Bradester impresses in morning workout

KEENELAND
Track: Fast
Weather: Clear
Temp: 38

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A couple top candidates for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, I’m a Chatterbox and Stopchargingmaria, were the biggest names on Saturday’s work tab, but it was an outsider for the BC Dirt Mile, Bradester, who turned in arguably the most impressive work on a frigid morning at Keeneland, where the temperature dipped into the high 30s by the time the track opened for training at 5:30 a.m.

Work of the Day

BRADESTER (five furlongs in 59.11 seconds) impressed clockers throughout the summer at Saratoga and continues to give every indication he remains in peak form with a very solid move in company this morning. With regular rider Corey Lanerie aboard, Bradester broke off inside Ready Get Set and had run on his mind from the outset, clicking off a 23.01 opening quarter and 34.94 three-eighths split, going easily with his mate having to be urged along some to keep pace. At the sixteenth pole, Lanerie asked for a little more, and Bradester responded by drawing better than two lengths clear at the wire before widening the advantage and galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.23. The four-time graded stakes winner appears to be adapting well to the local strip.

I'M A CHATTERBOX broke off at the five-eighths pole as Bradester neared the stretch, coming away from the pony full of run while a bit high-headed and hard to control under jockey Florent Geroux, her opening splits in a swift 11.40 and 23.40. The Grade 1-winning filly finally came to hand approaching the quarter pole and was striding out nicely down the lane, completing the distance in 1:00.40 without any prodding before continuing on well in the bend and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.40.

STOPCHARGINGMARIA worked in company inside the 2-year-old Uncle Vinny, and as expected, she proved better of the team, going five furlongs in 35.80 and 59.90. Stopchargingmaria pulled a couple lengths clear of her younger partner without need of urging and, like Bradester, left her mate far behind on the gallop out with a strong six furlongs in 1:12.69 before pulling up seven-eighths in 1:27.48. She is another who looks right at home over this surface.

:: BC Clocker: Watch Mike Welsch’s daily video report from Keeneland

Stopchargingmaria was one of five potential Breeders’ Cup starters trainer Todd Pletcher worked Saturday. Two hours earlier, in the dark, Pletcher sent out DAME DOROTHY, SWEET WHISKEY, and RED RIFLE to work half-miles, each going in similar fashion. Dame Dorothy and Red Rifle completed the distance in 49, both finishing strong and galloping out well into and around the turn. Sweet Whiskey was the quickest of the early-morning trio, covering four furlongs in 48.20 with a big finish and equally impressive gallop out.

Pletcher’s final worker of the day was the Grade 1 turf specialist MSHAWISH, who breezed a nice-looking five furlongs over the main track, his final half in 47.50 without need of urging.

EXAGGERATOR, runner-up here earlier this month in the Grade 1 Futurity, waited for sunrise just after 7:30 a.m. to turn in a five-furlong maintenance work for trainer Keith Desormeaux, completing the distance in 1:03.20, going easily throughout and pulling up six furlongs in 1:16.40.

Trainer Chad Brown sent out a couple of his grass specialists on the main track after the break for maintenance half-mile breezes. BOBBY'S KITTEN (BC Turf Sprint) completed four furlongs solo in 49.40, and CAMELOT KITTEN (BC Juvenile Turf) completed the same distance in company with Tweet Kitten in 49.60.