Gunnevera Works Bullet Five Furlongs at Gulfstream
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Photo: Coady Photography
Gunnevera prior to the Kentucky Derby
Multiple graded-stakes winner Gunnevera topped the worktab for the fourth consecutive time the morning of Oct. 22 at Gulfstream Park West, where the Antonio Sano-trained 3-year-old colt breezed five furlongs in 1:00 flat under Edgard Zayas.
The son of Dialed In turned in the fastest of 16 recorded workouts at the distance in preparation for a scheduled start in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar Nov. 4.
"Everything went as we planned it and the horse breezed very well, I didn't ask him and he did it easily. The gallop-out was very good," said Zayas, who has the mount aboard Gunnevera for the Classic. "He is getting better and better. I'm very happy with him."
Gunnevera is scheduled to work once more at Gulfstream Park West before shipping to Southern California Oct. 28.
Gunnevera hasn't raced since finishing second in the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Margoth's stretch-running colt was 11th during the early going of the 12-horse Travers before making a sweeping move on the turn into the homestretch to engage front-running West Coast at the top of the stretch. West Coast pulled away to a 3 1/4-length triumph, but Gunnevera easily held second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Irap.
The Kentucky-bred colt captured the 2016 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) and closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a 5 3/4-length triumph in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3).
The Sano trainee launched his 2017 campaign with a second-place finish behind Irish War Cry in the Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream before closing from last to win the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) by 5 3/4 lengths. In the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1), Gunnevera dropped back to last after breaking from the far-outside post and made a strong run to finish third behind Always Dreaming. He subsequently finished seventh behind that rival in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Gunnevera went on to finish fifth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) before being given a 2 1/2-month break from action. He prepped for the Travers with a commanding five-length triumph in the $100,000 Tangelo Stakes at Gulfstream Aug. 6, when Zayas rode him for the first time.