Gunnevera eyes softer BC Classic

MIAMI – It’s easy to understand why trainer Antonio Sano’s confidence level entering the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic with Gunnevera is a lot higher than it was when he sent his star out to Del Mar to finish in a dead heat for fifth in the big event one year ago.

“He’s a year older, more experienced, and there are no Gun Runners or Arrogates in the field this year,” Sano said from Gulfstream Park West on Monday.

Gunnevera went into the 2017 Classic off a surprising secondplace finish behind West Coast 10 weeks earlier in the Travers. He goes into this year’s edition at Churchill Downs off a not-so-surprising second-place finish, also at Saratoga, as the 3-1 favorite nine weeks ago in the Grade 1 Woodward.

Gunnevera has started just four times during his 4-year-old campaign this year. He was also a distant third, again behind Gun Runner, in the Pegasus World Cup and was no factor in the Dubai World Cup. His lone win on the season came against a weak allowance field at Gulfstream Park during the summer.

On Sunday, Sano sent Gunnevera out for the first of his four works leading up to the Classic. He went five furlongs in 1:02, according to the Gulfstream Park West clocker. Edgard Zayas, who rode Gunnevera in the Woodward and has been his regular work rider throughout his career, was aboard.

“I told Zayas to take it easy with him the first time,” said Sano, although Gunnevera was under some urging to finish down the lane.

“And I was very happy with his fitness level and very happy with the work. He always does just what he needs to do in the morning, especially when he goes by himself.”

Sano says he will put Gunnevera in company for his next two drills, the first set for Saturday going five furlongs, the second on the following weekend at six furlongs.

“I think he’s coming into this Breeders’ Cup every bit as good as he did last year,” Sano said. “The big difference [is] the competition does not appear to be nearly as strong with no Gun Runner to deal with this time.”

Lopez notches two on Sunday

One day after traveling to Santa Anita to win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship aboard reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Roy H, jockey Paco Lopez was back on the job at Gulfstream Park West, winning two races Sunday including the main event with Quijote. Lopez is expected to vie for leading rider honors during the 40-day session along with Zayas, who also had two winners Sunday, and Emisael Jaramillo.

Although Lopez and Zayas posted doubles, the riding star on Sunday was apprentice Romero Ramsay Maragh, who registered a hat trick, including both halves of the early daily double with Regal Roma and Spirit Love. He completed the three-bagger in the finale on Max K. O., who was an impressive debut winner for trainer Leon Minott.

Maragh lost two pounds off his seven-pound apprentice allowance at the end of the Gulfstream Park summer meet.

◗ Jockey Nik Juarez, who finished sixth during the Gulfstream summer session with 33 victories, will miss the first three weeks of the Gulfstream West meet after undergoing minor surgery this past week, according to his agent Jay Rushing.

“He had some screws removed from his ankle that have been there since he broke it as a bug rider,” Rushing said. “He just felt this was the best time to get that done. Plans are for him to be back riding again here on Oct. 24.”