It was another super-busy morning across the country, with some fifty candidates turning in workouts across the country. So without further ado, let's take a look at what happened!
At Belmont Park . . .
Todd Pletcher had a very busy morning, sending out four contenders to complete their major training. That quartet was headlined by Shanghai Bobby and Dreaming of Julia, who breezed a half-mile in company with each other. Dreaming of Julia recorded the slightly faster time, stopping the timer in :49.10 versus Shanghai Bobby's :49.12. They are expected to vie for favoritism in their respective Breeders' Cup races.
Pletcher also sent out Filly and Mare Sprint contender Turbulent Descent to work a half in an easy :48.97 seconds. The four-time grade I winner is coming off of a sub-par finish in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park, but her subsequent training signals that she is ready to roll.
The undefeated Kauai Katie, who is pre-entered in both the Juvenile Sprint and the Juvenile Fillies, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.41 for Pletcher. As decision has still not been made regarding which race she will enter.
Other Breeders' Cup contenders on the Belmont work tab included Belle of the Hall (Filly and Mare Sprint, 4f in :49.08), Brilliant Speed (Classic, 4f in :49.01), Manuka Honey (Juvenile Fillies Turf, 4f in :49.12), Mucho Macho Man (Classic, 4f in :48.38), and The Lumber Guy (Sprint, 4f in :48.27).
At Betfair Hollywood Park . . .
A total of six Breeders' Cup contenders finished up their serious training at Hollywood Park this morning, led by two-time grade II winner and Breeders' Cup Mile candidate Obviously. The Mike Mitchell-trainee seemed quite sharp going six furlongs in 1:12.60, which was just a fifth of a second slower than the fastest of the morning. I have felt for a while that this colt is up to the challenge of beating Wise Dan and Excelebration, and I do believe this workout confirms that he is ready.
Also breezing six furlongs were the John Shirreffs-trained pair Nereid and Star Billing, both preparing for the Filly and Mare Turf. The quicker of fillies was Nereid, runner-up in the Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. I). Her time of 1:13.00 was the third-fastest of the morning. Star Billing, runner-up in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) two starts back, got the distance in 1:13.40.
Other morning workers were Camp Victory (Turf Sprint, 5f in 1:00.20), Chosen Miracle (Turf Sprint, 5f in 1:02.60), and Worth Repeating (Marathon, 5f in 1:02.40.)
At Churchill Downs . . .
The only Breeders' Cup contender out for morning training was the two-year-old filly Broken Spell, most recently second in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I). The D. Wayne Lukas-trainee breezed a half-mile in :50.40 over a muddy track, the third time that she has gone that distance during the last two weeks. Time will tell if she's up to the task of defeating Executiveprivilege and Dreaming of Julia, but she does appear to have maintained her form well and should be sitting on another good run.
A few miles away, at the Churchill training track, Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) winner Joha went five-eighths in an easy 1:02.40 over a muddy track.
At Delaware Park . . .
With Grace Hall preparing to face the likes of Awesome Feather and Royal Delta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I), one would hope that she is training as well as possible. She confirmed that she is in good form this morning when she clocked a half-mile in :47.80, the fastest of twenty-seven such works at Delaware Park this morning. Trained by Anthony Dutrow, the daughter of Empire Maker is coming off of an impressive victory in the Indiana Oaks (gr. III)
At Fair Hill . . .
Nearctic Stakes (gr. I) winner Next Question, pointing for a start in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, was the star of the morning. The Michael Trombetta-trainee could not have gone better in his final pre-Breeders' Cup breeze, as his half-mile time of :48 flat was the fastest of the morning over the all-weather training track. The fact that he has experience over six furlongs should help his chances in the 6-1/2 furlong Turf Sprint, where many of his rivals are coming off of much shorter races.
At Keeneland . . .
