Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Malathaat, Nest ‘Seem To Love The Track’ During Keeneland Work For Pletcher

A day after working many of his 2-year-olds expected for the Nov. 4 Future Stars Friday races during the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland, trainer Todd Pletcher on Friday breezed his older horses – led by multiple Grade 1 winner Life Is Good, champion Malathaat and Grade 1 winner Nest – who are scheduled to compete in the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 5.

Shortly after the second renovation break ended at 9 a.m., CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) candidate Life Is Good breezed 5 furlongs on a fast track in 1:00.40 for his first work since scoring a victory in the Oct. 1 Woodward (G1) at Belmont at the Big A. Life Is Good won last year's Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar.

Keeneland clockers caught Life Is Good in fractions of :25, :36.80, 1:00.40 and out in 1:13 and 1:26.40. (Click here for a video of the work.)

“Super,” Pletcher said of Life Is Good's work. “Pretty much what we have come to expect from him. He just does everything so effortlessly. He doesn't look like he is doing anything, but you look at your watch and he comes home in :23 and change.”

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat and Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House's Nest worked together after the first renovation break ended at 7:30 a.m. They covered a half-mile in :48.60, producing splits of :25.40, :48.60 and out in 1:01, 1:14.20 and 1:28.80. (Click here for a video of the work.)

“We were just looking for more of the same,” Pletcher said. “They are two terrific fillies – kind workhorses and straightforward. It was just a maintenance half-mile with both of them coming off races 12 days ago with a target 15 days from now. Looks like they are holding their form great. Both seem to love the track again this morning.”

Both fillies won Oct. 9 with Malathaat taking the Juddmonte Spinster (G1) at Keeneland by 5¼ lengths and Nest capturing the Beldame (G2) at Belmont at the Big A by 9¾ lengths. The two are both being pointed at the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

For Pletcher, Wertheimer and Frere's Happy Saver, a possible starter in the Classic, covered a half-mile in :48.40 in company with Never Change. (Click here for a video of the work.)

“It was a workman-like breeze for him, which is his usual style,” Pletcher said. “I had him finishing up good and it looked like he was happy.”

Completing the morning activity for Pletcher were grass works turned in by Bass Racing's Annapolis and Spendthrift Farm's Major Dude.

Working in company, Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) winner Annapolis and Pilgrim (G2) winner Major Dude were clocked a half-mile in :47.80. (Click here for a video of the work.)

Pletcher was pleased with the works and indicated both would come back next week and work on the grass, Annapolis for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) on Nov. 5 and Major Dude for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Nov. 4.

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Champion Letruska May Reroute To Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Following a tumultuous 2022 season, last year's Champion Older Female Letruska may cut back in distance for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, reports bloodhorse.com. The seven-furlong affair, scheduled for Nov. 5 at Keeneland, could help the 6-year-old daughter of Super Saver get back to the winner's circle after compromised by speed duels in her last three route efforts.

“She has the speed; she has the class,” trainer Fausto Gutierrez told bloodhorse.com. “So we are evaluating this possibility (Filly & Mare Sprint) right now.”

The St. George Stable homebred won six of her eight starts in 2021, including the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), Spinster Stakes (G1), Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2), and the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3). She faded badly to finish 10th in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff, however, after an early speed duel with fellow frontrunner Private Mission.

This year, Letruska won her first two outings in the G3 Royal Delta and G1 Apple Blossom, but has not been able to finish better than third in three subsequent Grade 1 route stakes. Rather than continue to push the mare at the nine-furlong distance of this year's Distaff, Gutierrez is inclined to target the Filly & Mare Sprint.

“I think the competition of the Distaff this year is very strong,” Gutierrez told bloodhorse.com. “And I think the nine furlongs is starting to be a long distance for her.”

Over the course of her career, Letruska has amassed a record of 19 wins from 28 starts with earnings of $3,053,529.

Todd Pletcher’s Juvenile Breeders’ Cup Contenders ‘Solid’ In Thursday Breezes

Trainer Todd Pletcher's juveniles taking aim on the Nov. 4 Future Stars Friday races during the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland worked here Thursday on a fast track.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte and Harrell Ventures' Lost Ark, the respective winner and sixth-place finisher in the Oct. 8 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, breezed a half-mile together in :49.20 immediately after the track's second renovation break at 9 a.m. Both are candidates for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

Keeneland clockers caught the two in fractions of :13.40, :25, :49.20 and out in 1:02, 1:15.80 and 1:30.20. (Click here for a video of the work.)

