Breeders’ Cup contenders work at Lone
Star
Breeders’ Cup contenders are arriving in Grand Prairie, Texas,
to prepare for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred
Championships and six were out Saturday morning for workouts.
Trainer Dale Romans sent his two charges, KITTEN’S JOY (El
Prado [Ire]) and ROSES IN MAY (Devil His Due),
to the track for their final serious preparations.
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) hero Kitten’s Joy, who could
go favored in the $2 million Turf (G1), breezed five furlongs
around the dogs on the soft turf in 1:06 3/5.
“He got everything he needed,” Romans said. “He
got to stretch his legs, he finished good, got a feel for the
racetrack. I was very pleased. When you’re going around the dogs
like that, the time isn’t the most important thing. It’s how how
much horse he has and how he feels.”
Roses in May, who is undefeated this year from five starts and
will enter the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) off victories in the
Kentucky Cup Classic (G2) and Whitney H. (G1), breezed five
furlongs in 1:01 1/5 over the fast main track.
“Perfect. I don’t think he could’ve worked any better,”
Romans said. “He did enough and still had a lot of energy
afterward. He hasn’t missed a beat since the Kentucky Cup races.
He’s gotten better with every race and trains better into the
next race every step of the way.”
DYNEVER (Dynaformer), who will make his
second straight Classic appearance after finishing third last
year, breezed a half-mile on the main track in :48 3/5 for
conditioner Christophe Clement. Winner of last year’s Lone Star
Derby (G3), the four-year-old colt will enter the Classic off a runner-up
finish in the Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup S. (G2).
Man o’ War S. (G1) victor MAGISTRETTI (Diesis
[GB]), who will attempt to turn the tables on Kitten’s Joy
following his runner-up performance in the Joe Hirsch, breezed
six grassy furlongs in 1:20.
“I think it was his normal work,” trainer Patrick
Biancone commented. “He seems to be doing very well and I’m
very pleased.”
Biancone was also happy with the Texas turf.
“The track is lovely,” Biancone said. “He
worked beautiful on it and it’s what we were looking for.”
Multiple Grade 1 queen WONDER AGAIN (Silver
Again), prepping for the Filly & Mare Turf (G1), turned five
soft furlongs in 1:04 4/5.
Unbeaten CULINARY (El Amante), who will head
into the Juvenile Fillies (G1) off a two-length victory in the
Arlington-Washington Lassie S. (G3), breezed five-eighths on the
main track in 1:01 2/5.
In California:
Defending Breeders’ Cup Classic hero PLEASANTLY
PERFECT (Pleasant Colony) worked seven-eighths in 1:23 4/5
over a good Santa Anita dirt track for conditioner Richard
Mandella on Saturday. The bay six-year-old will enter the Classic
off a 69-day layoff after taking the Pacific Classic (G1) last
out by a length. Winner of the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1),
Pleasantly Perfect’s only loss this season came as a close runner-up
finish in the San Diego H. (G2) off more than a four-month hiatus.
He’s earned more than $7 million and will be ridden for the first
time by Jerry Bailey in the Breeders’ Cup.
In Kentucky:
Another Classic (G1) contender, PERFECT DRIFT
(Dynaformer), stretched his legs at Trackside Louisville Saturday
morning when he traveled five furlongs in 1:01 1/5.
The Murray Johnson charge, last year’s Stephen Foster H. (G1)
victor, is still looking for his first win this season. From
seven starts, the five-year-old bay has finished second five
times, including the Pacific Classic and the Whitney H. (G1).
Hawthorne Gold Cup H. (G2) winner FREEFOURINTERNET (Tabasco
Cat) got five-eighths in 1:01 over the fast track at Churchill
Downs for conditioner Mike Maker in preparation for the Classic.
Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) entry SHACONAGE
(El Prado [Ire]) worked five furlongs in 1:01 1/5.
Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) contender CHAMPALI
(Glitterman), winner of the Phoenix Breeders’ Cup (G3) last out,
worked five panels for Greg Foley, recording a time of 1:00 4/5.
Dallas Stewart-trained CLOCKSTOPPER (Gilded
Time), another Sprint hopeful, covered the same distance in :59 4/5.
Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) hopeful TAMWEEL (Gulch),
second in the Spinster S. (G1) to Azeri (Jade Hunter) most
recently, worked three-quarters in 1:13 3/5 over Keeneland’s fast
track under conditioner Wayne Catalano.
“She was tough this morning,” Catalano said. “I
was gonna work her five-eighths but I changed my mind going to
the pole. She went really well, I’m very pleased.”
In Maryland:
At Pimlico, MR. O’BRIEN (Ire) (Mukaddamah)
breezed five-eighths in 1:03 3/5 on the fast track for trainer
Robin Graham. The five-year-old chestnut, hero of the Kelso
Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) in his last start, is prepping for the
Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).