Keeneland: BC Mile runner-up Turallure sharp in six-furlong move

Tom Keyser

Turallure has not started since being beaten a nose in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Turallure had another serious work toward his seasonal debut when breezing six furlongs Saturday morning in 1:12.40 over the Polytrack surface at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Trainer Charlie Lopresti said he is extremely pleased with how Turallure has wintered and that the main goal for 2012 is a return to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the $3 million race in which Turallure was beaten a nose last November at Churchill Downs by Court Vision.

“He worked really well,” said Lopresti. “I caught him going out [seven furlongs] in 1:26 and a tick. I’ve got him right where I want him.”

Turallure will work regularly up to the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile on April 13 on the Keeneland turf, said Lopresti. “We’ll get pretty serious with him,” he said. “I’m going to try to breeze him on the grass once, maybe stretch him out a little.”

Lopresti said he also is pleased with his two other standouts in the handicap division, Successful Dan and Wise Dan. Both worked earlier in the week at Keeneland and are progressing well, he said.

“We’re hoping an allowance race on opening day [April 6] will fill for Successful Dan,” said Lopresti. “And we’re on the fence whether Wise Dan will go in the [April 14] Commonwealth or later in the meet in the Ben Ali.”

Successful Dan finished first in the 2010 Clark Handicap at Churchill before being disqualified to third. Wise Dan won the Clark last fall. Both are geldings bred and owned by Morton Fink.