Steve Asmussen's duo of GI Arkansas Derby winner Creator (Tapit) and GII Louisiana Derby hero Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) completed their final serious preparations for Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby with half-mile breezes over the Churchill main track Monday morning. Creator covered the distance in :50.60, posting eighth-mile splits of :12.60, :25.20 and :38, while Gun Runner went in :50.40, with splits of :12.60, :25 flat and :37.80.
Asmussen was pleased with the efforts put forth by his trainees, as well as Churchill Downs's track maintenance crew after the track received significant rain Sunday.
“I'm very happy with how they've been here at Churchill,” he said. “Just an easy half-mile. The best news of the morning was the condition of the track. I'm very thankful to the Churchill grounds crew for what they did last night. We had a pretty good rain [Sunday] in the afternoon. Looking at the track, there was water standing on it about 6 o'clock last night.”
WinStar Farm's Creator took six starts to break his maiden, and finished second in one start over the Churchill main track Nov. 28. After finally breaking through at Oaklawn Feb. 27, the gray finished third in the GII Rebel S. Mar. 19 prior to his Arkansas Derby triumph Apr. 16. Meanwhile, Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner displayed more precocity in graduating at first asking beneath the Twin Spires and adding a creditable fourth-place finish in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. in Louisville two starts later Nov. 28. The chestnut annexed the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 20 as a stepping stone toward his Louisiana Derby score.
Despite their disparate patterns of development, Asmussen concluded that the pair's experience and comfort over the Churchill strip is a valuable asset.
“I feel very good about the time that they spent here last summer and last fall, very confident with the racetrack and the surroundings,” the soon-to-be Hall of Fame trainer said. “The crew has done a wonderful job with them to put them in a position to do their best… It's one of the variables, and we can feel very comfortable that they're going to handle the surface and the surroundings for their preparation.”
Both WinStar Farm CEO Elliott Walden and Three Chimneys Farm CEO Chris Baker were on hand to watch their colts breeze Monday morning.
“[Creator] is doing super,” Walden said. “Couldn't be happier with how he's doing, and Steve's done a great job. That's all you can ask for, is to go over there with a good chance.”
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