On the Breeders’ Cup worktab

At Santa Anita on Saturday, champion WAIT A WHILE (Maria’s Mon)
exercised five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 on the firm turf. Most recently successful
in the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1), the Todd Pletcher mare is a prime contender in the
Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

On the Pro-Ride, champion GINGER PUNCH (Awesome Again) worked five
panels in 1:00 3/5 in advance of a title defense in the Ladies’ Classic (G1),
formerly known as the Distaff.

Ladies’ Classic threat COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court), who upset
Ginger Punch in the Beldame S. (G1) in their latest, blasted her five-eighths in
a bullet :57 4/5. The Godolphin filly’s work was easily the fastest of 54 at the
distance.

Champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie), a 6 1/4-length romper in
the Gallant Bloom H. (G2), blitzed in :59 1/5 in preparation for the Filly &
Mare Sprint. The Bob Baffert pupil is also pre-entered in the Sprint (G1), which
is listed as her second preference.

ZAFTIG (Gone West), the last horse to beat Indian Blessing when
capturing the Acorn S. (G1), zipped six furlongs in a bullet 1:11 2/5, best of
22 trials at the trip. The Jimmy Jerkens filly, who has been sidelined by injury
since that  June 7 contest, will return to action in the Filly & Mare
Sprint.

Music Note hopes to transfer her effortless brilliance from Belmont to the Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) Three-time Grade 1 queen MUSIC NOTE (A.P. Indy) traveled five panels in 1:00 3/5. The winner of the Mother Goose S. (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Gazelle S. (G1) by commanding margins, the Godolphin filly will tackle older stakes rivals for the first time in the Ladies’ Classic. Breeders’ Futurity S. (G1) romper SQUARE EDDIE (Smart Strike), a leading contender in the Juvenile (G1), negotiated six furlongs in 1:15 2/5 for new trainer Doug O’Neill. Just a Game S. (G1) heroine VENTURA (Chester House), runner-up versus males in the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), scorched five-eighths in :58 3/5. The Judmonte Farms homebred has the Filly & Mare Sprint as her first preference, but she also holds a pre-entry in the Mile (G1). Canadian Horse of the Year SEALY HILL (Point Given), third in the E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1), went in :59 3/5 in preparation for the Filly & Mare Turf.

Ancient Title S. (G1) winner COST OF FREEDOM (Cee’s Tizzy) stopped the
watch in :59 2/5 in his tune-up for the Sprint.

Grade 1 veteran IN SUMMATION (Put It Back), third in the Ancient
Title, rattled off a half-mile in :47 4/5 as he eyes a rematch in the Sprint.

Multiple Grade 2 victor WHATSTHESCRIPT (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]),
coming off a smart score in the Del Mar Mile H. (G2), completed his seven-panel
drill in 1:26 2/5.

Whatsthescript has emerged as a top-class turf miler (Charles Pravata/Horsephotos.com) San Pasqual H. (G2) king ZAPPA (Afternoon Deelites), seventh in the Goodwood S. (G1) last time out, zoomed in 1:25 2/5. The John Sadler charge, who galloped by 6 1/4 lengths in the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II H. earlier this season, will stretch back out to that distance for the Marathon. Grade 2 vixen and Ladies’ Classic contender BEAR NOW (Tiznow), who is exiting a four-length tally in the Kentucky Cup Distaff (G3), strolled five-eighths in 1:03 2/5. Unbeaten Kentucky Cup Juvenile S. (G3) scorer WEST SIDE BERNIE (Bernstein) darted four furlongs in :47 3/5 as he gears up for the Juvenile. Best Pal S. (G2) winner AZUL LEON (Lion Heart), sixth in the Norfolk S. (G1) and looking to rebound in the Juvenile, covered three-quarters in 1:14 2/5.

Windy Sands H. hero ALBERTUS MAXIMUS (Albert the Great) ripped five
panels in :59 1/5. Third in the Goodwood in his latest, the Vladimir Cerin
trainee is reverting in trip for the Dirt Mile.

