October, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Practical Move Among Breeders’ Cup Hopefuls To Drill At Santa Anita

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner and Breeders' Cup hopeful Practical Move returned to the Santa Anita work tab Saturday following a sharp comeback victory going a flat mile against against allowance foes Oct. 6 at the Arcadia, Calif. track.

At about 6:45 a.m. (PT), Practical Move hit the main track and went four furlongs in company in :48.80. He is targeting the $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Nov. 4, trainer Tim Yakteen confirmed.

“He got some outside company and it all went well,” Yakteen said. “I was just looking to see that his energy level was good, make sure all systems are a go. That's what we saw.”

Yakteen added he is “planning on the (Dirt) Mile” for Practical Move.

In his comeback effort, which followed a nearly six-month layoff, Practical Move and jockey Ramon Vazquez settled just off the early pace before surging past rivals at the top of the stretch and cruising to an easy four-length victory. The effort earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form.

By Practical Joke, Practical Move has won five of eight starts and never missed the board. Following his win in the Santa Anita Derby April 8, he was shipped to Churchill Downs to contest the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6. He never got the chance. The week of the Derby, Practical Move developed an elevated temperature and had to be scratched.

Practical Move was among several Breeders' Cup contenders to work Saturday.

Also returning to the tab for Bob Baffert were Muth and Wine Me Up, the one-two finishers in the American Pharoah (G1) Oct. 7. Muth went five furlongs in :59.40 and Wine Me Up was timed in :59.20 for the same distance. Both are pointed to the $2-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 3.

Working towards expected starts in the $2-million Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 4 were Anarchist (5f, 59.40) on the main track and The Chosen Vron (5f, 1:01.60) on the training track. Also working on the main track for trainer Steve Asmussen was Gunite (5f, 1:00.20), who is possible for either the Sprint or the Dirt Mile.

Anarchist worked with Vazquez in the irons. The 4-year-old Distorted Humor colt trained by Doug O'Neill most recently won the Pat O'Brien (G2) going seven furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 26.

“He went really good. This is a happy horse,” Vazquez said.

Added Leandro Mora, O'Neill's assistant: “He's stepping things up. He looks more focused and fresher, which was the idea giving him more time between races.”

Working towards the $1-million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs were both Kirstenbosch for trainer John Sadler and Society for Asmussen. Kirstenbosch, winner of the Chillingworth (G3) Sept. 29 at Santa Anita, went five furlongs in 1:00.40. Society went the same distance in :59.80.

Clearly Unhinged, second in the Chillingworth for trainer Michael McCarthy, also worked towards a potential start in the Filly & Mare Sprint with a four-furlong move in :48.20.

Drilling a half mile on the training track for the $2-million Breeders' Cup Mile were Du Jour and Exaulted, the one-two finishers in the Del Mar Mile (G2) most recently on Sept. 2. Du Jour worked in :48.60 while Exaulted, winner of the Shoemaker Mile (G1) in the spring, went in :47.40.

Astronomer, also a candidate for the Mile following a second-place finish in the City of Hope Mile (G2) Sept. 30 worked five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.00 for trainer Simon Callaghan.

Working towards the $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 4 was Motorious for trainer Phil D'Amato. Winner of the Green Flash (G3) at Del Mar on Sept. 2, Motorious worked four furlongs on the training track in :46.80.

D'Amato also worked Desert Dawn six furlongs in 1:13.40. The Arizona-bred daughter of Cupid is possible for either the $2-million Breeders' Cup Distaff at 1 1/8 miles or the Filly & Mare Sprint.

Pre-entries for the 40th Breeders' Cup will be announced Friday at 9 a.m.

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Spinaway Winner Brightwork Breezes At Keeneland Toward Breeders’ Cup Bid

With owner William Simon looking on and trainer John Ortiz in the saddle, Brightwork on Saturday at Keeneland tuned up for an expected run in the $2-million NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

Working with 4 G Racing's Crown Imperial, a candidate for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) also on Nov. 3, Brightwork finished in front of her stablemate while completing five furlongs in 1:00.80 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14. Crown Imperial was timed in 1:02.20 for 5 furlongs.

