While it is certainly unconventional, and would be hard to argue performance enhancing, Gun Runner won the Whitney over an overmatched group with an extra horseshoe.
Apparently at some point in the running of the race the horse picked up in his tail a shoe that was lost by Cautious Giant who probably belonged in an optional claimer on another card. Nonetheless it was not nearly enough to stop powerhouse Gun Runner who has totally blossomed and turned into a monster since an impressive effort albeit a losing one in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile. Both he and Arrogate are clearly a cut above the rest of the older horses.
Gun Runner erased any doubt about his being able to sit off another horse and pounce to victory. I knew he had that ability and I also think he could have run that field off their heels wire to wire had jockey Florent Geroux chose that option.
