Breeders' Cup Clocker: 'Aidan's Army' leads full brigade of stars on the track

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Keeneland
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 48 degrees
Track: Fast; Turf: Good

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The gang’s all here, all 150 or so Breeders’ Cup entrants, the majority if not all of whom made it out to the main track to train sometime between 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. or the turf immediately thereafter. It was a group that, as always this time of year, features the first sighting of Aidan’s Army, trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Breeders’ Cup contingent, which this time around numbers 11, plus one other who will compete on Saturday’s undercard.

The work tab was rather light, as expected, but somewhat notable with the appearance of stable mates T O Password (Classic) and T O Elvis (Sprint), who have trained together since their arrival last week. The good-looking duo turned in their first official local breeze just minutes after the first renovation break, leaving the five-furlong marker and cruising along at a two-minute clip for a quarter-mile before breezing to the wire and out into the clubhouse bend.

T O Password, who broke off a couple of lengths back, finished on the rail and began to edge clear into the turn while posting the strongest gallop-out from the wire timed locally over the past 10 days - 12 seconds flat into the turn. He then continued solo around the bend, completing five furlongs from the three-eighths pole in 1:03.80 per Daily Racing Form. T O Elvis also galloped out quite willingly himself, getting a half from the three-eighths in 50.91 before starting to ease up at that point.

Regular workmates Lush Lips and Expensive Queen were off and running from the moment they stepped on the turf, leaving the five-eighths pole single file at a two-minute clip themselves before being asked to pick up the pace midway of the turn. They breezed a strong three-eighths from that point with the Lush Lips coming down the lane in 23 seconds flat without being asked, Expensive Queen in 23.40. Both continued out another full quarter-mile and sustaining that momentum around the bend before easing up after seven furlongs. The pair will meet again, for real next time, on Saturday in the Filly and Mare Turf.

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Aidan’s Army was led by Puerto Rico, who did get a bit warm in the coat. The group jogged nearly a mile before reversing direction and cantering another six furlongs as they traditionally do upon leaving quarantine and hitting the track for the first time before the Breeders’ Cup. One horse to keep an eye on moving forward is True Love, who got particularly hot on a relatively chilly fall morning.

Obviously too many horses to comment on, but some of those who particularly caught the eye, in chronological order of their appearances on the track, were:

Immersive - Among the first of the Breeders’ Cup horses to gallop this morning in the dark looking full of herself throughout.

Scottish Lassie - Will join Immersive in the gate for the Distaff, and seems to have come out of her first local drill over the weekend in good order.

Kathynmarissa - Never seems to have a bad day whether breezing, turf or dirt, as she’s shown here over the past couple of weeks, or during her routine morning gallops.

Bless the Broken - Like her Brad Cox-trained stablemate Immersive, this filly really seems to be enjoying herself and the brisk weather once again today.

Coach Pope - Among the first bunch out after the renovation break, continues to look on the muscle and like he wants to do way more, whether working or galloping, than his rider will allow.

Forever Young - After seemingly getting the day off Monday, it was back to work for the Classic morning-line favorite, who warmed up on the training track before moving over to the main for a routine gallop along with his regular training mate, American Stage. Just guessing we’ll see the pair do something a little more serious, perhaps a la the T O horses today, on Wednesday.

Fully Subscribed - The number one star of the morning and among a short group vying for that honor here over the past week. Loved her final work on Saturday and the energy she showed while under a stout hold again today.

Knightsbridge - Another who continues to look super on a daily basis, again equipped in draw reins to prevent him from doing too much too close to the main event.

Ways and Means - Got a first real look at the Filly and Mare Sprint favorite this morning since her arrival from Saratoga; appeared to get over the local surface quite nicely.

Sovereignty - Pretty much ditto the Knightsbridge comment, in draw reins, seems to have bounced out of his excellent work on Sunday in fine order.

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