Gufo Back To The Races in Pan American

The lone Grade I winner in a field of seven, Otter Bend Stables' Gufo (Declaration of War) looks to take his record over the Gulfstream turf course to a perfect four-from-four in Saturday's GII Pan American S.

After being given too much to do when a near-miss second in the GI Man O'War S. and third in the GI Manhattan S. last spring, the athletic chestnut was equipped with blinkers and validated the decision with a one-length defeat of Tide of the Sea (English Channel) in the Grand Couturier S. at Belmont July 5. He outbattled the globetrotting Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) to earn his first Grade I in the Sword Dancer S. at the Spa Aug. 28, but was a disappointing third after a premature move to the lead in the GI Turf Classic Invitational Oct. 9 and was only 10th in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf when last seen Nov. 6.

“There were perhaps a lot of factors going against him that day, pace being one of them,” trainer Christophe Clement's son and assistant, Miguel, said of the Breeders' Cup. “He had a very bad draw. He never settled throughout the first part of the race because it was a paceless race. He was perhaps a bit too keen, and it was perhaps one race too many for the campaign. Previously he was never out of the money. He is very consistent and he had never run a bad race.”

Should Gufo not be ready to fire something close to his best, Temple (Temple City) could be the chief beneficiary. Another in a series of shrewd claims by trainer Mike Maker when haltered for $80,000 last November, the 6-year-old was an allowance third at Aqueduct the following month, picked up a nice check when runner-up to Abaan (Will Take Charge) in the GIII W.L. McKnight S. over track and distance Jan. 22 and got over the hump with a one-length tally in the GII Mac Diarmida S. over 11 furlongs Mar. 5. Abaan was fourth at 3-5 on that occasion.

Speaking of horses for courses, Patricia Generazio's Mid Day Image (Midshipman) won't be mistaken for the owner's former free-wheeling star Presious Passion (Royal Anthem), but he is possessed of that same front-running prowess that has carried him to five victories and one runner-up effort from seven local appearances.

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Clement Gives Pizza Bianca A Freshening, Prepares Mutamakina, La Dragontea For Long Island Next

Trainer Christophe Clement returned to his primary thoroughbred division at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., earlier this week in victorious fashion, having thwarted a winless record in the Breeders' Cup World Championships when Pizza Bianca captured the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Owned and bred by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, Pizza Bianca arrived at the Juvenile Fillies Turf off a good second in the G1 Natalma on September 19 at Woodbine.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock, expertly piloted by Jose Ortiz in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, found a seam in between horses in upper stretch and collared European invader Cachet in the final furlong to win by a neck over late-rallying Malavath.

Clement said Pizza Bianca will be freshened with an eye towards NYRA's filly division of the Turf Triple series, which kicks off with the G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational.

“It was very nice,” Clement said of the Breeders' Cup victory. “She's having a break at the moment, and we'll bring her back next year. She could be one that will eventually be a candidate for the Turf Triple series.”

The following day, Clement saddled Otter Band Stables' Gufo to a 10th-place finish in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf, which was won by Jockey Club Derby Invitational winner Yibir.

The effort was a first off-the-board finish for the 4-year-old Declaration of War chestnut, who captured the G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Clement mentioned the possibility of shipping Gufo to the Middle East, targeting races like the Neom Turf Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia and the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

“He's at Payson Park having a break at the moment,” Clement said. “There are races in Saudi and Dubai or the [Grade 1] Man o' War [at Belmont Park]. They're all great choices.”

Clement said Gufo, who was headstrong in his third-place finish in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic last month at Belmont, could remove blinkers for his next start.

“The main question is whether or not we keep the blinkers on him,” Clement said. “He was a bit aggressive in the middle of the race here and I thought about taking the blinkers off for the Breeders' Cup. Because the Breeders' Cup was in California, I felt that I would be better off to have him a touch more on the bridle than off the bridle. If the Breeders' Cup were elsewhere with a more kinder turf course I would probably have taken them off. We'll just have to think about it.”

Gufo brags a consistent record of 14-7-2-4 with earnings in excess of $1.2 million. In addition to the Sword Dancer, Gufo also captured the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational last year as well as three other stakes races.

