April 23, 2024

Breeders’ Cup works round-up: Juveniles put through their paces ahead of Future Stars Friday

Complexity wins the Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park on October 6, 2018 (c) NYRA/Robert Mauhar/Adam Coglianese Photography

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) contender Complexity exercised a half-mile in :49.32 Saturday on a fast main track at Belmont Park.

“He looks like he came out of the Champagne (G1) in good order,” trainer Chad Brown said of his unbeaten colt. “He ran a hard race in there setting fast fractions and having enough to finish well.

“I thought he got a lot out of that race and in between the Champagne and Breeders’ Cup, I’m just looking to keep him sound and happy. I just let him stretch his legs. He came out of the work well, so one more (breeze) to go.”

Over Belmont’s main track Friday, Code of Honor went four furlongs in :48.90 beneath Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

“I thought he worked excellent,” Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said. “It was kind of more than I hoped for. He ran off easy and finished up well, galloped out great and seemed to come back good.

“It verified his first two races, plus it looks like (his second in) the Champagne didn’t take too much out of him. I think we’re in pretty good shape. Johnny was impressed with the way he went, so everything was positive.”

Probable Juvenile favorite Game Winner strode six furlongs in 1:13 Friday at Santa Anita.

Gunmetal Gray worked six furlongs in a bullet 1:13.40 at Santa Anita Saturday, tying for the fastest of 11 at the distance.

His stablemate from the Jerry Hollendorfer barn, Dueling, covered the same ground in 1:14.40.

Knicks Go breezed a bullet five furlongs at Keeneland in :59.20 on October 19, 2018 (c) Keeneland/Coady Photography

At Keeneland, Knicks Go blitzed five panels in a bullet :59.20 Friday, through fractions of :11.60, :23.20, :35.20, and :46.80, and he galloped out in 1:11.80.

“He worked well and that was the last work for him before the Breeders’ Cup,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “It is the same thing I did with him before the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) (win), working two weeks before.”

Signalman (outside) and Salvatore Mundi breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 at Keeneland on October 20, 2018 (c) Keeneland/Coady Photography

On Saturday, Signalman negotiated five panels in 1:00.20 in company with Salvator Mundi (bound for the Juvenile Turf [G1]). Keeneland clockers caught the Ken McPeek tandem in fractions of :23.40, :35.20, and :47.60, followed by a gallop-out in 1:13.40.

Standard Deviation breezed a half in :48.60 Sunday at Keeneland.

Tight Ten breezed a bullet five furlongs in :59.60 at Churchill Downs on October 21, 2018 (c) Churchill Downs/Coady Photography

Tight Ten sped five furlongs in :59.60 at Churchill Downs Sunday in company with stablemate Wilmington, who got a head start but took 1:00.20 to polish off his move, so they reached the wire in unison. Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols reported splits of :12.20 and :35.80 and a six-furlong gallop-out in 1:13.60.

Trophy Chaser clocked 1:01.40, also at Churchill Sunday, under Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano.

“He went well,” Castellano said. “It was a nice, easy breeze.”

Leading Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) contender Bellafina worked five furlongs at her Santa Anita base Friday in 1:00.

“I’m really happy,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “She’ll have one more breeze here before leaving for Kentucky.”

Vibrance covered the same ground Saturday in 1:00.40.

Restless Rider (outside) and stablemate Princes Carolina breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Keeneland on October 19, 2018 (c) Keeneland/Coady Photography

Juvenile Fillies rival Restless Rider and stablemate Princesa Carolina (Juvenile Fillies’ Turf [G1]) matched strides through five-eighths in 1:01.40 at Keeneland Friday. Track clockers caught the McPeek duo in splits of :12.40, :24.40, :36.20 and :48.80, and further reported that they galloped out “well in hand” in 1:14.40.

At Belmont Park Sunday, likely Juvenile Fillies Turf favorite Newspaperofrecord strode a half-mile on the main track in :48.78, same time as workmate Significant Form.

“I just went with my gut and decided to keep her on the dirt this morning because she worked terrific on it last week,” trainer Chad Brown said. “She worked again in company with Significant Form. They were a good match last week and I was very pleased today. She seems to be holding her form well from her win in the Miss Grillo (G2). She’ll come back with a maintenance breeze either Saturday or Sunday next week and then ship to Churchill. She’s fit and ready.”

On the Keeneland main track, Juvenile Turf Sprint hopeful Strike Silver and War of Will (Juvenile Turf) reeled off a half-mile Friday in tandem in :47.20. The Mark Casse team went in :12.20, :24.20, and :35.40 and galloped out in 1:00.40.

“That was beautiful; I’m very happy,” assistant trainer David Carroll said. “The track is in great shape and they did it well within themselves.”