America’s Gun Runner not anchored by fifth horseshoe

Tom Walter - Monday August 7

How does a horse win a race with five horseshoes?

Gun Runner wins at Saratoga with a horseshoe entangled in his tail.

That question was answered in Saturday's Grade I Whitney Stakes (1-1/8m) at Saratoga when the Steve Asmussen-trained Gun Runner (3-5 fav) finished first past the post with a rival's shoe caught in his tail.

The shoe belonged to Cautious Giant which finished last while Gun Runner cruised to his second Grade I win since finishing runner-up to Arrogate in the Group I Dubai World Cup (2000m) in March.

"They'll probably blame me and say I told him to throw it at him," Cautious Giant's co-owner Ron Paolucci told Bloodhorse.

"I'm going to call Asmussen and tell him I want my shoe back."

Finishing 5-1/4 lengths behind Gun Runner in second was Keen Ice, a horse that earned fame for upsetting American Pharoah in the Grade I Travers' Stakes (1-1/4m) at the same track almost two years ago.

Gun Runner's victory earned him a guaranteed spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic (1-1/4m) on November 5 at Del Mar where a rematch with Arrogate is a distinct possibility.

As for Arrogate, the Bob Baffert-trained galloper will be out to reaffirm his status as the world's highest rated racehorse in the Grade I Pacific Classic (1-1/4m) on August 19 after an inexplicably poor performance in the Grade II San Diego Handicap (1-1/16m) last month.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Josh Herd awarded 2025 Sunline Trust Scholarship
Manawatu’s Josh Herd has been announced as the 2025 recipient of the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship.
$250,000 Magic Millions Debut Friday Night – Sale Mail
A field of 10 unraced juveniles will get the chance to go straight into the $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a win in tonight’s $250,000 Magic Millions Debut (1000m), so who are the contenders?
Arriving Home Goes Two for Two – Three-Quarter Brother for MM 2025
Talented I Am Invincible filly Arriving Home does her best work on the line and we saw it when she scored on debut at Warwick Farm earlier this month and again when she got there in the last stride to win at Randwick on Saturday.
Sad Passing Uncle Mo
A regular shuttler to Coolmore Australia in the first four years of his stud career, leading US sire and brilliant racehorse Uncle Mo was euthanised in Kentucky on Thursday at age 16 on veterinary advice following an injury to his left foreleg.
Is He the Next Via Sistina or Buckaroo?
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross is a formidable one and has produced this spring’s elite Group I winners Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) with another lightly raced import bred the same way in Gilded Water (GB) going two for two in Australia with a cavalier win at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday December 21
Here is the full list of 95 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hong Kong Summed Up - Dec 22 - Brave Smash Winning Double
A double for Brave Smash, including a new winner, also new winners for Hellbent and Kermadec, and three yearling catalogue updates amongst seven Australasian bred winners at Sha Tin on Sunday.
2024 Favourite Foal Winner
Firstly we’d like to thank everyone for taking an interest in our foal gallery and supporting their favourites, but there was always a sentimental top pick for many and the most famous foal in the country has now won his first race!
Sires With Winners - Sunday December 22
Here is the full list of 54 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Four MM Lead Ups for Icarian Dream - what are the stats?
Two-year-old filly Icarian Dream’s win in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday will see her head into the Magic Millions 2YO Classic having had four starts before year’s end, which might seem a lot in this day and age – but is it? We’ve had a look.