Since breaking his maiden at second asking in a 9 3/4 length gate-to-wire romp at Thistledown July 12, Grand Isle stayed in state-bred company and jumped up to the stakes ranks with a pair of back-to-back second-place efforts in the Hoover S. and the Best of Ohio Cleveland Kindergarten S. Aug. 13. Making his first start since then, and his first start at Mahoning Valley, Saturday's 6-1 shot rated kindly off the early pace from fifth before gradually making up ground up the backstretch run. As room opened along the fence around the far turn, Grand Isle sprinted through the gap and easily opened up on the field down the stretch, winning by daylight as much the best.
The first black-type winner for his freshman sire (by Bodemeister), Grand Isle is out of a half-sister to MGSW Raylene (Tabasco Cat) and from the family of MG1SW Ad Valorem (Danzig). His dam produced a yearling filly by National Flag and a weanling filly by Yosida (Jpn) but was not reported bred for next season. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
BEST OF OHIO JUVENILE S., $100,000, Mahoning Valley, 10-29, (S), 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:49.14, ft.
1–GRAND ISLE, 122, c, 2, by Always Dreaming 1st Dam: Grand Mere (SP, $114,479), by Bob and John 2nd Dam: Petite Princess, by Dayjur 3rd Dam: Classy Women, by Relaunch 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-WinBlaze, LLC (OH); T-Timothy E.
Hamm; J-Jeffrey Sanchez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-1,
$118,980.
2–Sammy and Shorty, 122, g, 2, Mobil–Surviving New York, by
Survivalist. O-Italian Stallions; B-Phantom Farms LLC (OH);
T-Jeffrey A. Radosevich. $20,000.
3–Need to Know Basis, 122, g, 2, Overanalyze–Startin
Something, by Musical Dreamer. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Blazing
Meadows Farm LLC & WinStar Farm, LLC (OH); T-Timothy E.
Hamm. $10,000.
Trainer Chad Brown sent out a dozen of his Breeders' Cup pre-entrants, with seven working on the dirt and five on the turf.
Working a half-mile on the dirt were Jack Christopher (:48.60, Sprint or Dirt Mile), Goodnight Olive (:47.80, Filly and Mare Sprint), Blazing Sevens (:47.20, Juvenile) and working in company I'm Very Busy and Oxymore (:49.60 Juvenile Turf).
Working five furlongs on the dirt were Search Results (1:01.20, Distaff) and Pipeline (1:01, Dirt Mile).
On the turf rated as good were Regal Glory (four furlongs, :49.80, Mile) in company with Rougir (four furlongs, :49.80, Filly and Mare Turf), In Italian (four furlongs, :50.80, Filly and Mare Turf) and Virginia Joy (five furlongs, 1:02.60, Filly and Mare Turf) in company with Domestic Spending (five furlongs, 1:02.60, Mile).
“We did great,” a beaming Brown said following the works.
Other horses pre-entered in the Breeders Cup worked this morning.
On the main track were Kimari (five furlongs, 1:01.40, Sprint or Filly and Mare Sprint) and Chi Town Lady (five furlongs, 1:01.80, Filly and Mare Sprint) in company for Wesley Ward; Willy Boi (four furlongs, :49.20, Sprint) for trainer Jorge Delgado and Simplification (five furlongs, 1:00.40, Dirt Mile) for Antonio Sano.
Working on the turf course were Reckoning Force (four furlongs, :50.40, Juvenile Turf) and Cazadero (four furlongs, :50.40, Turf Sprint) for Brendan Walsh; Arrest Me Red (five furlongs, 1:03.60, Turf Sprint) and Campanelle (five furlongs, 1:03.80, Turf Sprint) for Wesley Ward; Private Creed (three furlongs, :39, Juvenile Turf Sprint) for Steve Asmussen; Tyler's Tribe (three furlongs, :38.20, Juvenile Turf Sprint) for Tim Martin, and Caravel (four furlongs, :51, Turf Sprint) for Brad Cox.
Two horses who figure to be among the top choices behind Flightline in next Saturday's $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) – Life Is Good, trained by Todd Pletcher, and Hot Rod Charlie, trained by Doug O'Neill – turned in their final major works Saturday morning at Keeneland.
WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Life Is Good worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on his own with fractions of :12, :24.60, :49, 1:00.60 then out six furlongs in 1:13.20, seven furlongs in 1:25.80 and the mile in 1:39.80.
