Gun Runner returns in Razorback

Eight horses have been entered in Oaklawn Park’s President’s Day co-feature, the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3), but all eyes will be on Gun Runner as the four-year-old son of Candy Ride makes his return to competition.

The Steven Asmussen trainee closed out his sophomore campaign with a bang, wiring the Clark Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs on November 25 by 2 3/4 lengths. Gun Runner was a major force on last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) trail, taking the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) before finishing third in the Run for the Roses.

The chestnut bypassed on the Preakness Stakes (G1) and showed up in mid-June to romp by 5 1/4 lengths in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) before suffering his first unplaced effort of the season when fifth in the Haskell Invitational (G1) on July 31.

Gun Runner proceeded to be third in the Travers Stakes (G1), a half-length second in the Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and was just caught to fill the runner-up spot in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in his penultimate start of 2016.

During all those races Florent Gerous was aboard the colt and retains the mount on the Kentucky-bred Monday.

Lining up against Gun Runner will be Blue Tone and Domain’s Rap. The former is exiting a wire job of his own in the San Gabriel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park on January 7, while the latter is riding a two-race win streak at Oaklawn that includes the Fifth Season Stakes. Domain’s Rap also ran second in last year’s edition of the Razorback.

Hawaakom was no match for Gun Runner in the Clark two back but opened his seven-year-old season with a three-quarter length score over the re-opposing Dazzling Gem in the January 21 Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds going the Razorback distance of 1 1/16 miles. Smack Smack is suffering from a case of seconditis, filling that spot in his past four, all stakes including the Fifth Season.

Completing the Razorback field are Chief of Staff, well-beaten in the Fifth Season two back, and Goats Town.