Ron Winchell and Three Chimneys Farm’s Gun Runner’s gallant second-place finish behind Arrogate in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 25 had his connections praising his superb effort that found him just 2 1/4-lengths behind Arrogate and five lengths ahead of the rest of the 14-horse field.
Winchell said, “He ran into a buzzsaw (in Arrogate). I thought we had a chance there when Arrogate was left in the back, but he ran great to be second. He always tries.”
When the field broke from the gate, Gun Runner was away very smartly under Florent Geroux and was in second just off the flank of Long River the first time past the finish line. Gun Runner continued to press the leader for seven furlongs, when Geroux sent him to the lead.
Still under a hand ride coming into the stretch, Gun Runner soon had Arrogate at his side. Though he could not hold off the world’s current top-ranked horse, Gun Runner was well clear of the field in a courageous performance.
Said Geroux afterward. “I waited as long as I could – almost until the eighth-pole – but Arrogate went by me. Gun Runner was trying and was fighting with him all the way to the end. He’s still getting better and before I wasn’t sure about the 2000m [ten furlongs], but now as he’s improving I think it’s fine.”
Trainer Steve Asmussen summed the effort up nicely, “Gun Runner shows up. We’re very proud of him and very fortunate to be associated with him and the class that he shows under any circumstance. I think that everybody admires the qualities that this colt has.”
The $2,000,000 second place prize upped Gun Runner’s career record to 14: 7-3-2 with career earnings of $4,337,800. He has graded stakes wins in the Clark H. (G1), Louisiana Derby (G2), Risen Star S. (G2), Matt Winn S. (G3) and Razorback H. (G3).
Winchell said that Gun Runner would return to the United States with the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in November the ultimate goal.
