Gun Runner Favored over Arrogate in Classic

DEL MAR, CA–It was a packed house at the Barn at the Beach at Del Mar's Powerhouse Park Monday as MGISW Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) was anointed the 9-5 morning-line favorite over defending champion Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), who was installed as the 2-1 second-choice, for the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Runner-up to superstar Arrogate in the G1 Dubai World Cup, Winchell Thoroughbreds' Gun Runner has been unstoppable since, reeling off impressive victories in the GI Stephen Foster H. June 17, the GI Whitney S. Aug. 5 and the GI Woodward S.

Sept. 2 at Saratoga. The Steve Asmussen trainee drew post five for the Classic and will be piloted by regular rider Florent Geroux.

There was audible groan from the crowd as Juddmonte's champion Arrogate drew the rail for Saturday's $6-million event. Crowned North America's richest racehorse and the world's best following a win in the inaugural $12 million GI Pegasus World Cup and an astounding victory in the Dubai World Cup, the 'TDN Rising Star' has not been quite the same since returning to the States, finishing a lackluster fourth in the GII TVG San Diego H. July 22 and rallied late to be second to stablemate Collected (City Zip) last time at Del Mar for the GI TVG Pacific Classic Aug. 19.

“If you go look at the Travers and the Pegasus, he broke from the rail and won,” Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith said. “The good ones can overcome it. I have to establish position, so I will ride him pretty hard. If I can get right in behind the first group I will pretty happy with that.”

Smith continued, “He is training like [his old self]. His work this morning was fantastic. The good thing is he showed me last time in the Pacific Classic that he can run over it. He didn't run his A race, but he ran really well. If he runs his race and brings his A game, I wouldn't trade places with anyone.”

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert did not attend the draw, but when asked for his thoughts on the post position via text, he said, “Not the end of the world.” He added that Arrogate “looked great” in his breeze Monday morning at Santa Anita.

In addition to Arrogate, who is scheduled to be retired to Juddmonte Farm following the race, Baffert has three other chances to score his fourth straight Classic win, having captured the event for the first time in 2014 with Bayern (Offlee Wild) followed by wins with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in 2015 and Arrogate last year. The Hall of Famer saddles 6-1 shot Collected, who breaks from post 11 with Martin Garcia aboard; GI Awesome Again S. winner Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who drew post six at 12-1 odds with Drayden Van Dyke at the controls; and GI Travers S. and GI Pennsylvania Derby hero West Coast (Flatter), a 6-1 chance from the eight-hole with Javier Castellano taking over for Smith.

Friday's card will, as always, be highlighted by the $2-million GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and this year morning-line favoritism was awarded to champion and MGISW Stellar Wind (Curlin), second in this event in 2015. Drawn in post two for this eight-horse affair, the chestnut was quoted at 5-2 on the morning-line with Victor Espinoza in the irons for trainer John Sadler and owner Hronis Racing.

“It would be great [to win my first Breeders' Cup],” trainer John Sadler said. “Del Mar has been very good to me over the years. We have won a lot of races here. It is in our own backyard and it is very exciting to have it here at Del Mar.”

Champion 3-year-old filly in 2015, Stellar Wind is a perfect three-for-three this year following wins in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 14, GI Beholder Mile June 3 and GI Clement L. Hirsch S. July 30.

“She's been a great mare for us,” Sadler said, “She has won so many Grade Is, was a champion at three. I'd imagine she would stalk the speed. At a mile and an eighth there is no real bad post, you can work out a trip going into the first turn. We will leave it up to Victor. He knows her well.”

MGISW sophomore Elate (Medaglia d'Oro) was installed as the second-choice at 3-1 with Jose Ortiz in the irons for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Baffert trainee Abel Tasman (Quality Road), winner of the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Acorn S. and GI Alabama S. this year, is co third-choice at 4-1 and will exit post four with Smith aboard. Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song), last seen besting two-time champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Personal Ensign S., was also quoted at 4-1. The Dallas Stewart pupil drew the six-hole and will be guided by Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

California's unbeaten juvenile duo of Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) and Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon) were awarded favoritism in their respective races. The former, owned and trained by Mick Ruis, will depart from stall 11 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was given morning-line offs of 9-5. The Simon Callaghan-trained “TDN Rising Star” Moonshine Memories will exit gate seven at odds of 7-2 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

A total of 13 Breeders' Cup races were drawn at Monday's event for the world championship event, which will take place at Del Mar Nov. 3 and Nov. 4.

GI BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC, Saturday, Del Mar, 1 1/4 miles 

1) Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), Smith, 2-1

2) War Decree (War Front), Heffernan, 30-1

3) Win the Space (Pulpit), Talamo, 30-1

4) War Story (Northern Afleet), Ortiz, 30-1

5) Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), Geroux, 9-5

6) Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Van Dyke, 12-1

7) Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Moore 15-1

8) West Coast (Flatter), Castellano, 6-1

9) Gunnevera (Dialed In), Zayas, 30-1

10) Pavel (Creative Cause), Gutierez, 20-1

11) Collected (City Zip), Garcia,  6-1