Breeders' Cup Classic: Authentic, Swiss Skydiver work; rematch a possibility
Two winners of Triple Crown races worked Saturday morning for upcoming Breeders’ Cup races, perhaps even a rematch of their epic match in the Preakness Stakes earlier this month.
Authentic, the Kentucky Derby winner, and Swiss Skydiver, the filly who beat males – including Authentic – in the Preakness, both turned in their penultimate drills in preparation for starts on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.
At Santa Anita, Authentic worked seven furlongs in 1:24.40 for trainer Bob Baffert. At Churchill Downs, Swiss Skydiver went a half-mile with jockey Robby Albarado in 47.80 seconds for Ken McPeek. Authentic is definite for the Classic, while Swiss Skydiver will go in either the Classic or the Distaff; she will be pre-entered on Monday in both races, with a final decision not due until entry day, Nov. 2.
“Authentic, he worked awesome,” said Baffert, whose other Classic runners, Improbable and Maximum Security, are slotted for drills on Sunday.
Baffert let his horses roll Saturday morning. Gamine, aiming for the Filly and Mare Sprint, went five furlongs in 58.80 seconds, the fastest of 61 drills at the distance.
“She’s doing really good. She’s on her game,” Baffert said.
Princess Noor, headed to the Juvenile Fillies Nov. 6, worked six furlongs in 1:11.20, the fastest of 12 at the distance. Spielberg, prepping for the Juvenile Nov. 6, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds.
Other Breeders’ Cup prospects who worked at Santa Anita on Saturday included Harvest Moon, five furlongs in 1:00.20 in preparation for the Distaff for Simon Callaghan; Mucho Unusual, five furlongs in 1:00.60 for the Filly and Mare Turf for Tim Yakteen; Sharp Samurai, five furlongs in 1:00 for the Dirt Mile for Mark Glatt; and United, a mile in 1:37.80 for the Turf for Richard Mandella.
At Churchill Downs, Classic prospects By My Standards, Global Campaign, and Tom’s d’Etat were among 13 horses with designs on the Breeders’ Cup who recorded drills.
By My Standards continued his usual morning excellence by flying five furlongs in 59.80 seconds under jockey Gabriel Saez for trainer Bret Calhoun. It was the fastest of 31 works at the distance at Churchill on Saturday.
Global Campaign went a half-mile in 48 seconds for Stan Hough, while Tom’s d’Etat worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 for Al Stall Jr.
Brad Cox sent out five Breeders’ Cup runners, most notably Monomoy Girl, who will be seeking a Distaff title to go along with the one she has from 2018. With Florent Geroux up, she worked six furlongs in 1:12.80. Cox also worked Arklow (five furlongs, 59.60 seconds) for the Turf, both Beau Recall (four furlongs, 50.60) and Factor This (five furlongs, 1:02) for the Mile, and Knicks Go (five furlongs, 1:00.20) for the Dirt Mile.
In addition to Swiss Skydiver, McPeek worked his two candidates for the Juvenile Fillies, with Crazy Beautiful and Simply Ravishing both going a half-mile in 48 seconds.
Sally’s Curlin worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 for the Filly and Mare Sprint for Dale Romans, and Spanish Loveaffair worked five furlongs in 1:04.20 for the Juvenile Fillies Turf for Mark Casse.