Breeders' Cup clocker: Classic favorites stretch legs

Del Mar
Weather: Cloudy
Temp.: 62
Main track:
Fast Turf: Firm

DEL MAR, Calif. – The gang’s all here at Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup, including the two major players in the main event, the $6 million Classic, defending champion Arrogate and Gun Runner, both of whom were out on the track early Wednesday morning.

The weather remained overcast, with temperatures having moderated slightly in comparison to previous mornings, when the main track opened at 5:30 a.m. Once again, there were two sessions scheduled on the turf course, the first at 7:15 a.m. and the other at 9:30.

GUN RUNNER came out well before dawn, as he has every day since his arrival save to breeze Monday, turning in another routine but impressive-looking gallop shortly before 6 a.m. ARROGATE wasn’t far behind, doing little more than jogging once around the one-mile oval alongside the stable pony, just 48 hours removed from his final work, which also took place Monday but 100 miles north at his home base at Santa Anita.

UNIQUE BELLA, among the other stars of the show this weekend, looked particularly impressive galloping here Wednesday after making a stop at the starting gate first, a bundle of energy going along at nearly a two-minute clip before pulling up near the half-mile pole.

Several of the European horses blew out over the turf Wednesday, including JAMES GARFIELD (Juvenile Turf), who breezed an easy half-mile in 26.59, 52.46 seconds while switching leads properly at the top of the stretch and finishing under a hold at the wire. He has made a nice impression this week.

:: For more detailed workout observations get the full Breeders' Cup Clocker Report

MASAR (Juvenile Turf) broke off at the three-eighths pole at a two-minute clip before blowing out down the stretch on his left lead in 25.25.

The one eye-catching turf work Wednesday came from a non-Breeders’ Cup starter, Sound and Silence, who flew down the lane in 23.25 in preparation for Saturday’s Juvenile Turf Sprint.

The lone Breeders’ Cup contender to breeze over the main track Wednesday was SKYE DIAMONDS (Filly and Mare Sprint), who looked good blowing down the lane in 25.74 before galloping out three-eighths in 38.64.

ULYSSES, the likely favorite for the Turf, got a little warm his first day over the track Tuesday but had no such issue Wednesday, looking particularly sharp while taking a couple of turns over the inner course. Reigning Filly and Mare Turf champion QUEEN’S TRUST also had a good day, reaching out nicely over the course while looking quite happy, galloping with her ears up the entire way.

On the other end of the spectrum, both COTAI GLORY (Turf Sprint) and FATALE BERE (Juvenile Fillies Turf) got quite hot and very rank during their gallop sessions.

ZELZAL (Mile) had another good morning, looking very strong but composed coming down the home straight, as did WUHEIDA (Filly and Mare Turf), coming out of a sharp five-furlong work the previous morning.

LADY AURELIA was the final Breeders’ Cup horse to train, cantering once around the turf course clockwise on the outside fence, looking a picture of health in advance of her role as the favorite in the Turf Sprint.

The following are some thoughts regarding the four Breeders’ Cup races on Friday from the morning activity I witnessed over the past two weeks at Del Mar and Belmont Park.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

BEST PERFORMANCE got a great schooling in her Oct. 14 work at Belmont and could be a bit of a sleeper, especially while getting Lasix for the first time. ULTIMA D impressed working alongside Juvenile Turf contender Hemp Hemp Hooray, drawing well clear while continuing on with great energy on the gallop-out.

SIGNIFICANT FORM looked razor sharp in her one major work since the Miss Grillo, five furlongs in 59 and change alongside the older Rymska at Belmont on Oct. 21.

Dirt Mile

SHARP AZTECA showed off his abundant speed by working in 58 and change over the weekend but did get a little warm on a relatively cool morning while under steady pressure through the final furlong.

PRACTICAL JOKE was hard held while going five-eighths in 1:02.04 on Oct. 21 in company at Belmont in what was another typically good move for the very consistent and improving 3-year-old.

Juvenile Turf

CATHOLIC BOY has made a very good impression here all week, especially when breezing an energetic four furlongs in 48.01 around the dogs with a nice gallop-out here Oct. 29.

ENCUMBERED looked good cruising over the main track in maintenance mode for his return to the turf. HEMP HEMP HURRAY finished well on even terms with Ultima D, going easiest to the wire Oct. 29, but was clearly second-best on the gallop-out.

Distaff

ELATE has made arguably the best appearance of any horse to train here over the past week, looking exceptionally brilliant while going an easy half-mile in 48.78, completing her final quarter in 23.68 under a hold, on Sunday.

PARADISE WOODS looked sharp and quite happy breezing a swift five furlongs in 59.88 on Saturday, doing so without urging and despite fanning four to five wide off the turn while finishing with her ears pricked at the wire.