An intriguing quintet of Breeders' Cup contenders were out and about at Keeneland this morning, all of them breezing of the Polytrack. First and foremost -- at least in terms of time -- was the two-year-old filly Oscar Party, pointing toward a start in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint (gr. I). The Wayne Catalano-trainee went exceptionally well, breezing five-eighths in 1:00.60, the third-fastest work of the morning. Most recently fourth in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland, the daughter of Dixie Union does seem to be improving as she prepares for the toughest race of her young career.
Also going five furlongs was Willcox Inn, coming off of a strong runner-up effort to Wise Dan in the Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. I). Preparing for a rematch with his Shadwell conqueror in the Breeders' Cup Mile, Willcox Inn breezed a sharp five-eighths in company with the two-year-old filly Every Way, stopping the timer in 1:00.80.
Trainer Tom Amoss sent out a pair of contenders, including Phoenix Stakes (gr. III) winner Sum of the Parts. Pointing toward a start in the Sprint, the three-year-old son of Speightstown breezed a half-mile in :47.60, the fifth fastest of forty-five works at the distance. The other Amoss-trainee, Turf Sprint candidate Global Power, went the distance in :50 flat.
Also on the work tab was Wesley Ward's grade I-placed filly Sweet Shirley Mae, who went a half-mile in :49.80. She is pre-entered in both the Juvenile Fillies and the Juvenile Sprint.
At Santa Anita Park . . .
Over two dozen Breeders' Cup candidates were out for training this morning, easily the busiest pre-Breeders' Cup morning thus far at Santa Anita. In alphabetical order, the horses were:
Bourbon Bay - Breeders' Cup Turf candidate breezed six furlongs in 1:13.40 over the turf course and will clearly be much sharper on Saturday, while making his second start off a layoff, than he was when finishing eighth in the John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (gr. II) last month.
Capo Bastone - The third-place finish in the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) went an excellent six furlongs in company with Key Reversal, his time of 1:11.60 being the second-fastest of the morning. Overall, his workouts since the FrontRunner have been terrific, and assuming that the track is less speed-favoring than it was on the day of the FrontRunner, I think that Capo Bastone has the ability to finish off his late run on Saturday to win the Juvenile in a mild upset.
Commander - Breeders' Cup Marathon contender breezed a solid five-eighths in 1:00.40 and seems to be maintaining his form well.
Dry Summer - Looked sharp breezing three-quarters of a mile with stablemate Gabriel Charles, but recorded the much slower time -- 1:13.80 seconds versus 1:12.60 for Gabriel Charles. However, Gabriel Charles was asked to make up several lengths during the workout, so his time was obviously going to be quicker. I thought both went quite well and look ready to roll.
Executiveprivilege - The undefeated favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies breezed six furlongs in company with Sir Allison, but her time of 1:14.20 wasn't nearly as quick as her 1:12 flat work on October 21st. Now, the slowness of the breeze is probably nothing to be concerned about, but it would have been nice to have seen something just a little bit sharper in her final piece of serious training.
Gabriel Charles - As describe above, he worked in comapny with Dry Summer and recorded the faster time.
Gervinho - Zuma Beach Stakes winner went a half-mile in :48.80 on the turf; an average breeze, true, but he has never been particularly impressive in the morning.
In Lingerie - Spinster (gr. I) winner breezed a half-mile in company with the talented Turbo Compressor and was much the best, getting the distance in :46.60 versus the colt's :47.40. She is pre-entered in both the Ladies' Classic and the Filly and Mare Turf, but given how well she has been training on turf, I would have to think that the Filly and Mare Turf is the direction they're leaning.
John Scott - Coming off of a disappointing third-place in the California Cup Classic, this Dirt Mile candidate could not have gone much better, as his time of 1:00.40 was one of the faster five-furlong works of the morning. With questions still lingering in regards to his affinity for the track, this workout will go a long way toward dispelling the beliefs that he may be better on synthetic surfaces.
Lady of Shamrock - This two-time grade I winner faces the difficult task of winning the Filly and Mare Turf off of no races since August, but she has turned in several lengthy workouts during the past couple of weeks, including seven furlongs in 1:28.20 this morning. Of some concern is the fact that she was much, much sharper one week ago when traversing that same distance in 1:26.20, but I'm going to assume that her work today was simply a maintenance move.