Natalma S. (Can-G3) queen C KARMA (Exchange Rate) went in :59 4/5 in
advance of the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Oak Leaf S. (G1) fourth BLACK MAGIC MAMA (Black Mambo) worked six
furlongs in 1:14 3/5. The O’Neill-trained maiden is on the also-eligible list
for the Juvenile Fillies (G1), her first preference, and the Juvenile Fillies
Turf.

Stardom Bound will go for her third win in a row in the Juvenile Fillies (Charles Pravata/Horsephotos.com) At Hollywood Park, likely Juvenile Fillies favorite STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) smoked five-eighths in :59 1/5 on the Cushion Track. The Chris Paasch filly has captured the Del Mar Debutante S. (G1) and Oak Leaf in smashing style. “The time wasn’t as impressive as the way she went,” Paasch said. “She galloped out (six furlongs) in 1:11 4/5.” Multiple Grade 1 star TIAGO (Pleasant Tap), a rallying second as the defending champion in the Goodwood, worked six panels in 1:12 3/5. Fifth in last year’s Classic (G1) in the Monmouth slop, the John Shirreffs charge will bid to improve on that performance this year. Grade 2 winner AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again), runner-up in the All American S. (G3), posted 1:11 4/5. The Craig Dollase trainee has the Classic as his first preference, with the Mile second.

Santa Lucia H. scorer SANTA TERESITA (Lemon Drop Kid), third in the
Lady’s Secret S. (G1), finished up in 1:14 2/5.

Full brothers SLEW’S TIZNOW (Tiznow) and SLEW’S TIZZY (Tiznow)
strode in 1:12 4/5 and 1:13 3/5, respectively, for O’Neill. Grade 2-winning
Slew’s Tizzy, a four-year-old, is on the also-eligible list for the Turf Sprint,
his first preference, and the Dirt Mile. Grade 1-placed Slew’s Tiznow, who
landed the El Cajon S. in his belated sophomore debut, is ranked ahead of his
older brother on the also-eligible list for the Dirt Mile.

At Fair Hill, undefeated Frizette S. (G1) victress SKY DIVA (Sky Mesa)
drilled six furlongs in 1:13 on the Tapeta training surface. The Steve Klesaris
pupil is a leading contender in the Juvenile Fillies.

Also for Klesaris, unbeaten Monmouth N.A.T.C. Futurity winner FORTY
THIEVES (Read the Footnotes), on the also-eligible list for the Juvenile,
sped five panels in 1:01. The Florida-bred has won both of his starts by a
combined 13 1/4 lengths.

On a fast track at Laurel, Turf Sprint contender HEROS REWARD
(Partner’s Hero) traveled five-eighths in 1:01 2/5. The Dale Capuano charge is
coming off a close fourth as the defending champion in the Nearctic S. (Can-G2).

Grade 3 queen COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike), who was a solid second in the
Beverly D. S. (G1) two prior, breezed three-eighths in :36 3/5 over the
Polytrack at Keeneland. The Rusty Arnold trainee is pointing toward the Filly &
Mare Turf.

Two-time Bernard Baruch H. (G2) star SHAKIS (Ire) (Machiavellian)
smoked a half-mile in :47 3/5, the second swiftest of 75 drills at the trip. The
Kiaran McLaughlin charge is pointing toward a go in the
Mile (G1).

Also drilling in :47 3/5 was impressive Jessamine S. victress LARAGH (Tapit),
who is limbering up for the Juvenile Fillies Turf

Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) winner TERRAIN (Sky Mesa) exercised
in :48 2/5 in advance of the Juvenile. The Albert Stall Jr. pupil exits a
runner-up performance in the Breeders’ Futurity.

Recent Super Derby (G2) romper MY PAL CHARLIE (Indian Charlie), who
is pre-entered in the Dirt Mile, got his breeze in :50 4/5 for Stall.

At Golden Gate Fields, multiple Grade 3 heroine INDYANNE (Indian
Charlie) blitzed four panels in :46 3/5 on the Tapeta in preparation for the
Filly & Mare Sprint.