Kentucky-Bound Classic Winner Gun Runner in Good Order

Breeders in Kentucky will soon get the chance to see "a piece of art," trainer Steve Asmussen said Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

Gun Runner , who likely sewed up Horse of the Year honors Nov. 4 in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), will fly from California to Louisville, Ky. Nov. 6, and then head to Three Chimneys Farm near Lexington for some post-race downtime. He will be available for inspection before he rejoins Asmussen's string at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans.

While Gun Runner will eventually be retired to stud at Three Chimneys, plans call for the 4-year-old son of Candy Ride  to remain in training for the Kentucky operation and co-owner Winchell Thoroughbreds—at least for a start in the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park, a race he missed last year because of an equine herpesvirus outbreak and quarantine at Fair Grounds.

"What's next is celebrating every day from now until they give him the Horse of the Year trophy," Asmussen said. "The horse deserves it. I can't tell you the level of appreciation I have for him. Because very few horses accept the amount of pressure that was applied to him. Especially in the style in which he did it.

"It feels wonderful standing here the day after; the plan came together so well and (we) feel the season has earned him the golden trophy."

Gun Runner emerged well Sunday morning from his 2 1/4-length victory over Collected, and walked the shedrow as Three Chimneys chairman Goncalo Borges Torrealba stopped by for a visit. The chestnut colt landed his fourth consecutive grade 1 victory Saturday—fifth overall—and improved his career earnings to $8,988,500. He won for the first time going 1 1/4 miles, and handed 2016 Classic winner Arrogate , who finished fifth, a resounding defeat after finishing behind him twice—including a tough second in the Dubai World Cup (G1) this March.   

"It came together," Asmussen said of Gun Runner's Breeders' Cup campaign. "And on this stage, when you need to be your best, we were our best. ... The Breeders' Cup here at Del Mar, what a wonderful setting. (I was) very much concerned about a different racetrack, a racetrack he hadn't run on—all of those variables. He accepted them, did his job, and came through like the champion he is. That little bit of unknown just had the excitement a couple notches higher."