Gun Runner works five furlongs for Pegasus

Gun Runner stepped up his preparation for the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park with a fivefurlong workout Sunday at Fair Grounds.

Under his regular work rider Angel Garcia, Gun Runner was clocked in splits of 13.20, 25.40, and 49.40 on the way to an official five-furlong time of 1:00.80, meaning he really picked up his pace in the homestretch, going his final furlong to the wire in 11.40 seconds. Gun Runner’s six-furlong gallop-out was timed in 1:14.60.

This was Gun Runner’s third workout since he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov.4 at Del Mar, and Sunday’s drill was nearly two seconds faster than the five-furlong work Gun Runner had one week ago.

“Everything is going according to plan, and all is well,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He’ll most likely work in company with Gettysburg next week.”

Gun Runner is overwhelmingly expected to be named Horse of the Year for 2017, having won the Razorback Handicap, the Stephen Foster, the Whitney, the Woodward, and the BC Classic, and finishing second to Arrogate in the Dubai World Cup. Gun Runner will be heavily favored in the Pegasus World Cup, his final start before standing stud at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky.

It’s possible Gun Runner will fly to Florida in time to get in his final Pegasus work over the Gulfstream surface, but an exact ship date hasn’t been set.

“It all depends on the weather,” Asmussen said.

Lecomte next for Principe Guilherme

The promising 2-year-old Principe Guilherme will make his stakes debut Jan. 13 at Fair Grounds in the Lecomte Stakes, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

Principe Guilherme, by Tapit, won his debut over seven furlongs Nov. 10 at Churchill by 6 1/4 lengths. He ran back Saturday in a first-level allowance race, made an easy lead, and sped away from his rivals through the homestretch, winning by 11 3/4 lengths and running one mile and 70 yards in 1:42.94. The time produced a Beyer Speed Figure of 92, the fifth-highest Beyer for a 2-yearold racing at one mile or longer during 2017.

“It was what I was hoping to see first time two turns,” Asmussen said.

Asmussen said he was pleased with Principe Guilherme’s relaxed approach to his two-turn debut, and that the colt generally has displayed a good temperament.

“I thought he handled beautifully in the race,” Asmussen said. “He’s a very good Tapit. I think he’s got elite talent and he’s full of himself.”

Principe Guilherme is out of the Grade 1-winning mare Aubby K, who is out of another Grade 1 winner, Lilly Capote. Three Chimneys Farm bred and owns Principe Guilherme.

Asmussen also won a 2-yearold maiden route race Saturday with Zing Zang, another Tapit colt who rallied from 11th to win by more than two lengths while making his third start. Asmussen said there are no concrete plans yet for Zing Zang, who earned a career-best 82 Beyer.

“Let’s see how he trains off this... I definitely think he’s stakes quality, but he’s going to need races long enough for him to prove that,” said Asmussen.

Seeking the Soul heads to Pegasus

Seeking the Soul worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds Sunday morning at Fair Grounds and will make his next start Jan. 27 in the Pegasus World Cup, trainer Dallas Stewart said.

Stewart said that Forever Unbridled, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner who was under Pegasus consideration, won’t start in the race. Forever Unbridled worked on Dec. 11, but Stewart said he has no plans to work the mare in coming days, and that he was slowing down her training right now. Stewart said plans call for Forever Unbridled to race again in 2018.

As for Seeking the Soul, the first stakes win of his 17-start career came in the Grade 1 Clark last month at Churchill. Seeking the Soul had flashed high-level talent before, but put everything together only this fall.

“He’s doing very good,” Stewart said. “That was just maintenance, but he worked good today.”

Cooptado to skip Louisiana Stakes

Cooptado, winner of the Tenacious Stakes on Saturday, won’t run back in the Jan. 13 Louisiana Stakes, trainer Tom Morley told Fair Grounds publicity.

Dimension, who upset the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes on the Saturday card, could run back Jan. 13 in the Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap. Letellier Stakes winner She’s Pretty Lucky could run next in the Jan. 28 Bara Lass Stakes for Texas-breds on Jan. 28 at Sam Houston.

◗ Due to the Christmas holiday, there is a special Wednesday program this week, with Fair Grounds going dark on Sunday. The Wednesday feature is race 5, a second-level dirt-sprint allowance race for fillies and mares.