Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm’s Kentucky Derby hopeful Gun Runner had his fourth work over the Churchill Downs surface on Monday morning, clocking a “distance-best” 1:12 2/5 for six furlongs on a fast track.
“We worked Gun Runner last Monday and me, (assistant trainer) Scott (Blasi) and Florent (Geroux) thought that he needed a little bit more,” trainer Steve Asmussen reported after Monday’s breeze. “Saturday they started the Derby break training; I think that the racetrack is not as tight, just freshly harrowed. We thought that we would get a blow out of him today and that’s exactly what we got out of the work.”
Gun Runner, who has worked the past four Mondays at Churchill, has acclimated well to his surroundings after victories in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds, according to Asmussen.
The trainer is looking for a good start for Gun Runner in the May 7th Derby.
“Gun Runner is a quick horse, extremely athletic and capable of being very close to any pace. The key with him is how he gets under the wire the first time. I think over half of the field is eliminated in the first quarter of a mile in the Derby.”
Depending on the weather, Gun Runner will have one more breeze prior to the Derby.