“She did it very easy,” Ortiz said of Brightwork, who sustained her first defeat in the Oct. 6 Darley Alcibiades (G1) run at 1 1/16 miles after opening her career with four victories. “She's a filly that likes to take direction, and she understood that today I wanted to give her confidence to go two turns.”

Ortiz plans to breeze the Outwork filly next Saturday at the Lexington track with a scheduled Oct. 30 departure date to Southern California. She and Crown Imperial would mark the Breeders' Cup first starters for Ortiz at Santa Anita.

“Never saddled one on my own,” Ortiz said. “I was out there before as an assistant to Kellyn Gorder.”

Also on Saturday at Keeneland, trainer Cherie DeVaux worked her three Breeders' Cup hopefuls on the main track.

First was John Gunther's Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1) candidate Stage Raider, who worked five furlongs in 1:01. Following the morning's track renovation session, Lael Stable's She Feels Pretty worked a half-mile in :48.40 for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Victory Racing Partners' More Than Looks worked a half-mile in :48.60 for the FanDuel Mile (G1) on turf.

Other Breeders' Cup possible candidates working on the dirt were Juddmonte Spinster (G1) runner-up Le Da Vida (CHI) (half-mile in :47.60, best of 79 at the distance) for trainer Ignacio Correas IV in preparation for the Distaff (G1) and Hidden Class (half-mile in :49.40) for Joe Sharp for a possible run in the Juvenile Fillies Turf or Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

Working on the grass with designs on the Breeders' Cup were Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) runner-up Master of The Seas (IRE) (half-mile in :52.20; click here for a video of the work) and First Lady (G1) runner-up In Italian (GB) (half-mile in :51.80).

The deadline to pre-enter for the Breeders' Cup is Monday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. (ET). Pre-entries will be announced Oct. 25 at noon.

The post Spinaway Winner Brightwork Breezes At Keeneland Toward Breeders’ Cup Bid appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Nest to Bypass Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Reigning champion sophomore filly Nest (Curlin) will not contest next month's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Saturday. Campaigned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, the 4-year-old was last seen finishing fourth in Keeneland's GI Spinster S. Oct. 8. Additionally, plans have yet to be solidified whether the filly will be retired after the sale or will return in 2024.

“While Nest has been galloping well since the Spinster, we just don't feel she's at her best for the Breeders' Cup Distaff,” Pletcher told TDN Saturday. “She's a remarkable talent who should generate a lot of attention at the Fasig-Tipton Night of the Stars Sale.”

A four-time Grade I winner in 2022, including in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama S., the bay annexed one of three starts in 2023 and that was recorded when returning off an eight-month layoff to contest the GII Shuvee S. at Saratoga July 23.

The news comes on the heels of the announcement to sell the champion at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton November 'Night of the Stars' sale Nov. 7.

The filly's record currently stands at eight wins from 14 career starts and earnings in excess of $2 million.

The post Nest to Bypass Breeders’ Cup Distaff appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Brightwork Heads Breeders’ Cup Work Tab

With the 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships less than two weeks away, a number of hopefuls worked Saturday morning at Keeneland as they make their final preparations before shipping to Santa Anita.

Trainer John Ortiz took GISW Brightwork (Outwork) out for a spin on Saturday with William Simon, owner of WSS Racing, on hand as the bay filly points towards the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 3.

Working with 4 G Racing's GSP Crown Imperial (Classic Empire), a candidate for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf also on Nov. 3, Brightwork finished in front of her stablemate while completing five furlongs in 1:00.80 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14. Crown Imperial received a time of 1:02.20 for five furlongs.

“She did it very easy,” Ortiz said of Brightwork, who sustained her first defeat in the Oct. 6 GI Darley Alcibiades S. run at 1 1/16 miles after opening her career with four victories. “She's a filly that likes to take direction and she understood that today I wanted to give her confidence to go two turns.”

Ortiz plans to breeze Brightwork in Lexington Saturday, Oct. 28 with a scheduled Oct. 30 departure to Southern California. She and Crown Imperial would mark the first starters for Ortiz at Santa Anita.

