St. George Stable's Letruska (Super Saver), the expected favorite for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff next week, had a somewhat eventful final breeze at Del Mar Saturday. Scheduled to work a solo five-eighths, the four-time Grade I winner broke off behind 2-year-old filly Brandon'smylawyer (Astern {Aus}), and hooked that runner near the half-mile pole. The other filly continued on with Letruska, and finished her half-mile work several lengths to the good of Letruska, who was credited with five furlongs in 1:01.20 (2/7) (Click for video).
Brandon'smylawyer, a $340,000 OBS April grad, was most recently a headstrong sixth in the Surfer Girl S. earlier this month after winning on debut at Del Mar–she was credited with a half in :47.20 (3/25).
“I was not planning on company; it was not ideal,” said Letruska's exercise rider Roger Horgan. “She did relax. I was a bit concerned, but she switched off and I let her do it on her own. I was very proud of her the way she relaxed.”
Also among the dozen or so Breeders' Cup-bound workers Saturday at Del Mar was GI Classic contender Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow). The GI Pennsylvania Derby winner was paired up with 2-year-old maiden stablemate Khantaro d'Oro (Kantharos). He worked seven furlongs in 1:26.80 (1/1), clicking off splits of :47.80, 1:00.20 and 1:13 flat.
“I thought the work was visually impressive,” trainer Doug O'Neill said. “Charlie sat off his workmate and when Flavien [Prat] called on him, he responded well. He galloped out good and his energy was very high.”
O'Neill's GI Juvenile Turf runner Mackinnon (American Pharoah) worked six panels on the main track in 1:14.80 (1/1).
Other Breeders' Cup workers to stretch their legs at Del Mar Saturday included: Ain't Easy (Into Mischief), GI NetJets Juvenile Fillies, 5f in 1:01; Desert Dawn (Cupid), Juvenile Fillies, 5f in 1:00.60; Helens Well (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), GI Juvenile Fillies Turf, 5f in 1:00.60; Oviatt Class (Bernardini), GI TVG Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, 5f in :59.60; Proud Emma (Include), GI Filly & Mare Sprint, 5f in :59.80; Aloha West (Hard Spun), GI Qatar Racing Sprint, 4f in :47.20; Channel Maker (English Channel), GI Longines Turf, 4f in :48.40; Chaos Theory (Curlin), GI Turf Sprint, 4f in :48.20; and Horologist (Gemologist), GI Longines Distaff, 4f in :49.60.
Meanwhile, at Santa Anita, Classic-bound Tripoli (Kitten's Joy) prepared to return to the track and trip over which he took August's GI TVG Pacific Classic S. as he worked five furlongs in :59 flat (4/38).
“He's trained well,” conditioner John Sadler said. “He worked at 6:30 this morning at Santa Anita under heavy fog and he'll go to Del Mar very early Monday.”
There was more than just fog in Kentucky Saturday, and trainer Brad Cox opted to push back final pre-Breeders' Cup breezes at Churchill Downs for Classic-bound Essential Quality (Tapit) and Knicks Go (Paynter) and Distaff contender Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) due to wet weather in Louisville.
He went ahead with plans to breeze GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Fillies hopefuls Ready to Purrform (Kitten's Joy) and Turnerloose (Nyquist), who covered five panels in the slop together in 1:02.20.
“I think the track will dry out pretty well [Saturday] afternoon,” Cox said in the morning. “These three have an extra day in their schedule compared to Ready to Purrform and Turnerloose.” Click for more from Cox via KY HPBA.
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