Breeders' Cup clocker: Annals of Time, War Flag breeze

Belmont Park
Track: Fast
Weather: Clear
Temp.: 56

ELMONT, N.Y. – Only a handful of potential Breeders’ Cup starters worked here Sunday on another picture-perfect morning, a list topped by turf specialists Annals of Time and War Flag, prepping for the Mile and Filly and Mare Turf.

Temperatures were in the high 40s at dawn but climbed higher by the time the Breeders’ Cup workout action began immediately after the renovation break on the main track before continuing over on the turf course several minutes later.

ANNALS OF TIME (Mile) – Lightly raced Grade 1 winner worked over the turf in company with stablemate Money Multiplier and did get noticeably hot on what was still a chilly morning at the time. Broke off a length back, cruised through a very easy opening quarter and three-eighths in 25.95 and 38.66 seconds, turned for home on even terms before finishing with nice energy outside his partner, completing a final quarter in 23.04 without a hint of urging. Galloped out with excellent energy despite losing his focus and turning his head suddenly toward his mate a couple of times down the home straight and into the turn.

WAR FLAG (Filly and Mare Turf) – Recent Grade 1 winner worked in typical fashion for this barn, easing away from the half-mile pole at a leisurely pace before finishing full of run outside stablemate Snap Decision, completing the final quarter of a 48.78 half-mile in 22.68 before leaving her partner on the gallop-out, drawing well clear after being niggled on slightly from the wire on out.

CALEDONIA ROAD (Juvenile Fillies) – Went in the first set immediately after the renovation break over a track that might have been a tad on the deep side, a maintenance half-mile outside the older Table for Six in 24.41 and 49.07, began a length back, finished even up, going easily throughout, galloped out very willingly, easing up after five-eighths in 1:01.96.

SEPARATIONSOFPOWERS (Juvenile Fillies) – Frizette winner worked with maiden mate Brattata, an even half-mile in 24.36 and 48.53, finishing all on her own nearest the rail, began to assert herself on the gallop-out, edging a length clear in 1:01.64, before steadily increasing her advantage, pulling up six panels in 1:16.39.

CAPLA TEMPTRESS (Juvenile Fillies Turf) – European invader made a nice impression over the turf in company with maiden 2-year-old filly Mojgan. Began a couple of lengths in front of her partner instead of behind, as in her previous local drills, seemed to be waiting on her mate through early stretch before finishing about a head back after five-eighths in 1:02.40. Completed her final quarter in 23.48 very easily before turning in arguably the best gallop-out of a busy morning on the turf course, continuing with terrific energy down the stretch and into the clubhouse turn.

LADY IVANKA (Juvenile Fillies) – At Aqueduct, where a new main track was recently installed, the Grade 1 Spinaway winner had her fifth local drill, working five furlongs in 1:01.06 with her trainer, the former rider Rudy Rodriguez, in the irons.

On a nearly empty racetrack, Lady Ivanka was the second horse to breeze over a freshly renovated surface. After backing up to the wire, Lady Ivanka galloped into the clubhouse turn and began to pick up her pace at the six-furlong pole. The work officially began at the five-furlong pole, and Lady Ivanka went in fractions of 13.06 seconds for the opening eighth, 25.31 for the quarter, and 37.13 for three furlongs with Rodriguez just sitting. In midstretch, Rodriguez nudged on his filly a little to make her finish, and after getting the final quarter in 23.93 seconds, Rodriguez spanked Lady Ivanka twice on the rump past the wire to let her know she was not finished. Lady Ivanka galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.78 and seven furlongs in 1:30.05.

Lady Ivanka is scheduled to ship to Southern California on Thursday and will get in one breeze over the Del Mar surface, likely next Sunday.

– additional reporting by David Grening

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