“That was a pretty standard breeze from them,” Pletcher said. “They're both solid work horses and are always willing. We were just hoping to see more of what they normally do.”

Pletcher was happy with the colts' performances in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity.

“We felt like (Forte) handled the added distance (of 1 1/16 miles) and the two turns; he certainly looked like he relished it,” Pletcher said. “Lost Ark had a rough trip into the first turn and that kind of took him completely out of position. He finished up with some interest so that was encouraging.”

In addition, Frizette (G1) winner Chocolate Gelato and restricted stakes winner Atomically worked in tandem for Pletcher following the first renovation at 7:30 a.m. The prospects for the $2 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) clocked the half-mile in :49.

Fractions for the pair, according to Keeneland clockers, were :13.20, :25.20, :49 and out in 1:01.80, 1:15.20 and 1:30.

“I thought it was perfect,” Pletcher said. “Went off nicely, finished up well, good strong gallop out. Both got over the track (as if) they like it. It was a well-executed breeze.”

Repole Stables races Chocolate Gelato, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners owns Atomically.

On Friday morning, Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) contenders Malathaat and Nest as well as Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) or Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1) hopeful Life Is Good are expected to breeze for Pletcher.

Malathaat, last season's champion 3-year-old filly, won Keeneland's Juddmonte Spinster (G1) on Oct. 9 for Shadwell Stables. Nest, owned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, is exiting a victory in the Beldame (G2) on Oct. 9.

Life Is Good, winner of last year's Dirt Mile, won the Woodward (G1) in his most recent start on Oct 1. He races for CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm.

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Pletcher Juveniles Tune Up for Breeders’ Cup

A host of juveniles from the Todd Pletcher barn gearing up for engagements on Friday of Breeders' Cup championship weekend worked at Keeneland Thursday.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte (Violence) and Harrell Ventures' Lost Ark (Violence), the respective winner and sixth-place finisher in the Oct. 8 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, breezed a half-mile together in :49.20 immediately after the track's second renovation break at 9 a.m. Both are candidates for the $2-million GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Keeneland clockers caught the two in fractions of :13.40, :25, and out in 1:02, 1:15.80 and 1:30.20. (Click here for a video of the work).

“That was a pretty standard breeze from them,” Pletcher said. “They're both solid work horses and are always willing. We were just hoping to see more of what they normally do.”

Pletcher was happy with the colts' performances in the Breeders' Futurity.

“We felt like [Forte] handled the added distance [of 1 1/16 miles] and the two turns; he certainly looked like he relished it,” Pletcher said. “Lost Ark had a rough trip into the first turn and that kind of took him completely out of position. He finished up with some interest, so that was encouraging.”

Also working Thursday, GI Frizette S. winner Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) worked in company with Florida Sire My Dear Girl S. winner Atomically (Girvin) following the first renovation at 7:30 a.m. Pointing towards the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the pair clocked the half-mile in :49 flat (11/26).

Fractions for the work, according to Keeneland clockers, were :13.20, :25.20, and out in 1:01.80, 1:15.20 and 1:30.

“I thought it was perfect,” Pletcher said. “Went off nicely, finished up well, good strong gallop out. Both got over the track [as if] they like it. It was a well-executed breeze.”

Thursday's work tab at Keeneland also included GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint contender Slammed (Marking), who worked three furlongs in :36.80 (6/9) for trainer Todd Fincher.

“That was a good way to start the day. She was very happy out there,” said jockey Florent Geroux, who was aboard for the work.

Slammed earned a berth in the F/M Sprint with her victory in the GII Thoroughbred Club of America S. at Keeneland Oct. 8.

Also Thursday, two Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” victors owned by Susan Moulton and trained by Wayne Catalano–Manny Wah (Will Take Charge) and Andthewinneris (Oscar Performance)–returned to the work tab following their victories during Fall Stars Weekend.

Manny Wah, winner of the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Oct. 7, worked a half-mile in :47.40 for the second-fastest move of 26 at the distance. Manny Wah is headed for the $2-million GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint, a race in which he finished fifth in at Keeneland in 2020.

The GII Castle & Key Bourbon winner Andthewinneris worked a half-mile in :48.60 (8/26) with splits of :12.40 and :24.40. Andthewinneris is a candidate for the $1-million GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf that will close Future Stars Friday Nov. 4.

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