2021 Breeders' Cup clocker report for Saturday, Oct. 30: Acclimate appears in peak form
Oct. 30, 2021
Del Mar
Weather: Hazy
Temp: 60
Track: Fast
DEL MAR, Calif. - Unlike at many of the other major racing venues around the country, where weather put a crimp in the final workout plans for a large number of potential Breeders’ Cup contenders on Saturday, there was no rain, no fog and no shortage of action at Del Mar, where 13 horses got in their final major preps for this year’s Breeders’ Cup.
The track was very quick from the time it opened at 5:30 a.m., with early morning workers getting in their preps under the cover of darkness; the group was led by the Breeders’ Cup Turf-bound Acclimate. Going in company with an equally impressive Phantom Dance, Acclimate posted a steady series of 12-second eighth-mile splits to the wire in 1:00.19, with the best part of the work to come.
The pair went full of run into and around the turn, easing up back where they started at the five-eighths marker after covering a full mile in 1:39.54, before finally coming to a stop after 1 1/8 miles in 1:54.54. Stamina would seem to be no issue for this speedy and long-winded veteran, who is obviously in peak form and likely the one to catch in the Turf.
Acclimate was the first of four Phil D’Amato-trained Breeders’ Cup hopefuls to get their work down well before dawn. Ain’t Easy (Juvenile Fillies) went five furlongs from the half in 1:01, Desert Dawn (Juvenile Fillies) did five furlongs in 1:01.60 while slightly second-best in company on the gallop out, and Helens Well (Juvenile Fillies Turf) completed five furlongs in 1:01.60, showing nice energy running out around the clubhouse turn.
The sun was just beginning to peek through when Mackinnon hit the track to turn in an eye-catching work. Breaking off five lengths behind a target, the steadily improving youngster readily caught and ran clear of his struggling and overmatched mate, completing six furlongs from the five-eighths pole in 1:14.72 after absolutely walking the opening furlong in 14.40. He then proceeded to gallop out another strong quarter-mile around the bend, easing up after a mile in 1:40.01 and completing a work that gets extra credit coming from a young turf specialist over the main track. Expecting another forward move and big effort from this guy in the Juvenile Turf.
Horologist was the final Breeders’ Cup runner to breeze before the renovation break, cruising an easy, maintenance-like half-mile in 25.08, 49.30 in final preparation for the Distaff.
As is usually the case on days like this, things got a little crazy during the rush immediately after the break with the majority of trainers wanting to get their works in over a fresh track. It's a scenario that can often lead to problems and ultimately did this morning for one of the headliners of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup, four-time Grade 1 winner and odds-on Distaff favorite Letruska.
Although she regularly trains late in the morning shortly before the track closes at 9:30 a.m., trainer Fausto Gutierrez called a bit of an audible, opting instead to send Letruska out almost immediately after the break over the freshly harrowed track. But Letruska had the misfortune of inadvertently hooking in with another worker, a speedy 2-year-old filly named Brandon’smylawyer from the barn of trainer Richard Baltas, at the half-mile pole.
Working inside her unexpected company, Letruska seemed to relax well enough through the opening part of the work, but surprisingly failed to keep pace with her younger and obviously vastly less-experienced or accomplished partner through the final sixteenth, dropping back a couple of lengths despite being nudged along some at that point before continuing to lose ground galloping out into the turn. Although her final time of 47.66 was respectable enough for what figured to be a maintenance work, the gallop out was very average with the entire experience clearly not what one wants to see from a 4-5 favorite in any race a week before.
Hot Rod Charlie broke off just about the same time as Letruska was completing her work, avoiding any incidents and making the most of his final prep for the Classic also in company, but, as planned, outside stablemate Khantaro d’Oro.
With Flavien Prat aboard, Hot Rod Charlie also reeled off a steady series of 12-second splits from the five-eighths pole to the wire, getting the distance in 1:00.09 before completing this six-furlong move in a lively 1:12.85 and continuing out seven panels in 1:26.40, Prat getting the requisite response when asking “Charlie” through the wire and to continue into and around the bend. Hot Rod Charlie switched leads perfectly, maintained a straight course, and seems to be showing no ill effects from his big-figure win in the Pennsylvania Derby.
Other workers during the rush after the break included: Oviatt Class (Juvenile), five furlongs in 59.20 but with not much happening on the gallop out; Proud Emma (Filly and Mare Sprint), a pretty solid five furlongs in 59.60 going easily under Prat before easing up after seven-eighths in 1:27.04; and Chaos Theory (Turf Sprint), four furlongs in 48.32 before easing up quickly once through the wire.
Aloha West got his first real feel for the local strip breezing an even-paced half-mile in 23.87 47.47, but swapped leads at the wire and galloped out in just average fashion, five-eighths in 1:01.05. Was hoping to see a bit more from this steadily improving speedster who has the looks of a potential sleeper in the Sprint.
Channel Maker got in his final prep for the Turf over the main track, the high-headed grass specialist looking good doing so, caught his final three furlongs in a surprisingly quick 35.57 without need of any real encouragement.