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Brightwork Heads Breeders’ Cup Work Tab

With the 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships less than two weeks away, a number of hopefuls worked Saturday morning at Keeneland as they make their final preparations before shipping to Santa Anita.

Trainer John Ortiz took GISW Brightwork (Outwork) out for a spin on Saturday with William Simon, owner of WSS Racing, on hand as the bay filly points towards the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 3.

Working with 4 G Racing's GSP Crown Imperial (Classic Empire), a candidate for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf also on Nov. 3, Brightwork finished in front of her stablemate while completing five furlongs in 1:00.80 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14. Crown Imperial received a time of 1:02.20 for five furlongs.

“She did it very easy,” Ortiz said of Brightwork, who sustained her first defeat in the Oct. 6 GI Darley Alcibiades S. run at 1 1/16 miles after opening her career with four victories. “She's a filly that likes to take direction and she understood that today I wanted to give her confidence to go two turns.”

Ortiz plans to breeze Brightwork in Lexington Saturday, Oct. 28 with a scheduled Oct. 30 departure to Southern California. She and Crown Imperial would mark the first starters for Ortiz at Santa Anita.

“Never saddled one on my own,” Ortiz said. “I was out there before as an assistant to Kellyn Gorder.”

Others Prep for Breeders' Cup at Keeneland

Trainer Cherie DeVaux worked her three Breeders' Cup hopefuls on the main track Saturday morning.

First was John Gunther's GI Breeders' Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile candidate GSP Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) who worked five furlongs in 1:01. Following the morning's track renovation session, Lael Stable's GISW She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) worked a half-mile in :48.40 for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Victory Racing Partners' GSW More Than Looks (More Than Ready) worked a half-mile in :48.60 for the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile on turf.

In Italian | Sarah Andrew

Other Breeders' Cup possible candidates working on the dirt were GI Juddmonte Spinster S. runner-up GISP Le Da Vida (Chi) (Gemologist) (half-mile in :47.60, 1/79) for trainer Ignacio Correas IV in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and Hidden Class (Catalina Cruiser) (half-mile in :49.40) for Joe Sharp in advance of a possible run in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf or GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Working over the Keeneland turf that was rated as 'good' with designs on the Breeders' Cup were GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile winner and runner-up in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (half-mile in :52.20; click here for video), and GI First Lady S. runner-up and MGISW In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (half-mile in :51.80; click here for video).

Arzak In Good Order Says Trombetta

Sonata Stable's Arzak (Not This Time), winner of the GII Woodford S. Oct. 7, turned in a half-mile breeze in :51.20 over the Haggin Course to the delight of trainer Mike Trombetta. (Click here for video)

“With all the rain [Friday], I was surprised we got on the grass [Saturday],” said Trombetta, who arrived at Keeneland Friday from his main base in Maryland. “It looked like he got over it good. There was a little cut in the ground from the rain.”

Luis Saez was aboard for the work, one of two scheduled at Keeneland before Arzak heads to California on Oct. 30 for an expected start in the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Trombetta confirmed that Saez, who rode Arzak to victory against optional claimers Aug. 23 at Saratoga the one time he was aboard the 5-year-old, would have the Breeders' Cup mount.

Practical Move Leads BC Preps at Santa Anita

Topping Saturday's worktab at Santa Anita, GI Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move (Practical Joke) visited the track at 6:45 a.m., covering four furlongs in :48.80. Trainer Tim Yakteen confirmed the colt will target the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

“He got some outside company and it all went well,” Yakteen said. “I was just looking to see that his energy level was good, make sure all systems are a go. That's what we saw.”

In his latest start, the bay returned from a layoff to take a one-mile allowance at Santa Anita Oct. 6.

Also working towards expected starts in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint were Anarchist (Distorted Humor) (five furlongs, :59.40) on the main track and The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) (five furlongs, 1:01.60) on the training track.

Also working on the main track for trainer Steve Asmussen was Gunite (Gun Runner) (five furlongs, 1:00.20), who is possible for either the Sprint or the Dirt Mile.

