutely. We're here and with how well he's run here, it's night racing again and he's run pretty well under the lights."

Gun Runner captured his lone grade 1 win from 14 starts Nov. 25 when he prevailed over older horses in Churchill's Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare—putting the exclamation point on a nine-race 2016 campaign that saw him notch four graded stakes triumphs.