On Sunday morning, Al Shira'aa Farms' Mutamakina breezed an easy half-mile in :52.22 over the Belmont inner turf in preparation for the $400,000 G3 Long Island on November 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The 5-year-old Nathaniel mare defeated stablemate La Dragontea last out in the G1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine Racetrack, following a triumph in the G2 Dance Smarty on August 22 at the Toronto oval.

“She had a nice work. She'll work once more next week,” Clement said.

Clement said La Dragontea, winner of the G2 Canadian on September 18 at Woodbine, and graded stakes-placed Sorrel are also possible candidates for the 12-furlong stamina test.

“Mutamakina for sure will run. The other two, we'll see how they train next week and go from there,” Clement said.

Sorrel, an Augustin Stable and James Wigan homebred, was last seen finishing third in her North American debut to War Like Goddess in the G3 Orchid in March at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. The daughter of Dansili went a half-mile in :52.34 over the Belmont inner turf on Sunday morning.

“If the ground is on the firmer side, I'll run her in the Long Island. If it's too soft, I don't think I will,” Clement said.

Manzanita Stables' Tap the Faith, who broke her maiden at first asking on Sunday going a one-turn mile at Belmont, is a possible candidate for the $250,000 G2 Demoiselle on December 4 at Aqueduct.

“Today was her first day back galloping and she looks great,” Clement said. “We'll work her next weekend and decide what to do with her. I really like the filly, and if she's training great and doing great, we'll go for it.”

By Tapit, Tap the Faith is out of Grade 1 winner Embellish the Lace.

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Breeders’ Cup Notes: International Squad, Turfers Stretch Their Legs

A busy morning on the Del Mar main track with all international horses training except Quick Suzy (IRE) who was not entered Monday for her intended run in the Juvenile Turf Sprint because of a spike in temperature.

Teona (IRE) (Turf) was the first European horse out on track who did some light exercise. She looked in very good form. The next group out were Audarya (FR) (Filly & Mare Turf) and Cachet (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) who both have taken the eye since landing in Del Mar.

The six Charlie Appleby-trained horses were on the track for the first time since clearing quarantine and exercised under the watchful eye of Appleby.

All horses looked in tremendous condition and reports from the Godolphin team have been very positive on all horses since touching down in California.

Kevin Ryan landed Monday night and was on track to watch both of his Turf Sprint contenders. Glass Slippers (GB) will be bidding to follow up her win in the race last year. She was ridden this morning by race day jockey Tom Eaves.

Eaves said, “It's great to be at the Breeders' Cup again. I sat on Glass Slippers for a light canter and she felt great. I just tracked Emaraaty Ana (GB) for a circuit and it went well. She's a superb filly and I'm really looking forward to the race on Saturday.”

Andrea Atzeni who takes the ride on Emaraaty Ana (GB) on Saturday was trackside to watch him exercise and said, “I'm going to ride Emaraaty Ana (GB) on the track tomorrow. It was great to see him exercise and he looked in great form. I've got a lovely draw on Saturday in gate two so hopefully we get a bit of luck in running and he runs a big race.”

Oisin Murphy, who was recently crowned champion jockey in the UK for the third consecutive year, rode exercise on Marche Lorraine (JPN) (Distaff) just before 7 a.m. They did a strong canter and exercise looked to go well.

Murphy said, “She's a nice horse and felt good. I'm very much looking forward to taking the ride. It's great to be in Del Mar and I've a few nice rides over the weekend. I will ride Hierarchy (IRE) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) tomorrow morning and I'm hoping to have a spin on Mise En Scene (GB) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) at some point before Friday as well.”

Tuesday was the first sighting of the Ballydoyle horses on track having completed their quarantine requirements. Aidan O'Brien has a team of seven horses who went out on track together led by Broome (IRE) (Turf) ridden by Dean Gallagher. The string was accompanied by a pony ridden by Rachel Richardson. They had a trot for a circuit of the track followed by a light canter. Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) (Turf) who sat third in the string looked in particularly good form having some playful bucks during his canter down the backstretch.

Michael Bell was another British trainer to be trackside to watch Great Max (IRE) (Juvenile Turf) have a canter in the hands of regular work rider Joe Bradnam. Great Max (IRE) had a good look around his surroundings during exercise but seemed in good order.

