Abel Tasman, Vale Dori sharp in drill for BC Distaff

ARCADIA, Calif. – Abel Tasman at her best wins the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Abel Tasman when she doesn’t show up won’t come close.

The bad Abel Tasman was on display in the Zenyatta last time out, when she finished a dull fifth of six as the 1-10 favorite, but she looked like her old self on Friday morning at Santa Anita when working in company with stablemate Vale Dori, both ticketed to the Distaff at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

Both were timed in 1:00.20 for their five-furlong drill, but Abel Tasman, with Joe Talamo aboard for the work, was going strongly inside of Vale Dori, who had Drayden Van Dyke up. The work was more significant for Abel Tasman, as Vale Dori was coming off an upset win in the Zenyatta.

“She was fighting something off,” Baffert said of Abel Tasman. “She never got sick. She fought it off. But she wasn’t herself that day.”

Baffert also said he had changed up some of Abel Tasman’s morning routine, believing she might have grown stale with the same old thing.

“They’re like kids,” he said. “You gotta change it up.”

This was the first work for Abel Tasman and Vale Dori since the Zenyatta. They are scheduled to work twice more here before shipping to Churchill Downs.

Game Winner, Dream Tree also work for Baffert

The unbeaten Game Winner, expected to be the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 2, had his first work since his victory in the American Pharoah on Sept. 29 when he went a half-mile in 48.80 seconds on Friday morning while drawing away from his company late.

“Went nice, worked good,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert, who had Joe Talamo up for the work. Joel Rosario rides him in the Juvenile.

Baffert also sent out the unbeaten 3-year-old filly Dream Tree for a fast five-furlong work as she readies for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 3. She was timed in 59.40 seconds, equaling the fastest time of the morning among the 48 horses who worked five furlongs.

“That was her first major work,” Baffert said. “We let her work today.”

Drayden Van Dyke was aboard Dream Tree. Baffert also has divisional leader Marley’s Freedom set for the Filly and Mare Sprint. He said Van Dyke and Mike Smith are lined up for the race, but has yet to decide which rider will ride which horse.