Anarchist worked with Vazquez in the irons. The 4-year-old trained by Doug O'Neill most recently won the GII Pat O'Brien S. going seven furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 26.

“He went really good. This is a happy horse,” Vazquez said. Added Leandro Mora, O'Neill's assistant, “He's stepping things up. He looks more focused and fresher, which was the idea giving him more time between races.”

Drilling a half-mile on the training track for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile were Du Jour (Temple City) and Exaulted (Twirling Candy), the one-two finishers in the Sept. 2 GII Del Mar Mile. Du Jour worked in :48.60 while Exaulted, winner of the GI Shoemaker Mile last spring, went in :47.40.

Also returning to the tab for Bob Baffert were Muth (Good Magic) and Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso), the one-two finishers in the GI American Pharoah S. Oct. 7. Muth went five furlongs in :59.40 seconds and Wine Me Up was timed in :59.20 seconds for the same distance. Both are pointed to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 3.

The deadline to pre-enter for the Breeders' Cup is Monday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. ET. Pre-entries will be announced Oct. 25 at noon ET.

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Friday Insights: Half To Justify Leads Belmont Maiden Field

3rd-BEL, $90K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1m, 2:07 p.m.

The only first-time starter facing a field of more experienced maidens, SPELL ON YOU (Curlin) makes her afternoon debut Friday as a homebred for John Gunther, also the breeder of the filly's Triple Crown-winning half-brother Justify (Scat Daddy). Dam Stage Magic, 2018's broodmare of the year, is also responsible for the late GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense) along with 'TDN Rising Star' Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile). Under the tutelage of trainer Jorge Abreu, Spell On You picks up jockey Dylan Davis for her unveiling. TJCIS PPS

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Highly Motivated Narrowly Best in Battle of the Browns

8th-Belmont, $94,000, Alw (NW2$X), Opt. Clm ($62,500), 5-28, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.63, ft, neck.
HIGHLY MOTIVATED (c, 4, Into Mischief–Strong Incentive {SW, $123,568}, by Warrior's Reward), an easing 4-5 favorite, overcame a bit of a slow start, but sat a good inside trip thereafter and outbattled his 'TDN Rising Star' stablemate Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) to the line to lead home yet another Chad Brown-trained exacta Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park. Off to a hesitant beginning and then bumped by The Reds (Tonalist) to his outside, the $240,000 Keeneland November graduate gained ground at the fence to race just in behind dueling longshot pacesetters to the turn. For his part, Stage Raider–backed from 7-2 into 2-1 at the off–was consigned to a five-path run down the backstretch after breaking from the widest gate, but raced more or less on even terms with his stable companion at the half-mile marker. Going ominously well with plenty of breathing room as they raced into the final three-eighths of a mile, with Stage Raider matching strides three off the inside, Highly Motivated was pulled out into the two path and ever so slightly had first run on Stage Raider nearing the stretch. The two class horses raced shoulder-to-shoulder past the eighth pole, and though he had every chance, Stage Raider could not fight his way past and the tough-as-teak Highly Motivated was home about a neck to the good. Chad Brown also saddled the race five exacta where Lakota Spirit (Curlin) outnodded Chaberton (Kantharos) in their respective turf debuts. Facile winner of the Nyquist S. on Breeders' Cup weekend at Keeneland in November 2020, Highly Motivated missed the break in the GIII Gotham S. and could finish no better than third. The bay made the majority of the running in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. back in Lexington last April and held grimly, only to be run down by champion 'Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit), but was 10th from a high draw in the GI Kentucky Derby and was shelved. He returned from a 50-week absence with a better-than-it-looks fourth with Lasix added for the first time in a seven-furlong Keeneland allowance Apr. 16. Seth Klarman's operation acquired Strong Incentive for $200,000 at the 2014 OBS April Sale and bred the mare's first winner, Dew Springs (Temple City), in partnership with William H. Lawrence. Mike Ryan signed the ticket on Strong Incentive for $40,000 when offered in foal to Practical Joke on a late cover at Keeneland November in 2018 to dissolve the partnership with Lawrence, but she did not produce the following season. Strong Incentive is the dam of the 2-year-old filly Surge Capacity (Flintshire {GB}), a yearling filly by Practical Joke and was most recently covered by Authentic. Sales history: $240,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP, 8-3-2-1, $377,375. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Klaravich Stables (KY); T-Chad C Brown.

