Gun Runner takes Grade 1 Stephen Foster

Sports Staff LOUISVILLE, KY. » Trainer Steve Asmussen was still beaming Sunday morning following Gun Runner’s stellar sevenlength victory in Saturday night’s Grade 1 $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap.

“There’s not more I can say then this horse is simply the real deal,” Asmussen said. “We’ll look at races at Saratoga for his next start, possibly the Aug. 5 Whitney (GI), but the big relief is already getting him a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

Ridden by jockey Florent Geroux, Gun Runner became only fifth horse to win the Stephen Foster the year after winning the Clark Handicap here in the fall: Hopeful Word (1985-86), No Marker (1989-90), Saint Liam (2004-05), and Blame (2009-10).

Gun Runner covered the Stephen Foster’s 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:47.56 — the fifth-fastest running of the race. The colt’s victory margin was a record and eclipsed Street Cry (IRE), a winner of the Dubai World Cup in his previous start, who won the 2002 Foster by 6 ½ lengths.

“You know, going back and thinking about the race, it’s very rare as a jockey that you can feel a horse never getting tired in a 1 1/8-mile Grade I,” Geroux said. “He’s a pretty phenomenal horse.”

There was no rest for the weary as the 30-yearold French jockey breezed two horses for Asmussen on Sunday morning. Handicap at Churchill Downs. It was her first start of 2017.

Ridden by New Yorkbased Joel Rosario for trainer Dallas Stewart, Forever Unbridled ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.94 to bank the $120,280 first prize for her connections and secure a berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) at Del Mar on Nov. 3.

“How lucky are we to have such an unbelievable horse like this in our barn?,” Stewart said. “We have to give a lot of credit to Mr. (Charles) Fipke.

He’s done so much for this game and this horse is so special. I told Joel (Rosario) to get her settled early and keep her out of trouble. He was barely moving on her and she won easily. We just need to keep her happy and healthy and we’ll have her ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Runner-up Apologynotaccepted attempted to wire the field of eight as she dictated terms through comfortable quarter-mile splits of :24.26, :48.71 and 1:12.32. Forever Unbridled settled, saved ground and trailed by 8 ½ lengths through the first four furlongs. Rosario worked her way off the inside for clear sailing, ranged up four-wide on the final turn with ease and reeled in Apologynotaccepted with an eighth of a mile to run under a hand ride.

Forever Unbridled, the 6-5 favorite at 123 pounds, returned $4.20, $3 and $2.40. Apologynotaccepted, with Luis Saez up at 117 pounds, paid $8.20 and $5.40. Carrumba, ridden by John Velazquez under 117 pounds, was another 3 ½ lengths back in third and returned $3.60. Big World, Tiger Moth, Weep No More, Walkabout and Romantic Vision completed the order of finish.

Forever Unbridled improved her record to six wins, three seconds and four thirds in 15 starts with earnings of $1,711,880.

Ridden by jockey Florent Geroux, Gun Runner became only fifth horse to win the Stephen Foster the year after winning the Clark Handicap here in the fall