“Never saddled one on my own,” Ortiz said. “I was out there before as an assistant to Kellyn Gorder.”

Others Prep for Breeders' Cup at Keeneland

Trainer Cherie DeVaux worked her three Breeders' Cup hopefuls on the main track Saturday morning.

First was John Gunther's GI Breeders' Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile candidate GSP Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) who worked five furlongs in 1:01. Following the morning's track renovation session, Lael Stable's GISW She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) worked a half-mile in :48.40 for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Victory Racing Partners' GSW More Than Looks (More Than Ready) worked a half-mile in :48.60 for the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile on turf.

In Italian | Sarah Andrew

Other Breeders' Cup possible candidates working on the dirt were GI Juddmonte Spinster S. runner-up GISP Le Da Vida (Chi) (Gemologist) (half-mile in :47.60, 1/79) for trainer Ignacio Correas IV in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and Hidden Class (Catalina Cruiser) (half-mile in :49.40) for Joe Sharp in advance of a possible run in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf or GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Working over the Keeneland turf that was rated as 'good' with designs on the Breeders' Cup were GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile winner and runner-up in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (half-mile in :52.20; click here for video), and GI First Lady S. runner-up and MGISW In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (half-mile in :51.80; click here for video).

Arzak In Good Order Says Trombetta

Sonata Stable's Arzak (Not This Time), winner of the GII Woodford S. Oct. 7, turned in a half-mile breeze in :51.20 over the Haggin Course to the delight of trainer Mike Trombetta. (Click here for video)

“With all the rain [Friday], I was surprised we got on the grass [Saturday],” said Trombetta, who arrived at Keeneland Friday from his main base in Maryland. “It looked like he got over it good. There was a little cut in the ground from the rain.”

Luis Saez was aboard for the work, one of two scheduled at Keeneland before Arzak heads to California on Oct. 30 for an expected start in the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Trombetta confirmed that Saez, who rode Arzak to victory against optional claimers Aug. 23 at Saratoga the one time he was aboard the 5-year-old, would have the Breeders' Cup mount.

Practical Move Leads BC Preps at Santa Anita

Topping Saturday's worktab at Santa Anita, GI Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move (Practical Joke) visited the track at 6:45 a.m., covering four furlongs in :48.80. Trainer Tim Yakteen confirmed the colt will target the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

“He got some outside company and it all went well,” Yakteen said. “I was just looking to see that his energy level was good, make sure all systems are a go. That's what we saw.”

In his latest start, the bay returned from a layoff to take a one-mile allowance at Santa Anita Oct. 6.

Also working towards expected starts in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint were Anarchist (Distorted Humor) (five furlongs, :59.40) on the main track and The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) (five furlongs, 1:01.60) on the training track.

Also working on the main track for trainer Steve Asmussen was Gunite (Gun Runner) (five furlongs, 1:00.20), who is possible for either the Sprint or the Dirt Mile.

Anarchist worked with Vazquez in the irons. The 4-year-old trained by Doug O'Neill most recently won the GII Pat O'Brien S. going seven furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 26.

“He went really good. This is a happy horse,” Vazquez said. Added Leandro Mora, O'Neill's assistant, “He's stepping things up. He looks more focused and fresher, which was the idea giving him more time between races.”

Drilling a half-mile on the training track for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile were Du Jour (Temple City) and Exaulted (Twirling Candy), the one-two finishers in the Sept. 2 GII Del Mar Mile. Du Jour worked in :48.60 while Exaulted, winner of the GI Shoemaker Mile last spring, went in :47.40.

Also returning to the tab for Bob Baffert were Muth (Good Magic) and Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso), the one-two finishers in the GI American Pharoah S. Oct. 7. Muth went five furlongs in :59.40 seconds and Wine Me Up was timed in :59.20 seconds for the same distance. Both are pointed to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 3.

The deadline to pre-enter for the Breeders' Cup is Monday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. ET. Pre-entries will be announced Oct. 25 at noon ET.

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