“He is a superior work horse,” Pletcher said. “Today was typical of what we have seen his whole career.”
Pletcher is optimistic about Life Is Good returning to the 1¼-mile distance in the Classic after his fourth-place effort in the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March.
“He is hard to pull up at the end (of his workouts),” he said. “We are eager to run on a real track not like in Dubai, which was really deep that night. I think that played against him.”
Pletcher's other Saturday workers:
His other Classic pre-entrant, Happy Saver, owned by Gerard and Alain Wertheimer, strategically had what the trainer called a “spirited gallop” in lieu of a timed breeze.
“We let him two-minute clip the whole way around,” Pletcher said. “We are going to do similar to what we did before the (Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan-G1): just one breeze two weeks out. He tends to run better when he is fresh. He'll have a few more strong gallops. He won't breeze again.
Also working this morning on the main track for Pletcher were Nest and Malathaat for the Distaff (G1). In company with recent maiden winner Inventing, Nest worked a half-mile in :50.40. Malathaat worked a half-mile in :49.60 with the 3-year-old maiden Old Point.
Working on the grass together were Annapolis (Mile) and Major Dude (Juvenile Turf), who were timed in :50.40 for a half-mile.
Hot Rod Charlie, Others Work For O'Neill
Shortly after Life Is Good finished his exercise, Hot Rod Charlie began a six-furlong work in company with Roses N Gold, a 3-year-old maiden winner.
With Tyler Gaffalione aboard, Hot Rod Charlie started four lengths in back of his workmate, cut the deficit in half by the quarter pole and cruised past at the eighth pole en route to a six-furlong time of 1:12.80.
“He looked good and I got him in 1:12 and 4,” O'Neill said.
Four other O'Neill runners who are pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup worked this morning.
They were Awake At Midnyte (five furlongs, 1:01.20, Distaff), Slow Down Andy (five furlongs, 1:00.40, Dirt Mile), Vegas Magic (five furlongs, 1:02.20, Juvenile Fillies) and Sharp Aza Tack (five furlongs, 1:01 on the training track, Juvenile Turf Sprint).
Unbeaten sensation and guaranteed GI Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Flightline (Tapit) put in his final prep for the World Championships at Keeneland Saturday. The 'TDN Rising Star' covered five furlongs solo in 1:00.60 (4/62) shortly after 7:30 a.m. under assistant trainer Juan Leyva.
“I told Juan to go in a minute and change and out [seven-eighths] in 1:26, and that's what he did,” trainer John Sadler said. “Juan's a great work rider. It was not about going fast today, just getting around there happy today.”
Flightline arrived at Keeneland Sunday from his Santa Anita home base.
“He's had a good week and gotten settled in, and the track is a little similar to Del Mar,” Sadler said, noting that Flightline's schedule for next week will include returning to the track to jog Monday, gallop Tuesday through Friday and not go to the track the morning of the Classic.
Life Is Good Tops Pletcher Workers
Classic contender and 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on his own at Keeneland Saturday with fractions of :12, :24.60, :49, 1:00.60 then out six furlongs in 1:13.20, seven-eighths in 1:25.80 and the mile in 1:39.80.
“He is a superior work horse,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Today was typical of what we have seen his whole career.”
Pletcher is confident his charge will get the 10-furlong distance this time after a failed effort in the G1 Dubai World Cup.
“He is hard to pull up at the end [of his workouts],” the conditioner said. “We are eager to run on a real track not like in Dubai, which was really deep that night. I think that played against him.”
Pletcher's other Classic pre-entrant Happy Saver (Super Saver) had what the trainer called a “spirited gallop” in lieu of a timed breeze.
“We let him two-minute clip the whole way around,” Pletcher said. “We are going to do similar to what we did before the [GI Met Mile]: just one breeze two weeks out. He tends to run better when he is fresh. He'll have a few more strong gallops. He won't breeze again.”
Also working this morning on the main track for Pletcher were GI Breeders' Cup Distaff runners Nest (Curlin) and Malathaat (Curlin). In company with recent maiden winner Inventing (Union Rags), Nest worked a half-mile in :50.40. Malathaat worked a half-mile in :49.60 with the 3-year-old maiden Old Point (Curlin).
Working on the grass together were GI Shadwell Mile winner Annapolis GI (Mile) and GII Pilgrim S. victor Major Dude (GI Juvenile Turf), who were timed in :50.40 for a half-mile.
