Anne Marie Duff

THE Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga tonight gives Gun Runner a chance to go to the top of the US ranks following two disappointing runs by Arrogate and the retirement of Songbird.

Since finishing 13 and a half lengths behind Arrogate in last year’s Travers, the four-year-old son of Candy Ride has been no worse than second through a seven-race campaign culminating in his five and a quarter-length victory in the Grade 1 Whitney with War Story in fourth.

Steve Asmussen’s colt will be a short-priced favourite over four rivals. “He was an extremely talented two-year-old, a very good three-year-old and hopefully he’ll be a great older horse,” Asmussen said earlier this week.

Gun Runner’s performance in the Whitney, gained more notice as a rival’s loose shoe got caught in his tail, but he was dominant in that race. Florent Geroux rides again.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send two against Gun Runner, led by Qatar Racing and Starlight Racing’s Neolithic, who finished third behind Arrogate and Gun Runner respectively in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup.

Last time he won against open claimers at Saratoga. He also finished third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

Rally Cry returns off a wide margin victory in the Alydar Stakes after he had finished sixth in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont behind Mor Spirit.

SPINAWAY

Also at Saratoga, Todd Pletcher sends out Pure Silver as a short-priced favourite in the Grade 1 Spinaway for two-year-old fillies. The Misson Impazible filly has won her three races including the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes here last month.

Chad Brown will be represented by Separationofpowers, who won her July debut here by over 11 lengths. Lady Ivanka also won her debut by eight lengths in August at Saratoga.

At Del Mar the Grade 1 Debutante Stakes brings together a field of eight fillies headed by Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes winner Spectator. Poetic comes from the top barn of Fox Hill Farms, who campaigned champion Songbird and some of the best horses in the country