SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In his attempt to prove Gun Runner in his first year as a stallion, trainer Steve Asmussen admitted he got a little aggressive with the 2-year-old colt Gunite, a son of the 2017 Horse of the Year. Coming into Monday’s Grade 1 Hopeful - the closing-day feature at Saratoga - Gunite had already made four starts, winning a maiden at Churchill in June and running second to High Oak in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special here in August. “We’ve been aggressive with him,” Asmussen said. “He’s put on weight and gotten stronger the whole time. We’ve been through the roof how well he’s doing.” :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analysis, and expert picks. Monday, Gunite put Asmussen over the moon as he dominated the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths over favored Wit, who stumbled badly at the start. It was three lengths back to longshot Kevin’s Folly in third. The victory capped a sensational Saratoga for Asmussen, who won five Grade 1 stakes at the meet, including Sunday’s $300,000 Spinaway with Echo Zulu - a daughter of Gun Runner - and Saturday’s $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup with Max Player. On Aug. 28, Asmussen won two Grade 1’s, the H. Allen Jerkens with Jackie’s Warrior - last year’s Hopeful winner - and the Forego with Yaupon. The five Grade 1 victories are the most by a trainer at Saratoga since Todd Pletcher won that many in 2010. Ricardo Santana Jr. rode Gunite for his fifth Grade 1 of the meet - four for Asmussen and the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks early in the meet for Rob Atras. “I love Saratoga, it’s one of the best tracks in North America,” said Santana, who won a personal-best 35 races at Saratoga. “Really blessed. To win five Grade 1’s at one meet is unreal.” Gunite, breaking from post 3, bumped with Kitodan at the break, but when the speedy Defend, who broke from post 2, was getting out, it opened the rail for Santana to bring Gunite into the race. He was part of a three-ply pace battle inside of Defend and Headline Report, going a quarter in 22.23 seconds and a half-mile in 44.49. “I thought a 22 and 1 the second quarter-mile from not breaking well would have been a bit too much,” Asmussen said. “But I watched the race from the up the stretch and Ricardo coming into the stretch was moving his hands a bit but still had him plenty gathered up. You felt really good then.” In the stretch, Santana went to his right-handed whip and Gunite opened up. Wit, who was well back after stumbling under Irad Ortiz Jr., flattened out a bit in the lane. Santana said that Gunite dragged him to the leaders after the slight bump at the break. “He was making a move by himself,” Santana said. “I was really comfortable with him the whole race.” Gunite, owned and bred by Winchell Thoroughbreds, covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.08 and returned $25.20. Asmussen, who has won the Hopeful the last three years, said he would look to run Gunite in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park on Oct. 2 as a prelude to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 5. “I love him for 2-year-old races this year,” Asmussen said. “We know what we want his next two races to be and we feel really good about them.” :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Wit had overcome slow starts to win both his maiden and the Grade 3 Sanford impressively. Monday, when he stumbled, Wit tore off pieces on both sides of his left front hoof, according to Pletcher. He made a good run from the back of the pack, but had to settle for second. “That probably compromised him some,” Pletcher said. “It’s only a couple of races after they started harrowing the track, but it seemed to be fairly kind to speed. I thought he put in a good, sustained run. Tough spot to come from.” Wit finished three lengths in front of Kevin’s Folly. High Oak, the Grade 2 Saratoga Special winner, finished fourth. He was followed, in order, by Power Agenda, Big Scully, Volcanic, Headline Report, Kitodan, Defend, and Street Fight.