Bell said, “It's tremendous to be back over for the Breeders' Cup. It is an amazing race meeting and I'm delighted to be part of it with Great Max. Joe Bradnam seems happy with him so it's all systems go.”

Connections of Rougir (FR) (Filly & Mare Turf) were trackside having made the trip over from France. The same connections recently won the Champion's Stakes at Ascot and will be hoping for more Grade 1 glory on Saturday. Trainer Cedric Rossi reported his filly to be “in great form.”

Irish trainer Paddy Twomey was overseeing the training of his filly Pearls Galore (FR) (Mile).

Twomey said, “Pearls Galore traveled over well, she's settled into the routine here lovely and enjoying the training. She's cantered on the track the last two days, everything has gone well, we're looking forward to Saturday. Del Mar is a lovely track, the turf will be quick and it'll suit her. She's nibble, neat and tidy and I think she'll deal with the demands of the track very well on the day.”

Matera Sky (Sprint) and Jasper Great (Juvenile) were two of the final international horses to go out for exercise. They had a canter and returned to the quarantine barn via the paddock. They took everything in their stride and looked very relaxed.

TURF

Gufo – Otter Bend Stables has made it to the Turf with its first and only runner, Gufo, a homebred son of Declaration of War colt who never has been worse than third in 13 career starts.

For owner and co-breeder Stephen Cainelli, it is something of a “how do you top this?” situation. Winning the $4 million Turf certainly would elevate the already engaging story to another level and give veteran trainer Christophe Clement his first Breeders' Cup victory.

Gufo earned his berth in the Turf with a victory by a neck over Japan in the Sword Dancer a “Win and You're In” race on Aug. 28 at Saratoga Race Course. In his most recent start, he was third in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Oct. 9 at Belmont Park. He shipped from New York to Del Mar Sunday with his three Clement stablemates headed to Breeders' Cup races.

“He had a very good day of training this morning,” said Christophe Lorieul, Clement's assistant for 27 years. “He galloped an easy mile. He was very willing, very forward but within himself. I really liked the way he went this morning.”

Gufo and regular rider Joel Rosario drew post 11 in the 14-horse Turf and is 8-1 on the morning line.

“It's not great, but it's a mile and a half and he's got time to try to tuck him and try to save some ground,” Lorieul said. “Obviously, on the turf going a mile and a half that's what you want. It's not ideal, but that's why Joel Rosario gets paid the big bucks.”

MILE

Mo Forza — Bardy Farm and OG Boss's seven-time graded stakes winner Mo Forza is on a mission to make up for lost opportunities in this year's Breeders' Cup Mile. Last year, on the back of two strong victories in the Del Mar Mile and City of Hope Mile, the son of Uncle Mo was one of the favorites for the Mile before injury derailed the Peter Miller trainee's preparation. This season, the 5yo winner of the 2019 Hollywood Derby returns to the same Del Mar surface as that triumph for his redemption attempt.

“He's training really great,” Miller said. “Today we gave him about a mile and a half jog and schooled him in the gate and then schooled him in the paddock.”

Mo Forza, who eclipsed $1 million in prize money by winning the same two preps this season, drew post six in the 14-horse field and could be making his final career start.

“I like the post,” Miller said. “I think there's plenty of pace and it should string everyone out. We should be sitting midpack, but there's no real strategy other than to hope for a good trip. Del Mar takes a certain kind of horse who can handle the turns, the short stretch and the firm going — and if you have that horse, you're in good shape here.”

Flavien Prat, who has piloted Mo Forza through the four-race win streak he carries into the Mile, returns to the saddle Saturday.

TURF SPRINT

Gear Jockey – Calumet Farm's homebred Gear Jockey, the 5-1 co-second choice for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, jogged once around under exercise rider Lyndsay Delello for trainer Rusty Arnold.

“He shipped well with no issues,” Arnold said of Gear Jockey, who arrived at Del Mar late Monday night from Kentucky.

Third as a maiden in the Juvenile Turf at the 2019 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, Gear Jockey will break from post 10 under Jose Lezcano in Saturday's race.

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Got Stormy, Juju’s Map Highlight BC Workers Friday

Grade I winners Got Stormy (Get Stormy) and Juju's Map (Liam's Map) put in their final works for their respective Breeders' Cup races at Churchill Downs Friday morning.