Little Mike - His time of 1:01.80 was the slowest five-eighths of the morning over the turf course, but that is normal for him. It should set him up well for the Breeders' Cup Mile or Turf, whichever race his connections choose to run him in.
Love and Pride - Worked a half-mile in company with the two-year-old filly Tara From the Cape, and both stopped the timer in :48 flat. It was an excellent breeze for both of them, and they look fit and ready heading into their respective Breeders' Cup races.
Mizdirection - Winning the Turf Sprint off of no starts since May will not be an easy task, but Mizdirection showed that fitness will not be an issue when she breezed five furlongs in a bullet :59.20 over the turf course. I don't think she could be doing any better.
Moonwalk - Dale Romans-trainee went five-eighths on turf in 1:01.60, slightly faster than stablemate Little Mike, but not a particularly impressive work overall. However, it is worth noting that she worked five furlongs in 1:04.20 prior to her victory in the Jessamine Stakes (gr. III) last time out.
Reneesgotzip - Breezed five furlongs in a super-sharp :59.40 over the turf course, and it seems that she will have no difficulty handling the surface in the Turf Sprint, should her connections choose to run her there rather than in the Filly and Mare Sprint.
Renee's Queen - Went six furlongs in 1:14 flat in company with Out for Revenge, a breeze that was actually the sixth-quickest of the morning. Howver, according to DRF.com, she was tiring badly at the finish.
Second City - Pointing toward a start in the Dirt Mile or Sprint, this promising colt went six furlongs in the same time as Renee's Queen, but DRF.com notes that Second City was much more impressive. His workmate was the grade I-placed six-year-old Hyades.
Shackleford - Two-time grade I winner went five-eighths in 1:00 flat, a very impressive breeze indeed and one that should set him up quite well for the Dirt Mile. He is clearly rounding back into form following a disappointing summer campaign and looks ready to improve upon his runner-up finish in the Dirt Mile one year ago.
Smiling Tiger - Recorded the fastest half-mile work of the morning by three-fifths of a second, getting the distance in :46.80 from the gate. He has been rather disappointing in all three of his starts this year, but this speed-sharpening work should help him be more involved early on than he has been all year.
Stormy Lucy - Breezed six furlongs over the turf in 1:14.60 in preparation for the Filly and Mare Turf, an average maintenance work that should set her up well for Friday's race.
Super Ninety Nine - Working in company with the grade I-place filly Candrea, this Bob Baffert-trainee went five furlongs in :59.40 and really could not have gone any better. Taking on the likes of Beholder and Merit Man in the Juvenile Sprint will not be an easy task, but this son of Pulpit clearly possesses a great deal of natural talent and looks ready to give Baffert a second straight win in the Juvenile Sprint.
Switch - Twice runner-up in the Filly and Mare Sprint, Switch has not had a particularly good season this year and may be nearing the end of her career, but after she breezed six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.20, it's clear that she may have another good run left in her. Competing over her home track, where she has won a pair of grade I sprints, she might even be up to defeating Groupie Doll and finally experiencing Breeders' Cup glory.
Tara From the Cape - As mentioned above, she went a half-mile in company with Love and Pride and stopped the time in a good :48 flat. She is pointing toward a start in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Trinniberg - Three-time graded stakes winner was quite sharp going a half-mile in :47.40, the second fastest of the morning at that distance. Coming off of a very strong effort runner-up effort in the Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing, he does seem ready to turn in another good run, but will be facing older horses for the first time and will undoubtedly find the task a bit more difficult.
Turbo Compressor - As outlined above, this grade I winner worked in company with the three-year-old filly In Lingerie and simply wasn't quite as good as she, getting the distance in :47.40. Pre-entered in both the Mile and the Turf, he'll be facing a very tough task in either spot.
Under Review - Pointing toward a start in the Juvenile Turf, this Wayne Catalano-trainee traversed six furlongs over the turf course in an average 1:14.60.
-Keelerman
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