Breeders' Cup clocker: Baffert horses hit the track
Wednesday, Nov. 4
Keeneland
Weather: Clear
Track: Fast
Turf: Good
Temp.: 47°
LEXINGTON, KY. – Team Baffert is in the house.
After a 24-hour delay due to flight issues, the powerful Bob Baffert contingent arrived in Lexington on Tuesday afternoon and all were on the track at Keeneland on Wednesday morning, including the three Classic contenders, Improbable, Authentic, and Maximum Security.
The racetrack remains in perfect shape, and the temperature began moderating this morning, starting in the mid-40s and rising up near 60 by the time the final Breeders’ Cup hopeful had trained over the turf course shortly before 10 a.m.
In between there was plenty of action, starting with a group that included VALIANCE, YAUPON, and then the popular SWISS SKYDIVER, who came out for another routine but good-looking training session at 6:15 a.m. Valiance did her thing again today, giving her rider all she can handle in final preparations for the Distaff.
CLASSIER was the first Baffert sighting, coming out to gallop well before dawn. She was followed not long after by both Juvenile Fillies favorite PRINCESS NOOR and IMPROBABLE, who made a grand appearance and clearly wanted to do more than allowed of him in his first visit to the track.
Among the strongest gallops of the opening session came from KNICKS GO, who despite being equipped with draw reins dragged his rider around from start to finish, giving every indication he’s ready for yet another big effort in the Dirt Mile.
A couple of contenders who might be flying just a tad under the radar in the Sprint, DIAMOND OOPS and FIRENZE FIRE, made their first local appearances, Diamond Oops doing little more than visit the paddock and jog once around the oval while acclimating to the cooler weather shipping up from South Florida.
TACITUS bounced out of his work here last weekend so well that he has not been in need of a day off since, turning in another solid gallop shortly before the renovation break. He was followed by MUTASAABEQ, among the key players in the Juvenile Turf on Friday who was out for an easy gallop over the main track while looking up to the upcoming challenge for trainer Todd Pletcher.
MAXIMUM SECURITY hit the track shortly after the break and looked just fine getting over the course. AUTHENTIC, on the other hand, waited until the initial rush was over and one could see why, as he was easily the most aggressive of the Baffert runners training this morning, pulling and tugging his rider while also gawking a bit at the unfamiliar surroundings.
Like his now arch-rival Authentic, TIZ THE LAW also waited for quieter times on the track, as he has of late, and was on his best behavior Wednesday, galloping strongly but nowhere near as frenetic as he was earlier in the week.
Those who watch Chad Brown horses train on a regular basis are used to the high energy, near two-minute gallops his charges frequently go through. First came the trio of RAGING BULL, NAY LADY NAY, and DUNBAR ROAD, all zipping right along pretty much in single file. In the next set it was UNI leading RUSHING FALL through a vigorous and sharp gallop session.
Others who were feeling good after the break included POINT OF HONOR, who has been a bundle of energy since her arrival last weekend, and DREAMER’S DISEASE, who two-minute-licked it down the lane while continuing to make a favorable impression over the past several mornings.
The lone Breeders’ Cup workers on the main track Wednesday morning were DONJAH, who turned in a somewhat unorthodox 12.60, 25.90, 39.08 three-eighths from the five-furlong pole to the quarter pole, and Japanese invaders PINGXIANG and JASPER PRINCE, both set down hard to blow out three furlongs in 34.79 before easing up a half in 47.54.
The turf course seems to be drying out quite nicely and should be firm by post time Friday. Among those who availed themselves the opportunity to train on the grass this morning were stablemates ARKLOW and AUNT PEARL, both of whom continue to catch the eye no matter the surface.
A couple of European invaders worked, with UBETTABELIEVEIT going three-eighths over the good surface in 37.64 with a solid final quarter of 23.50 while not switching off his left lead down the stretch, and EQUILATERAL, three-eighths from the quarter pole while nearly up against the outside fence in 25.66 and 40.51.