Winchell Racing LLC and Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) continued his preparations for a start in the May 7 GI Kentucky Derby with a five-panel work in 1:01 flat [5/12] Monday morning at Churchill Downs. According to Churchill clockers, the Steve Asmussen trainee breezed through eighth-mile splits of :12.40, :24.20 and :36.40, en-route to galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.20.
“He's very manageable [and] he's getting over the ground well,” said assistant trainer Scott Blasi. “He's got plenty of time, so this was just a nice maintenance work for him.”
Gun Runner broke his maiden at first asking going one mile at Churchill last September and added a Keeneland allowance win in October prior to closing out his juvenile season with a respectable fourth-place finish in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. over a sloppy track in Louisville. The chestnut has returned in razor-sharp form in 2016, annexing the Fair Grounds' GII Risen Star S. Feb. 20 and recently running away to a decisive 4 1/2-length triumph in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 26.
“He's definitely changed physically and he's getting there,” Blasi said. “He's still playful but he's definitely getting there. It's nice to have him here. He's settled in how we've wanted him to and hopefully we'll have good works leading up to the Derby.”
Monday's work was Gun Runner's second local breeze since shipping in after the Louisiana Derby, having covered a half-mile in :50.60 Apr. 4. Blasi added that the colt is scheduled to breeze again next Monday, Apr. 18.
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