Accelerate, Vyjack work for Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Runhappy was the earliest and most prominent of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile contenders to work Saturday morning at Santa Anita, and later in the morning, both Accelerate and Vyjack tuned up for the race, too.

Accelerate, the winner of the Los Alamitos Derby in his last start, was timed by Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch going five furlongs in 1:00.95 under jockey Tyler Baze, who has ridden him in all six of his starts and has the mount in the $1 million Dirt Mile on Friday.

“He looked good,” trainer John Sadler said as Accelerate galloped out. “Nice and smooth.”

Sadler had Accelerate going six furlongs in 1:13.

Vyjack, who may be forced into the Dirt Mile after being placed on the also-eligible list of his preferred race, the Mile on turf, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40. His trainer, Phil D’Amato, often works his grass runners on the smaller, tighter training track, so the drill on the main track was indicative of D’Amato being resigned to going in the Dirt Mile.

Runhappy worked five furlongs in 58.55 seconds well before dawn.

There were 12 horses pre-entered in the Dirt Mile, but Bradester already is out, and Midnight Storm will go in the Mile. In addition, horses like Gun Runner and War Story are also pre-entered in the Classic, so the Dirt Mile field could be as few as eight and no more than 10.

Dortmund, the likely favorite, is scheduled to have his final work Sunday or Monday.