With an eye on the weather forecast and another on the racetrack, trainer Antonio Sano sent his Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful Gunnevera out to work six furlongs in 1:15.15 over a racetrack upgraded from sloppy to "good" after the renovation break Saturday at Gulfstream Park West.

Rain has plagued the area over the past several days and was in the forecast again for later Saturday morning and again during the afternoon. But Sano found enough of a window to allow Gunnevera, the Travers runner-up, to get in his most serious work yet inpreparation for the Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

With regular rider Edgard Zayas aboard, Gunnevera broke off at the 5 1/2 furlong pole amidst several horses in the process of completing a gate work.  Zayas was able to get Gunnevera to settle shortly after leaving the pole, posting splits of 24.72, 37.72 and 51.45 before finishing with nice energy through the wire while urged along just a tad for the final three-sixteenths of the breeze. Gunnevera galloped out seven panels in 1:30.03.

"For the conditions, I'm very happy with the move," said Sano. "The track is very heavy.  He should get a lot out of the work.  I considered waiting until tomorrow to work him, but if it rains again later today like the forecast says, the track would probably not be so good in the morning."

Sano will work Gunnevera twice more over his home base at Gulfstream Park West before shipping to Del Mar on Saturday, Oct. 28.