Belmont: Alpha, Questing work together for Breeders' Cup

Barbara D. Livingston

Alpha is expected to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

ELMONT, N.Y. − Neal McLaughlin, assistant trainer to his brother Kiaran, says he doesn’t remember ever working two Grade 1 winners in company before he put Travers co-winner Alpha and Alabama winner Questing together Friday morning.

Preparing for starts in the Breeders’ Cup, Alpha (Classic) and Questing (Ladies’ Classic) went five furlongs in 59.80 seconds together over the synthetic surface at the Greentree training center in Saratoga.

“Alpha led the breeze a little bit and was on the inside, Questing came to him right before the five-eighths pole, and they went nice together for the five-eighths and galloped out great,” said Neal McLaughlin, who oversaw the breeze for Kiaran, who was traveling Friday.

Neal McLaughlin said it was his brother’s idea to put the two Grade 1 winners in company.

“We need to make sure we get some good breezes here going up to the Breeders’ Cup,” Neal McLaughlin said. “We don’t want to leave anything out. Let’s put them together, and we did. It worked out perfect.”

McLaughlin said that by working in company, Alpha will gallop out stronger than if he worked by himself. Rob Massey was aboard Alpha, and Javier Fragoso was on Questing.

“Alpha can lose interest sometimes galloping out,” McLaughlin said. “For Questing, it helps [Fragoso] get the time right. Her rider is a little less experienced than Alpha’s rider, and sometimes he doesn’t get the times right.”

McLaughlin said Alpha and Questing would probably work together again in their next two breezes. Alpha, Questing, Fortify (Juvenile), Emcee (Sprint), and It’s Tricky (Filly and Mare Sprint or Ladies’ Classic) are scheduled to ship to California on Oct. 27.

Emcee also worked Friday at Greentree going five furlongs in 59.20 seconds by himself with Roger Horgan aboard.

It’s Tricky is based at Belmont and is not expected to work this weekend.