Charlie Puts in Final Classic Prep
Gutsy GII Lukas Classic winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) also had his final breeze ahead of the BC Classic Saturday in Lexington, going six panels in company in 1:12.80.
“He looked good and I got him in 1:12 4/5,” trainer Doug O'Neill said.
Other O'Neill BC workers included Awake At Midnyte (Nyquist) (5f, 1:01.20, Distaff), Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) (5f, 1:00.40, GI Dirt Mile), Vegas Magic (Good Magic) (5f, 1:02.20, GI Juvenile Fillies) and Sharp Aza Tack (Sharp Azteca) (5f, 1:01 on the training track, GI Juvenile Turf Sprint).
Brown Breezes BC Contingent
Jack Christopher | Coady
Trainer Chad Brown sent out a dozen of his Breeders' Cup pre-entrants, with seven working on the dirt and five on the turf at Keeneland Saturday.
Working a half-mile on the dirt were MGISW Jack Christopher (Munnings) (:48.60, GI Sprint or Dirt Mile), Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (:47.80, GI Filly and Mare Sprint), Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) (:47.20, GI Juvenile) and working in company I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing) and Oxymore (Astern {Aus}) (:49.60 Juvenile Turf).
Working five furlongs on the dirt were Search Results (Flatter) (1:01.20, Distaff) and Pipeline (Speightstown) (1:01, Dirt Mile).
On the turf, which was rated as good, were Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (4f, :49.80, Mile) in company with Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) (4f, :49.80, GI Filly and Mare Turf), In Italian (GB) (4f, :50.80, Filly and Mare Turf) and Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (5f, 1:02.60, Filly and Mare Turf) in company with Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (5f, 1:02.60, Mile).
“We did great,” a beaming Brown said following the works.
Other Keeneland BC Workers Saturday
On the main track were Kimari (Munnings) (5f, 1:01.40, Sprint or Filly and Mare Sprint) and Chi Town Lady (Verrazano) (5f, 1:01.80, Filly and Mare Sprint) in company for Wesley Ward; Willy Boi (Uncaptured) (4f, :49.20, Sprint) for trainer Jorge Delgado and Simplification (Not This Time) (5f, 1:00.40, Dirt Mile) for Antonio Sano.
Working on the turf course were Reckoning Force (Air Force Blue) (4f, :50.40, Juvenile Turf) and Cazadero (Street Sense) (4f, :50.40, Turf Sprint) for Brendan Walsh; Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) (5f, 1:03.60, Turf Sprint) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (5f, 1:03.80, Turf Sprint) for Wesley Ward; Private Creed (Jimmy Creed) (3f, :39, Juvenile Turf Sprint) for Steve Asmussen; Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) (3f, :38.20, Juvenile Turf Sprint) for Tim Martin and Caravel (Mizzen Mast) (4f, :51, Turf Sprint) for Brad Cox.
BC Workers at Churchill Downs
MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner) put in his final work for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs Saturday, covering five furlongs in :59 flat. With regular rider Florent Geroux in the saddle, Cyberknife started his work about two lengths behind stablemate Forza Di Oro (Speightstown) and finished even at the completion of his work.
“With a week out from the Breeders' Cup it was the right move we wanted to see,” trainer Brad Cox said. “Both of these horses are really good work horses and I think matching up Cyberknife with him he'd get a lot out of his work. We ended up choosing to run in the Dirt Mile instead of the [GI Breeders' Cup] Classic because we thought it would be the most likely race he could win. The Classic came up a very deep field and even though Cyberknife is going to cut back in distance we feel he can handle the two-turn mile at Keeneland.”
Cox also worked GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint contender Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat). She went five furlongs in 1:00.60 outside 3-year-old filly Girl With a Dream (Practial Joke). Cyberknife and Lady Rocket, along with Cox juveniles Chop Chop (City of Light) and Verifying (Justify), are scheduled to ship to Keeneland Monday.
Also on the Churchill worktab Saturday was GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who went a half-mile in :47.80 outside of a stablemate.
Taiba Has Final Classic Work at Santa Anita
GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba (Gun Runner) had his final major workout for the Breeders' Cup Classic Saturday, going six furlongs at Santa Anita this morning in 1:13 flat under Juan Ochoa in company with Messier (Empire Maker), who was also clocked in 1:13.
“He went well,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He's not a great work horse, so he went with Messier. I was happy with it. He'll ship tonight for Kentucky].”
