3-5 favorite Gun Runner cruises to victory in Whitney

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) Gun Runner won the Whitney Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite at Saratoga on Saturday, giving Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his first victory in the $1.2 million race.

Ridden by Florent Geroux, Gun Runner ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.71 and paid $3.20, $2.30 and $2.10.

By virtue of his June victory in the Stephen Foster Handicap, Gun Runner had already earned an automatic berth in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

Keen Ice returned $3.20 and $2.50 at 7-2 odds, while 12-1 shot Breaking Lucky was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.50 to show.

War Story was fourth, followed by Discreet Lover, Tu Brutus and Cautious Giant.

Asmussen had lost his previous two tries in the Whitney.

Gun Runner finished the race with a horse shoe caught in his tail, although it didn't belong to him.

The 4-year-old colt has nine victories in 16 career starts.