American Pharoah scheduled for two more local works
ARCADIA, Calif. – Triple Crown winner American Pharoah will be on the last plane out from California for the Breeders’ Cup after working twice more at Santa Anita.
He was scheduled to work Tuesday and to come back the following Monday, Oct. 26, before traveling Oct. 27 to Kentucky for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. The BC Classic will be the final start of his career.
The final work, according to trainer Bob Baffert, is scheduled to just be an easy half-mile after more-strenuous drills in his prior two works.
Once he leaves California, American Pharoah will not return. After the BC Classic, American Pharoah will take up residence at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, where he will begin stud duty next spring.
Dortmund nears comeback
Dortmund, who has not raced since the Preakness, is close to a return to action following a five-furlong work in 59.40 seconds Sunday morning at Santa Anita, equaling the best at the distance along with the top sprinter Masochistic.
Trainer Bob Baffert said he has nominated Dortmund “to everything” in upcoming weeks. Among the spots Dortmund is nominated are the Big Bear Stakes, a $70,000 race at one mile next Saturday here at Santa Anita, and the Grade 2, $200,000 Fayette at Keeneland on Oct. 30, six days after the Big Bear.
Baffert has said the Grade 1 Clark Handicap in November at Churchill Downs is a near-term goal for Dortmund, who finished third at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby earlier this year. Dortmund’s biggest win this year came in the Santa Anita Derby.
Hoppertunity may run on BC undercard
Hoppertunity isn’t quite good enough to take on the best in the BC Classic on Oct. 31, but he has trained so well since his second-place finish in the Awesome Again last time out that Baffert is strongly considering sending him to Keeneland for one of two races Oct. 30, either the Fayette at 1 1/8 miles or the Marathon at 1 3/4 miles. Both are Grade 2, $200,000 events.
Hoppertunity worked six furlongs in 1:13 Sunday morning at Santa Anita, which was the second-best among eight at the distance.