Following is a look at the morning activity and planned activity for the horses set to compete in the $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita, plus comments from their trainers.
Horse: Arabian Knight
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Set: 7:15 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped on main track.
Planned Activity: Gallop Sunday and work Monday.
The Quote: “He's slowly turning into a man right now; he's still learning. He's ready to run.” – Bob Baffert
Horse: Arcangelo
Trainer: Jena Antonucci
Set: 7 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped a mile under regular exercise rider Robert Mallari.
Planned Activity: Similar to Saturday, will gallop a mile at approximately 7 a.m. Sunday
The Quote: “The most beautiful thing about this sport is if you have the right horse and you have the right rider and you have the right trainer, you can make it happen with any price on any horse. The horse is the equalizer on the price.” – Owner John Ebbert
Horse: Bright Future
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Set: N/A
Morning Activity: In transit from Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, to Santa Anita Park.
Bright Future worked 4f in 48 2/5 Friday morning at Keeneland in company with Classic candidate Dreamlike. The two galloped out 5f in 1:00 4/5 before shipping to California on Saturday.
Planned Activity: Will be hand-walked Sunday morning at Santa Anita.
The Quote: “Very pleased. Traveling well in hand throughout.” – Todd Pletcher on 10/29 work
Horse: Charge It
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Set: N/A
Morning Activity: Charge It worked 4f in 48 3/5 Friday morning at Keeneland before shipping to California on Saturday. He also was pre-entered in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Planned Activity: Will be hand-walked Sunday at Santa Anita.
The Quote: Pletcher on the work to Daily Racing Form: ” Super impressive like he always is. Finished up really strongly. Great gallop-out, moving super. I'll get with the connections later and we'll make a decision between the two races, but I thought his breeze was good enough to consider everything.”
Horse: Clapton
Trainer: Chad Summers
Set: 7 a.m.
Morning Activity: Worked 4f in 48 3/5 under Antonio Fresu. First work at Santa Anita since arriving from Belmont Park on Oct. 21.
Planned Activity: Will walk the shedrow on Sunday morning.
The Quote: “It's kind of what we wanted. We worked him three-quarters at Belmont last week before we came here. We just wanted him to get used to the track, get a feel for things, look around. With everyone coming on the track, we actually caught some company, but it was fine.” – Chad Summers
Horse: Derma Sotogake (JPN)
Trainer: Otonoashi Hidetaka
Set: 7:30 a.m.
Morning Activity: The UAE Derby (G2) winner did some figure-eight footwork to loosen up while in the chute and then had cantered a mile and a half before returning home with morning trackwork-mate and fellow Japanese invader Meikei Yell. Masa Segawa was aboard Derma Sotogake.
Planned Activity: Another routine day planned for Sunday with a possible walk through the paddock/parade ring.
Horse: Mage
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Set: 7:30-8 a.m. (ET) at Thoroughbred Training Center, Lexington, Kentucky
Morning Activity: Had scheduled workout postponed because of early morning rain.
Planned Activity: Final work Sunday before shipping to Santa Anita on Monday. Work distance TBD.
The Quote: “We want the track to be perfect when he works. We are just going to put the finishing touches on, just another day at the gym for him on Sunday. The 'Rocky' montage is over. The Training Center is his home, his place, his fortress. He loves it there.” – Co-owner Ramiro Restrepo
Horse: Proxy
Trainer: Mike Stidham
Set: Keeneland
Morning Activity: Breezed 4f in 48 2/5 at Keeneland, 29th-fastest of 106 works at the distance.
Planned Activity: The Clark Stakes (G1) and Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner will walk the shedrow on Sunday before shipping from Kentucky to California on Monday.
The Quote: “Basically today's work was just a half-mile with a decent gallop-out by himself with (Joel) Rosario. We went early in the dark because there was a forecast for possible rain sometime in the morning, so we didn't want to take any chances and went early.
“The work went really well. He was in the bridle going to the pole and Joel said he was very willing and had good energy throughout the work and he had a good gallop-out. We had him in :48 2/5 and out in 1:01 1/5, I think, and he cooled out well. I could not have asked, as they say, for it to have gone any better.” – Mike Stidham
Horse: Saudi Crown
Trainer: Brad Cox
Set: 5:30
Morning Activity: Worked 6f in 1:12 1/5 at Churchill with jockey Florent Geroux up.
Planned Activity: Will walk Sunday and ship to California Monday.
The Quote: “We put him on the inside last week with A Mo Reay and we put him on the outside this week,” Cox said. “I've loved what we've seen from him since the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). A Mo Reay is a good work horse and he's gotten a lot out of his works. By the way he's doing now here in Kentucky, I'm confident he'll run a big race in the Classic.” – Brad Cox
Horse: Senor Buscador
Trainer: Todd Fincher
Set: 7:45
Morning Activity: Galloped 1 ½ m with Dennis Means up
Planned Activity: Similar routine as Saturday
The Quote: “Senor Buscador has been our horse that has had the most bad luck in his racing career, but we have been confident in his ability since he was a 2-year-old.” — Joey Peacock, owner and co-breeder
Closer Look: From the disappointment of an eighth-place finish in last year's Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland, Joey Peacock's Senor Buscador is primed to set his hooves on center stage in Saturday's $6-million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
“It was very disappointing last year in the Dirt Mile,” trainer Todd Fincher said. “But he washed out, which he had never done before and also bled for the first time. It was a legitimate excuse. I was expecting a big race from him last year. He's definitely a Classic horse and I envisioned him getting here one day.”
