The only thing brighter than Gun Runner’s attitude Sunday morning was the wattage of Steve Asmussen’s smile as he soaked in every precious moment with the horse who answered almost every bell in his 19-race career.

With Gun Runner slated to head off to stud at Three Chimneys Farm following his fifth straight grade 1 triumph, West Coast – who ended up 2 1/2 lengths behind him – may yet pick up the mantle as the top older horse in training.

There was no sophomore slump for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1). The first edition last year handled $40.2 million, a Gulfstream Park record for a non-Breeders’ Cup program. It was a high bar, but Pegasus 2 vaulted over it.

New Farm’s homebred Rainbow Heir went out a winner in the $175,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Jan. 27, while Stormy Victoria and Celestine gave trainer Christophe Clement a 1-2 finish in the $125,000 South Beach Stakes.

In the $16 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, the 5-year-old son of Candy Ride owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm put an exclamation point on the end of a magnificent career with a determined win.

Sarah Sharp Farish’s homebred Texting put an end to her five-race losing skid by picking up her first career graded stakes victory when she overtook pacesetter Daring Duchess in late stretch to win the La Prevoyante Handicap (G3T).

Trainer John Sadler was confident he had the best horse in the $150,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint despite what the odds board said, and he was proven right emphatically by Edwards Going Left Jan. 27 at Santa Anita Park.

Paul Pompa Jr.’s Tommy Macho powered to the front around the far turn and fended off game longshot Conquest Big E to snap a six-race losing streak in the $175,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Jonathan Thomas shipped the homebred son of More Than Ready to the oval in Oldsmar, Fla. to breeze Jan. 27 in preparation for his 3-year-old debut in the Feb. 10 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3).

After a pace duel softened up heavy favorite Takaful, Bruce Golden Racing’s Great Stuff took full advantage and rolled late to earn his first graded win in the $100,000 Toboggan Stakes (G3) Jan. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Youth was served in the Sun Met Celebrated with G.H. Mumm (G1) at Kenilworth Jan. 27 as Oh Susanna (AUS), the only 3-year-old and the only filly in the 18-horse field, prevailed by a half length.

Mick Ruis was admittedly tightly wound Jan. 27 at Santa Anita Park, and it wasn’t just because Bolt d’Oro, his Triple Crown contender, put in his first timed work of his 3-year-old year.

Gail Hughes spent more than 60 years working with Thoroughbreds and in his free time enjoyed fox hunting with his wife Ruth. The all-horses, all-the-time hardboot died Jan. 18 in Carlisle, Ky. He was 91.

Because Gun Runner has delivered on almost every one of his connections’ aspirations, his team now feels the pressure of wanting him to properly close the book on a chapter that has nothing left to prove.

A private purchase by Gary Barber and partner Wachtel Stable out of a 6 3/4-length debut win at Laurel Park Dec. 3 Captain Scotty almost immediately opened up a clear lead and cruised to a 5 1/2-length score Jan. 26 at Santa Anita.

Multiple grade 1-placed Neolithic, who retired from racing in December, will stand at Joe and Helen Barbazon’s Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, Fla., for the 2018 breeding season. He is the first son of Harlan’s Holiday to stand in the state.