Champion Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) and probable champion Epicenter (Not This Time) topped a busy worktab for Steve Asmussen's potential Breeders' Cup starters Sunday morning at Keeneland as the racing world draws closer than two weeks away from the 39th World Championships in Lexington Nov. 4-5.
With exercise rider Wilson Fabian aboard, Echo Zulu drilled five furlongs in :59 2/5 in company with Marsalis (Curlin). The move was the fastest five-eighths of 30 Sunday over the fast main track. Echo Zulu, who returned off a layoff to win the GIII Dogwood S. last out, is being pointed to the $1-million GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Next was Peter Blum Thoroughbreds' Society (Gun Runner). With jockey Florent Geroux aboard, Society worked 5 furlongs in :59 4/5 in company. A winner of five of six starts, including the GI Cotillion S. in her most recent outing, Society is being pointed to the $2-million GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Also working before 6 a.m. was Stonestreet Stables' Clairiere (Curlin), who breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00 4/5 with Joel Rosario aboard in company. Clairiere, like Society, is being pointed to the Distaff.
Following the first track renovation break that ended at 7:30, Winchell Thoroughbreds' GI Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful Epicenter worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 with Rosario up in company.
“He's a nice horse and I am just glad to be on him,” Rosario, who has ridden Epicenter in his past seven races, said. “He's more mature and looks like he has grown and is stronger. He finished up good; training really good.”
This was the fourth local work for Epicenter, who has compiled four wins and three seconds in 2022 highlighted by a victory in the GI Runhappy Travers S. in his most recent start.
“This morning was more of the same,” owner Ron Winchell said. “He did what he needed to do.”
Winchell picked up two more possible Breeders' Cup hopefuls Saturday at Keeneland when homebreds Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) won the GII Lexus Raven Run S. and Gunite (Gun Runner) took the Perryville S. Wicked Halo could go to the Filly and Mare Sprint and Gunite to the $2-million GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint.
On the West Coast, likely prohibitive GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile favorite Cave Rock (Arrogate) worked six furlongs in 1:11 1/5 (1/5) at Santa Anita in company for trainer Bob Baffert. The undefeated colt was last seen dominating the GI American Pharoah S.
Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Cave Rock (Outside), 6F in 1:11.20, and Bletchley Park, 5F in 59.00, worked on October 23rd, 2022, for trainer Bob Baffert. @1stbet pic.twitter.com/1vZYOsH4k3
— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) October 23, 2022
In other Breeders' Cup news, the connections of GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) announced that the over-achieving chestnut will be pointed to the Classic over a potential start in the GI Clark H. Nov. 25 at Churchill.”Rich Strike is doing as good as he ever has, and [owner] Rick [Dawson] feels that he deserves the chance to take on the best in the world,” trainer Eric Reed said.
Reed planned to bring Rich Strike to Keeneland from his base at the Mercury Equine Center Sunday afternoon with the colt scheduled to gallop Monday morning before moving Monday afternoon to the barns on Rice Road that will serve as the home to all Breeders' Cup runners. Rich Strike is expected to work Tuesday morning.
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