2021 Breeders' Cup clocker report for Nov. 2: Overseas runners hit the track
Del Mar
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 58
Track: Fast
Turf: Firm
DEL MAR, Calif. - It was a cold, damp, dreary morning at Del Mar on Tuesday. While the weather perhaps was a bit uncomfortable for the locals, it must have made the large European contingent on hand for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup feel right at home.
The first sightings of Team Aidan O’Brien and the Kentucky-based shippers - a group that included stablemates and likely Classic favorites Knicks Go and Essential Quality - were among the highlights of a very busy morning of training at Del Mar.
The morning began on a high note immediately after the track opened at 5:30 with the appearance of Dirt Mile favorite Life Is Good and ended nearly four hours later with two other stars of the show, Knicks Go and Letruska, who put in strong gallops almost simultaneously, just before the track closed at 9:30.
In between, six Breeders’ Cup entrants turned in official works, including Classic-bound Stiletto Boy. Twilight Jet blew out down the stretch from the gate prepping for Friday’s Juvenile Turf Sprint, although he was not credited with a work.
Stiletto Boy breezed four furlongs over a fresh strip just minutes after the renovation break, completing the distance in 52.15 while kept well off the rail down the stretch. He showed little energy covering the final quarter in a lackluster 26.52. The work was maintenance in nature, perhaps, but I would have expected to see a little more hop in the step of this Classic longshot.
The lone grass work of the day came from Loves Only You, who continues to make a favorable impression prepping for the Filly and Mare Turf. While her final time was nothing to write home about, three furlongs in 38.69, it must be noted the dogs were set out a long way from the rail, near the middle of the strip. But visually she was most impressive, completing her final quarter going easily in 24.31 and with plenty of gas left in the tank galloping out into and around the turn. She did that after two-minute-licking nearly a quarter-mile before commencing the breeze.
Loves Only You was one of four Japanese invaders to work on Tuesday. Pingxiang (Dirt Mile) was first to go, zipping three-eighths in 35.94. He covered his final quarter in a crisp 23.23 over the lively surface, but while under a full-out drive, before easing up the half-mile in 48.07.
Marche Lorraine was next, picking up her pace leaving the six-furlong pole and completing five-eighths in 1:02.75 while honing her speed with a final three furlongs in 35.78 under some urging. She seems to have adapted well since her arrival but faces a very tall task in the Distaff.
Jasper Great blew out a quick three-eighths in 35.76 for the Juvenile, with a first quarter in 12.74, after also open galloping nearly a quarter-mile into the breeze. But he showed his inexperience when he ducked out sharply and suddenly into the clubhouse turn, nearly unseating his rider.
Sumter (Juvenile Turf Sprint) blew out three-eighths under the cover of darkness in 36.40 for trainer Richard Mandella. Twilight Jet broke out of the starting gate and looked sharp posting a 23.61 clocking from the eighth pole into the turn, and could be a bit of a sleeper with the addition of blinkers for the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
All seven Aiden O’Brien-trained Breeders’ Cup contenders had a busy first morning over the track, training with their usual military-like precision, one behind the other, first jogging a mile before reversing directions to canter another mile once around the main track. All seemed unflappable in their first experience acclimating to the local surroundings.
Essential Quality had an easy first morning in Southern California, simply jogging a mile the wrong way around the outside fence. Knicks Go, on the other hand, was his usual high-strung self, turning in a strong gallop a couple hours later, equipped per normal in draw reins.
Among other Classic sightings of note was another big morning from Hot Rod Charlie, a leisurely stroll around the inner rail by Medina Spirit, and Express Train getting a little warm in the coat despite the cooler temperatures here this morning.
Letruska schooled at the gate then burst away from the pony at better than a two-minute clip for nearly a full half-mile before coming to hand to complete a good-looking mile and three-furlong gallop, her first serious piece of business since her somewhat eventful breeze here Saturday.
Other random thoughts after watching an endless stream of Breeders’ Cup hopefuls train during the morning include big thumbs ups for War Like Goddess, who was full of run coming out of her recent work; Juju’s Map, who looked terrific in her first local appearance; the Todd Pletcher pair of Following Sea and Commandperformance, who trained in the same set and looked very strong during their routine gallops; as well as Distaff hopefuls Clairiere, who continues to really catch the eye, and Shedaresthedevil, a Brad Cox trainee looking very sharp right off the plane from Kentucky, which arrived several hours behind schedule Monday evening.