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Saturday Insights: Well-Bred Siblings to Graded Winners Debut

2nd-GP, $60k, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, 12:40p.m. ET
This contest kicks off the first of two maiden special weights on the Hallendale card with smartly regarded firsters. Breaking from the far outside, Blini (Tapit) has graded stakes winning shadows to outrun: full-siblings Iron Fist, MGSW, $1,104,199; Anchor Down, GISP & MGSW, $734,254; and half-sister Sweet Lulu (Mr. Greeley), GISW, $693,600. Her dam Successful Outlook (Orientate) is a third generation graded stakes runner and producer. To her inside, there is a Calumet owned and bred half-sister to SW, $865,921, Pingxiang (Speightstown) named Peligroso (Honor Code) going for conditioner Jack Sisterson. The Albaugh Family Stables send out $500,000 KEESEP purchase Tiffany's Mo (Uncle Mo), a half to GSP Threes Over Deuces (Flat Out). Todd Pletcher conditions Falconet (Uncle Mo), the first foal for GISW Birdatthewire (Summer Bird) and the formidable partnership of Klaravich Stables and Chad Brow will unveil $280,000 KEESEP acquisition Signal from Noise (Arrogate). TJCIS PPs

4th-GP, $60k, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 1:40p.m. ET
OXO Equine's $675,000 KEESEP prize Mendenhall (Pioneerof the Nile) debuts under Bill Mott's tutelage. A half to stakes winners Balandeen (Bernardini) and Matwakel (California Chrome), this is the family of Canadian Champion 2-year-old filly Deputy Jane West (Silver Deputy). The royal blue silks of Godolphin are represented by their homebred Town Branch (Street Sense), a full sibling to GSW Speaker's Corner. A $300,000 OBSAPR (:20 3/5) buy, Super Quality (Competitive Edge), and $240,000 EASOCT graduate Hidden Plan (Street Sense), half to GSW Cordmaker (Curlin), round out the field. TJCIS PPs

8th-GP, $62k, Alw, 4yo/up, 1m, 3:40p.m. ET
Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile), half-brother to Triple Crown Champion Justify (Scat Daddy) and ill-fated GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense), makes his return to the races here against an experience field. Second on debut to Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro), who's also in the field, the colt's 10 3/4 length maiden breaking Apr. 10 score at Keeneland earned him 'TDN Rising Star' honors. He punctuated that title with a three length win against allowance company May 14 at Belmont Park before being given a nine month freshening. He's been set at 7-2 morning line odds for his return. TJCIS PPs

2nd-SA, $67k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:28p.m. ET
The connections of Medina Spirit (Protonico) send out $1.7 million FTFMAR purchase (:10 1/5) Taiba (Gun Runner), the second most expensive to hail from the Gulfstream 2-year-old auction behind $2.6 million stablemate Bletchley Park (Nyquist). Taiba is MSW Needmore Flattery (Flatter)'s second foal to the races. The flashy Tenth Street Don (Practical Joke), $240,000 at OBSAPR (:10 1/5), goes to post for trainer Vladimir Cerin. TJCIS PPs

2nd-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 1:20p.m. ET
By far the most expensive horse in the race, $875,000 KEESEP procurement Don the Jeweler (Into Mischief) debuts in the colors of Peter Brant, and is conditioned by Chad Brown. He's out of a half-sister to MGISW Include Me Out (Include) and GISW & MGSW Check the Label (Stormin Fever), both of whom have produced winners. The female family claims at least 14 graded and stakes quality horses. TJCIS PPs

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