'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), a dominant winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 6, continues to train forwardly toward his 4-year-old debut in the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park.
Life Is Good was among two dozen horses breezing for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs. He was clocked in 1:00.41 (5/11) for five furlongs.
“He's a phenomenal workhorse. He's a very talented, gifted animal that when you watch him breeze you kind of look at your stopwatch and it doesn't look like what you'd expect to see when he's doing it. He's doing it so easily,” Pletcher said. “He continues to train very impressively. We're three weeks out and we're happy with where we are.”
Fearless (Ghostzapper) worked a half-mile in :50.04 (15/25). He exits a four-length victory in the GIII Harlan's Holiday S. Dec. 18 at Gulfstream.
“Fearless continues to train really well. Happy with him,” Pletcher said. “We haven't decided [what's next]. I talked to Mike Repole and right now we're leaning toward the mile race [GIII Fred W. Hooper] that day on the undercard.”
Pegasus World Cup Turf candidates Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) and Never Surprised (Constitution) were also on Saturday's worktab. Colonel Liam, the defending Pegasus World Cup Turf winner, went five furlongs in 1:00.46 (6/11) while Never Surprised, winner of the Dec. 26 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream, had a half-mile move in :51.01 (22/25). Colonel Liam has been off since finishing eighth in the GI Manhattan S. at Belmont in June.
Sweet Melania (American Pharoah), who earned her third career graded win in the Dec. 18 GIII Suwannee River S. at Gulfstream, is being pointed to the GIII Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf. She worked four furlongs in :50.32 (19/25).
“Colonel Liam, very good breeze with him again this morning. We're on a tight schedule, but everything has gone right so far and I think we're approaching the race the way you'd hope. Never Surprised bounced out of the Tropical Derby very well, just a maintenance breeze this morning. Happy with him,” Pletcher said. “Sweet Melania, she was good this morning, too. So far, everything's gone according to plan.”
Pletcher said that Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), a last out winner of the Dec. 4 GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct, will make his sophomore debut in the GIII Holy Bull S. Feb. 5. Mo Donegal worked five furlongs in 1:00.46 (6/11) Saturday, his third breeze since arriving in South Florida.
“Very good work, happy with him,” Pletcher said. “He's right on schedule for the Holy Bull.”
Pletcher also provided an update on flashy Gulfstream debut winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready). He was scratched from an optional claiming allowance Friday at Tampa Bay Downs.
“He spiked a 102.5 temperature the morning after we entered,” Pletcher said. “It's kind of frustrating. We were kind of hoping to get some two-turn experience at Tampa. He's fine, he's going back to the track tomorrow. Now we've just got to regroup and find out we're going to come back.”
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