Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Sano puts Gunnevera through five-eighths works for Classic
MIAMI, Fla. – Travers runner-up Gunnevera got a little more serious in his preparations for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4, working five furlongs in 1:00.75 over his home base at Gulfstream Park West on Saturday.
With jockey Edgard Zayas aboard, Gunnevera posted splits of 24 and 35.66 for his opening three-eighths before galloping out six panels in 1:14.63. He was pushed along early on after being chased and then joined inadvertently by an unidentified worker from another barn, who broke off behind Gunnevera at the sixfurlong pole.
Gunnevera readily pulled away from his unexpected workmate through the final furlong under some light prodding by Zayas from the sixteenth pole to the wire.
Trainer Antonio Sano was not in attendance for Saturday’s work. Sano is in Italy, where his father is recuperating from successful emergency heart surgery performed earlier in the week.
Sano said by phone, several minutes after the breeze, that Gunnevera would work six furlongs here next week and have his final major Breeders’ Cup prep at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 27 before boarding a plane for California the following day.
Sano also added that his father was doing well.
“The surgery added 25 years to his life,” Sano said.
Zayas has been Gunnevera’s regular work rider since his 2-year-old campaign. But he did not pick up the mount on the Fountain of Youth winner until guiding him to victory in the Tangelo overnight stakes at Gulfstream Park. It was Gunnevera’s first start since finishing fifth in the Preakness 2 1/2 months earlier.
Arthemisa has course edge
Sano and Edgard Zayas will team up with one of the favorites, Arthemisa, in Monday’s $42,000 main event carded at 1 1/16 miles on the turf under optional claiming and allowance conditions for fillies and mares. It’s the highlight of a special 10-race Columbus Day program.
Arthemisa has registered five victories, more than any other member of the nine-horse field, and is one of only two in the lineup with a win over the Gulfstream Park West turf course, along with Pat M’s Image.
Other key contenders include Graceful Heart, who takes on older horses for the first time after finishing fourth, beaten one length, in a restricted stakes for 3-year-olds three weeks earlier at Gulfstream Park, and Fashionably Wild, beaten a head under similar conditions across town on Sept. 16.