Sun, 10/31/2010 - 11:53

Vineyard Haven, Gayego complete BC works in New York

ELMONT, N.Y. – Godolphin stablemates Vineyard Haven and Gayego both put in their final workouts Sunday morning at Belmont Park in preparation for Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Working separately just after sunrise, Vineyard Haven went five furlongs in 1:01.41 shortly after Gayego went four furlongs in 48.80 seconds. Both works were done over the main track.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 15:53

Blind Luck bursting with energy

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Blind Luck worked five furlongs in a minute at Hollywood Park on Saturday and it then seemed to take exercise rider Marco Ramirez another five furlongs to pull her up.

The nation’s leading 3-year-old filly, Blind Luck is bound for Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs with recent workouts that have left trainer Jerry Hollendorfer more than satisfied.

“We’ve been blessed that she’s like that,” Hollendorfer said. “She finished really well.”

Hollendorfer timed Blind Luck in 1:00.66, galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.25.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 14:54

Tony Dutrow confident his three Breeders' Cup-bound fillies will run well

By David GreningTen years after starting his only horse in the Breeders’ Cup series, trainer Tony Dutrow will return this week with three fillies who figure quite prominently in their respective races.

On Saturday at Delaware Park, Dutrow put the trio of Havre de Grace, Rightly So, and Joyful Victory through their final breezes for the Ladies’ Classic, Filly and Mare Sprint, and Juvenile Fillies, respectively. Afterwards, Dutrow expressed optimism that all three will run at least as well as Burning Roma did when he was beaten just two lengths in the 2000 Juvenile at Churchill.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 14:42

Big Drama sizzles in BC Sprint move

Big Drama had the track clockers at Calder raving after working four furlongs in 46.40 seconds and galloping out five-eighths in 58.40 over his home course with jockey Eibar Coa aboard on Saturday in his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“He was unbelievable,” said Calder clocker Joe Savage. “The track was not that fast, there was a pretty strong headwind blowing up the stretch and he just did it easily.”

Both Coa and trainer David Fawkes were equally pleased with the move.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 14:38

Chamberlain Bridge misses work with minor injury

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Chamberlain Bridge, one of the favorites for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, popped an abscess in his right front hoof Friday and had to miss a scheduled workout this weekend, although trainer Bret Calhoun is still optimistic the millionaire gelding can make the race Saturday.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 14:36

Zenyatta given stiff final drill in company

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Mike Smith had Zenyatta’s saddle and reins in his hands, walking down the shedrow of trainer John Shirreffs’s stable at Hollywood Park when he stopped and watched the 6-year-old walk by on Saturday morning. He had just climbed off of the unbeaten winner of 19 races after a six-furlong workout in 1:11.80.

“Look at her – 1:11 and four,” Smith said. “I thought it was brilliant, better than last year before the Classic.”

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 13:02

New Normal, Grand Adventure breeze for BC at Woodbine

ETOBICOKE, Ont. - New Normal (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Grand Adventure (Turf Sprint), both trained by Mark Frostad, breezed five furlongs on Woodbine's main track in separate moves on Saturday morning and are scheduled to leave for Churchill Downs on Monday.

Exercise rider Billy O'Connor was aboard New Normal, who was timed in 1:02.20. Grand Adventure went in 1:01.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.20 under his regular rider Patrick Husbands.

"Both did it very well, and both are on course at this point," said Frostad.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 11:24

Red Desire, Smiling Tiger top Saturday morning workers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After a very quiet week, there was action aplenty Saturday at Churchill Downs when it came to Breeders’ Cup workers with 21 horses recording official trials, including four on the grass. 

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 10:55

Girolamo acting like he's ready for Sprint

ELMONT, N.Y. - In his third start off a layoff last year, Girolamo ran perhaps the best race of his career when he won the Grade 2 Jerome at Belmont Park, running a mile in 1:33.81. This year, Girolamo’s third start off a layoff will be the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint next Saturday at Churchill Downs where he will need a new career-best effort to win.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 09:23

First Dude out for early work

 LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Although the bulk of the Breeders' Cup workers were scheduled for after the renovation break, five potential Cup starters breezed under the lights early Saturday morning at Churchill Downs led by Classic hopeful First Dude, who went five furlongs in 1:01.18 seconds under exercise rider Tammy Fox.

Other Breeders' Cup workers included Life At Ten, four furlongs in 48.21 second; R Heat Lightning, four furlongs in 48.20; Seeking the Title, a half-mile in 50.22 with jockey Calvin Borel up; and A U Minor, four furlongs in 48.49.