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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