Breeders' Cup: Brown's Belmont brigade breezes during busy morning
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Domestic Product, who had been mentioned solely as a candidate for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, will also be pre-entered in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint, trainer Chad Brown said Saturday.
Brown said first preference will be given to the Dirt Mile with second preference to the Sprint. Domestic Product, a son of Practical Joke, is 2 for 3 in races run around one turn, including a neck victory over Prince of Monaco in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga in August and a 7 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Dwyer going a mile at Aqueduct in July. Domestic Product’s lone defeat going one turn was a fifth-place finish in his career debut going six furlongs at Saratoga in 2023.
At Del Mar, the Dirt Mile will be run around two turns. The Sprint, as it always has been, is run at six furlongs.
“He has won at two turns in the Tampa Bay Derby going a mile and a sixteenth, I just wonder if six is going to be a little short for him,” Brown said.
Domestic Product was one of eight potential Breeders’ Cup starters Brown has based at Belmont Park who put in workouts Saturday over the training track on a glorious fall morning.
Domestic Product, working by himself, went a half-mile in 48.39 seconds, per Daily Racing Form, getting his final quarter in 23.30 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.00
Domestic Product worked right after the undefeated 2-year-old Chancer McPatrick went a half-mile by himself in 47.87 seconds, getting his last quarter in 23.42 while galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.87 in preparation for the $2 million Juvenile. It was his first work since his victory in the Grade 1 Champagne here on Oct. 4, his third win in as many starts.
“He worked good,” Brown said. “The track was a little quicker at 7:45, he worked a little quick, but he did it easy. He’s in good form.”
Raging Sea, preparing for the $2 million Distaff, worked a half-mile in 49.51 seconds under Flavien Prat. Working outside of Grade 1 Spinster runner-up Occult, Raging Sea went in splits of 24.80 and 24.71 seconds.
Occult is not under consideration for any Breeders’ Cup race, Brown said.
Gina Romantica, winner of the Grade 1 First Lady last out, worked a half-mile in 49.22 seconds by herself. Brown said Gina Romantica is possible to pre-entered in the BC Mile, a race in which she finished fourth last year.
Pre-entries for all 14 Breeders’ Cup races are due Monday and will be announced on Wednesday.
Following the 9:30 a.m. renovation break, Brown sent out four more Breeders’ Cup hopefuls topped by Classic contender Sierra Leone, who went a half-mile in 48.84 seconds, getting his final quarter in 23.70 seconds. He continued out five furlongs in 1:01.82 and six furlongs in 1:13.20.
“He worked great, we started his work at the half, but it’s really designed to be a longer work,” Brown said. “He galloped out super, he did it on his own. Very comfortable I thought.”
Ways and Means, a top contender for the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint, worked a sharp half-mile in 47.79 seconds, getting her final quarter in 23.60 outside the 3-year-old filly Pretty Ana. Ways and Means galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.48.
“Last week, she got a little lost in her first work down here, the time was fine, but it wasn’t visually what we were accustomed to,” Brown said. “So, we called an audible and she was perched outside a nice filly and she did it the right way.”
Zulu Kingdom, winner of the Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes and a contender for the $1 million Juvenile Turf, worked a half-mile in 48.57 seconds, outside of the older horse Running Bee. Zulu Kingdom got his final quarter in 23.81 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.80.
The last of Brown’s workers Saturday was Virgin Colada (Juvenile Fillies Turf), who went a half-mile in 49.11 seconds working outside of Fluffy Socks. Virgin Colada, coming out of a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes, did finish the work on her left lead.
“She’s a little funny with her lead switches which is her still getting accustomed to this training track a little bit,” Brown said.
At Keeneland, two-time Grade 1 winner Carl Spackler (Mile) worked a half-mile on the turf in 50.40 seconds. He went in company with the mare Chili Flag, the Grade 1 First Lady runner-up who is now expected to be pre-entered in the Mile.
* At Saratoga Saturday, BC Distaff contender Thorpedo Anna worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 over the Oklahoma training track. According to track clocker David Norton, Thorpedo Anna started two lengths behind Denington and finished three in front.
Also at Saratoga, Classic hopeful Arthur’s Ride worked five furlongs in 1:00.80, stating 2 1/2 lengths back of the 3-year-old Timeout and finishing a half-length in front, according to Norton.
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