Senor Buscador is the third foal to race for Peacock's mare Rose's Desert.
“When my father was alive, he planned all the matings for Rose's Desert,” Peacock said. “Senor Buscador is the last horse we bred together. I have been planning all the matings since Senor Buscador.”
Rose's Desert raced from 2010 to 2013 and compiled a 15-10-5-0 record, winning seven stakes and earning $626,035.
“Her pedigree is sneaky good for a New Mexico bred,” Peacock said. “All of her foals that have made it to the track are stakes winners and we own every one of her offspring.”
Fincher trained Rose's Desert, who has produced six-time stakes winner and $783,509 earner Runaway Ghost by Ghostzapper and three-time stakes winner and $603,681 earner Sheriff Brown by Curlin.
“She was one of the best fillies I've ever had to train and to race,” Fincher said. “She has had unbelievable success as a broodmare. To get one as good as her is unbelievable. Hard to find one that produces as well.”
Senor Buscador has spent the summer in Southern California, starting at Del Mar with a victory in the San Diego Handicap (G2) at a mile and sixteenth and a fourth in the Pacific Classic (G1) at a mile and a quarter. In his most recent start, he was third in the Awesome Again (G1) at Santa Anita going a mile and an eighth.
Aboard for all three rides was 32-year-old Giovanni Franco, who will be seeking his first Breeders' Cup victory this weekend.
“I worked him last year at Churchill Downs before he won the Ack Ack (G3),” said Franco, who was aboard Thursday morning when Senor Buscador worked a bullet 5 furlongs in :59 2/5.
“I filled in one morning for Francisco Arrieta and Senor Buscador worked in :58 (and 1) with Todd's good filly Slammed. I came to California and one morning at Del Mar, I introduced myself to Todd and told him I had filled in that one morning at Churchill.
“He said, 'I owe you one.' A minute later, my agent called and said, 'you got the mount.'”
Their first pairing was a success with the victory in the San Diego Handicap.
“He had an incredible run the last three-eighths,” said Franco, who has 994 career victories. “In the Pacific Classic, things didn't work out the way I wanted it to and would have liked a better trip. In the Awesome Again, he was the only horse that closed ground that day … all day. He is going to have to bring his 'A' game, but I feel he is ready to run big.”
Franco's most recent Breeders' Cup ride came in 2021 at Del Mar when he finished second on Lieutenant Dan in the Turf Sprint (G1) behind Golden Pal.
“If I could have one race back …” Franco said, replaying the race in his head. “I broke like a bullet and I should have gone after Golden Pal. Then we see who gets tired first.”
This story is not close to ending.
“I have a Candy Ride 2-year-old filly and a yearling Hard Spun filly coming,” Fincher said.
And for Franco, whose 1,000-win milestone looms close. Just what if that 1,000th win came in the Classic?
“Hmmmmm,” Franco said, pondering the thought. “That would be like a movie story. It would be sweet.”
Horse: Ushba Tesoro (JPN)
Trainer: Takagi Noboru
Set: 6 a.m.
Morning Activity: The Dubai World Cup (G1) winner cantered two miles on the Santa Anita main track. Masa Fukami was aboard the dual Group 1 winner.
Planned Activity: After a trot-up to clear (veterinary protocol) on Friday, a breeze is possible for Ushba Tesoro on Sunday.
Horse: White Abarrio
Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr.
Set: NA
Morning Activity: Scheduled walk day following Friday's breeze
Planned Activity: Will Go to the track Sunday between 6:30 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. to jog under exercise rider Emily Ellingwood.
The Quote: As planned, Richard Dutrow returned to New York after the 4yo colt worked 5f in :59.80 Friday under Emily Ellingwood at Santa Anita.
Chip Dutrow, Richard's brother and assistant, on the breeze and how the colt looked Saturday: “Very happy with his workout. The rider, Emily, was very pleased. All the connections were very happy with him yesterday. Today, he looks great. After the breeze, everything checks out good today. We're very happy with that. He came out of the work sharp.”
Horse: Zandon
Trainer: Chad Brown
Set: Belmont Park
Morning Activity: Breezed 5f at Belmont Park in 1:00.23, second-fastest of three at the distance.
Planned Activity: Expected to ship from New York to California for the Classic on Sunday. “It looked like (jockey Luis Saez) was in with plenty of horse (coming around the turn), and I think he made the right decision: Let the other horse (Cowes) set the fractions. We learned something today, that he'll rate. And hopefully we're on to better things. (Iowa) is a little bit smaller state in the horse business, and (winning at Keeneland) just helps everything. We're just tickled to be here.”
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