2021 Breeders' Cup clocker report for Sunday, Oct. 31: Art Collector continues to impress
Oct. 31, 2021
Del Mar
Weather: Hazy
Temp: 61
Main Track: Fast
Turf: Firm
DEL MAR, Calif. - One day before having their names placed in the entry box, 19 potential starters for this year’s Breeders’ Cup turned in their final major preps for their respective races Sunday morning at Del Mar, with 13 going over the main track and six others working on the turf.
Classic-bound Art Collector was the big name on the tab and the last of the Breeders’ Cup horses to work on the dirt shortly after 9 a.m., looking solid throughout what was basically a maintenance half-mile in 48.34. Fanning purposefully wide out to the center of the strip entering the stretch, Art Collector completed his final quarter in 23.96, going easily before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.99. He has made a favorable impression on a regular basis since his arrival earlier in the week.
Art Collector completed a busy but very efficient morning for the Mott barn. Earlier, the Hall of Fame trainer sent out a couple of his turf specialists, Casa Creed (Mile) and War Like Goddess (Filly and Mare Turf) to breeze on the dirt. Casa Creed was particularly impressive, completing four furlongs in 47.45, the final three-eighths in 35.25, while never set down for his best. War Like Goddess followed suit, getting an easy half in 23.81 48.02, galloping out slightly best of the duo in 1:01.34.
Not to be outdone, Mott’s Hall of Fame colleague Steve Asmussen was also plenty active during the course of the morning, working four members of his Breeders’ Cup contingent, including two horses who figure to be heavy favorites in their respective events: Jackie’s Warrior (Sprint) and Echo Zulu (Juvenile Fillies).
Jackie’s Warrior was in total maintenance mode, well-held breezing a leg-stretching three-eighths in 37.13. Echo Zulu cruised an easy half-mile in 25.17, 50.30, and seemed to be a little noisy while passing through the wire before easing up fairly quickly going out into the clubhouse turn.
Clairiere (Distaff) was the most impressive of the Asmussen quartet to make the work tab here Sunday while continuing to give off positive vibes throughout her stay on the West Coast. Breaking off from the half-mile pole, she was loaded and full of run from the outset, her rider hard-pressed to hold her to a 49.05 half-mile clocking despite easing her out well wide exiting the final turn. Silver State (Dirt Mile) was the quickest of the group, getting four furlongs in 23.99, 48.51 but, like Echo Zulu, was also a bit noisy at the wire.
Another main-track worker of note was Bella Sofia, who many feel might give Gamine a run for her money in the Filly and Mare Sprint. With her trainer, Rudy Rodriguez aboard, Bella Sofia completed a sharp half-mile in 48.64, and her final quarter and three-eighths in 23.06 and 35.33, respectively, while pretty much on her own throughout.
Perhaps the biggest surprise among the morning’s large and diverse group of Breeders’ Cup workers came from a pair of Richard Mandella-trained turf specialists, Bombard (Turf Sprint) and Dogtag (Filly and Mare Turf), who flew over the main track earning the bullet five-eighths with a 58.64 clocking that featured a 34.59 opening three-furlong split. Bombard was the better of the team to the wire, going easiest inside his pressured mate.
Like Jackie’s Warrior, fellow Sprint contender C Z Rocket was given a little three-furlong blowout to hone his speed for the big event, going in 36.01 before easing up a half-mile in 49.26.
Extravagant Kid (Turf Sprint) and Mo Forza (Mile) were the big names to breeze on the grass, the pair going simultaneously with Mo Forza breaking off about six lengths or so behind the well-traveled Extravagant Kid, who went in company with stablemate Zofelle. The team completed an easy four furlongs in 49.81 before galloping out strongly into the turn, with Mo Forza making up a length or so going very easily as well behind the team in 49.46.
Arguably the most impressive of Sunday’s grass works came from Turf Sprint outsider Charmaine's Mia, who finished full of run to complete a half-mile around the dogs in 50.52 before galloping out very strong around the bend, not easing up until back near the half-mile pole. The drill was far more impressive than the relatively slow final time might suggest.