STEVE Asmussen made sure he made a point. The Hall of Fame trainer had answered all the questions and wanted to answer one more.

Gun Runner had just strolled to an easy score in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs last Saturday when Asmussen conveyed a message.

“I can’t thank our owners enough,” Asmussen said. “This horse is incredibly special in so many ways.”

Let’s count the ways.

Talented. Gun Runner earned his eighth career win and second Grade 1 stakes by taking the Foster, pushing his career earnings to over $4.6 million.

Consistent. Gun Runner has earned a cheque in each of his 15 starts, including 13 graded stakes in a row.

Game. Gun Runner reached the lead in the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup, succumbed to the likes of Nyquist and champion Arrogate and rebounded to win his next start each time.

High-brow. Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm, the four-year-old son of Candy Ride sports a pedigree page that includes champion Saint Liam and a long list of legends produced by the late great breeder Edward P. Evans.

Those would be at the top of the list of accolades and the last one was at the forefront of Asmussen’s mind after the nine-furlong Foster, thankful that the owners decided to bring Gun Runner back for his four-year-old campaign when a stallion career beckons whenever they choose.

Returning for his first start since that valiant effort behind Arrogate in March, Gun Runner picked up right where he left off in this country, cruising on the lead to easily turn away Honorable Duty and Breaking Lucky. With Florent Geroux sitting as still as a librarian, Gun Runner opened up at will, waltzing home by an eased-down seven lengths to earn his third consecutive American stakes win.

“I was loaded the entire trip around there. He was doing everything so easily. This horse is truly unbelievable,” Geroux said. “He’s one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden and to put forward this type of effort after running in Dubai is so impressive. I was a bit surprised to find myself on a lone lead but I wasn’t complaining one bit. What a horse.”

Yeah, what a horse.

Asmussen will aim Gun Runner at Saratoga and hopefully a rematch with Arrogate somewhere down the line.

“The key was taking our time with this horse. We always thought he would get better with age and he’s proving that to us right now,” Asmussen said. “We got him to the winner’s circle here at home and we set ourselves up for a great second-half campaign.”