MGISW turfer Got Stormy had her final career breeze at 7:30 a.m. under jockey Declan Carroll, cruising a half-mile in :48.60 in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.

“We had some rain in the area but the track was really good so I decided to move her work up a day,” trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll said. “Sometimes you see with older mares that they may take a step back from their younger campaigns but she has been doing great. I'm really excited the way she's coming into the Breeders' Cup. She's a very special mare to all of us.”

Got Stormy, along with about 12 other locally-based Breeders' Cup contenders, will ship to Del Mar on Monday.

Two hours earlier, GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies contender Juju's Map clipped five furlongs in :59.60 with jockey Florent Geroux in the saddle outside of stablemate Matera (Tapit) (five furlongs, :59.80).

“Today's work was with an older horse in Matera,” Cox said. “She's a stakes winner in her own right so she's a pretty tough workmate. 'Juju' sat just off her and maybe broke about a length behind. She was well in hand throughout the work and it was exactly what we were looking for at this stage. This filly seemed to improve a little bit since her win in the Alcibiades, which is what these horses need to do this time of year leading into the Breeders' Cup.”

There are six Breeders' Cup contenders scheduled to work Saturday morning at Churchill Downs: Essential Quality (Tapit) (Classic), Knicks Go (Paynter) (Classic), Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) (Distaff), Rattle N Roll (Connect) (Juvenile), Ready to Purrform (Kitten's Joy) (Juvenile Turf) and Turnerloose (Nyquist) (Juvenile Fillies Turf).

Working toward the Breeders' Cup elsewhere in the country:

KEENELAND:
Trainer Chad Brown sent out three of his Keeneland-based runners who were pre-entered in the Nov. 5-6 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar for works on a fast main track Friday morning. The trio was headed by Peter Brant's Dunbar Road (Quality Road) (Distaff), who covered five furlongs in 1:00.40. Keeneland clockers caught her in splits of :13, :25.20, :36.80, 1:00.40, galloping out in 1:13.20. On Oct. 10, the 5-year-old was second to Letruska in Keeneland's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. Fellow Brant runner, Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB}) (Mile), worked four panels in :49.80. Winner of the Oct. 9 GI First Lady posted fractions of :12.80, :24.40, :49.80 before galloping out in 1:03.60. Rounding out Brown's trio, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron and Team Hanley's Haughty (Empire Maker) (Juvenile Fillies Turf), maiden winner Oct. 17, worked four furlongs in :47.60. Her fractions were :12.80, :24.60, :47.60 and out in 1:01.

Also, trainer Jack Sisterson worked a pair of Calumet Farm's Breeders' Cup pre-entrants on dirt: Channel Cat (English Channel) (Turf and Mile), four furlongs in :50, and Lexitonian (Speigtstown) (Sprint), four furlongs in :48.40. Brad Grady's Fast Boat (City Zip) (pre-entered in the Turf Sprint) worked three furlongs in :37 on dirt for trainer Joe Sharp.

 

BELMONT:
On Friday morning, Pletcher worked several Breeders' Cup contenders over the Belmont training track. Shadwell Stables' three-time Grade I-winner Malathaat (Curlin) breezed five-eighths in company with 3-year-old allowance-winning colt Vindictive in her final breeze for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“She's outstanding. She looked great and seems to be in really good form,” Pletcher said.

CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Life Is Good (Into Mischief), an easy last-out winner of the GII Kelso, breezed a half-mile in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

“He's an exceptional workhorse and very talented,” Pletcher said. “He did what we've become accustomed to seeing him do, which was put in an impressive move. He did it very easily.”

Red Oak Stable homebred Mind Control (Stay Thirsty), also targeting the Dirt Mile, recorded a half-mile breeze.

“It was a good solid work. He seems to have maintained form,” Pletcher said.

Spendthrift Farm's GII Vosburgh winner Following Sea (Runhappy) worked a solid half-mile, however, Pletcher indicated plans to contest the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint are still in flux.

“He did really well. He's been training great. I'll get with the Spendthrift guys and make a final decision, but the horse is doing well,” Pletcher said.

Working on Thursday for Pletcher, Bass Stables homebred Annapolis (War Front), a last-out winner of the GII Pilgrim S., worked in tandem with Nest (Curlin), clocking a half-mile in :50.26. Initially targeting the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Pletcher confirmed Annapolis has been sidelined due to a hind ankle chip.

“It's a minor injury and unfortunate timing,” Pletcher said. “We'll look forward to a spring and summer campaign.”

Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House Juvenile Fillies contender Nest most recently recorded a five-length debut win going 1 1/16 miles in September at Belmont.

“She worked well [Thursday] morning,” Pletcher said. “It's something we talked about after her debut. When the race came up a little bit of a shorter field, we felt like it was something worth taking a look at. She's a two-turn filly for sure, it's just a matter of if she has enough experience.”

Also working at Belmont Friday, Shortleaf Stable's GIII Matron S. winner Bubble Rock (More Than Ready, conditioned by Brad Cox, breezed a half-mile in :49.09 over the inner turf rated good in preparation for the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf. The homebred was piloted in her breeze by assistant trainer Dustin Dugas.

“I thought her breeze this morning went pretty well. There was just a little bit of give in it this morning and the turf had a nice bounce to it. We were pretty far out there with the dogs out,” Dugas said. “For a filly that's going to be stretching out for the first time, she did it right. She broke away from the pony and threw her ears up and really relaxed around the turn. She had a decent breeze thereafter down the lane and a good gallop out. I was happy with the way she did it.”

Dugas said Bubble Rock will jog one mile Saturday at Belmont before shipping to California Sunday.

Trainer Christophe Clement watched a trio of his Breeders' Cup contingent breeze over the Belmont Park inner turf led by Otter Bend Stable's dual Grade I winning Gufo (Declaration of War), third in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic three weeks ago at Belmont. The 4-year-old completed an easy half in :53.40 in preparation for the Turf.

“He looked good,” Clement said. “It was a lazy work, as usual, but he had a very strong work last week. He worked on his own. It was slow by design, but he looked well. He is very sound and he's ready to go.”

Jump Sucker Stable's GIII Futurity S. scorer Slipstream (More Than Ready) completed his final breeze for the Juvenile Turf, going a half-mile in :50.20.

Although Slipstream captured the Futurity, a “Win And You're In” for the five-furlong Juvenile Turf Sprint, Clement is opting for the one-mile Juvenile Turf with the colt.

“He worked on his own,” Clement said. “It was a slow work, but he finished very well and was moving well. He came back in good shape.”

Rounding out his Breeders' Cup-bound team, GISP Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) went an easy :54.20 in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Owned and bred by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, the took her debut going 1 1/16 miles in July at Saratoga and followed with a runner-up effort in the GI Natalma S. in September at Woodbine.

“She's very fit. She's running a week from today so it was an easy work, a two-minute lick and finished up a bit quicker,” Clement said.

Clement indicated his Breeders' Cup contenders are scheduled to depart on Sunday morning.

“[Their works] were slow by design, especially on the ground which I think it's very soft,” Clement said. “I was happy with all them. We just want to keep them happy and sound.”

Also breezing on Belmont's inner turf Friday, Klaravich Stables' GISW Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) [1:01.56] covered five-eighths in company with fellow GI Breeders' Cup Turf hopeful Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) [1:01.96], who is owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso. Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael Kisber and Michael J. Caruso's Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) worked a solo half-mile in 50.98.

The Klaravich Stables-owned duo of Portfolio Company (Kitten's Joy) [1:02.96 – Juvenile Turf] and Consumer Spending (More Than Ready) [1:02.87 – Juvenile Fillies Turf] worked together through five-eighths.

Juddmonte's Pocket Square and Peter Brant's My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) breezed five-eighths in 1:01.95 in company for the Filly and Mare Turf, while Peter Brant's Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) breezed a half-mile solo in :49.88 in preparation for the Mile. Brown also sent a number of Breeders' Cup hopefuls to breeze on the main track, including Jack Christopher (Munnings) [1:00.82, Juvenile], Verbal (Flintshire) [50.19, Juvenile Turf] and Royal Flag (Candy Ride {Arg}) [1:01.55, Distaff].

Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior), trained by Kelly Breen, worked Friday over the dirt training track in preparation for the Sprint, while Treadway Racing Stable's homebred Grade II winner Sail By (Astern {Aus}), trained by Leah Gyarmati, breezed three-eighths in :38.09 over the inner turf in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

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