Breeders' Cup Clocker: Englishman steals the show from Classic 3-year-olds
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Although Golden Tempo and Napoleon Solo, who captured all three legs of this year’s Triple Crown, turned in their final works for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Classic Friday at Keeneland, the number one star for the morning went to another immensely talented 3-year-old.
Golden Tempo’s speedy stablemate Englishman put in yet another brilliant work in preparation for his role as the overwhelming favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Working under cover of darkness, as usual, shortly after the track opened at 5:30 a.m, Englishman eased away from the half-mile pole in a leisurely 12.96 before picking up the pace steadily thereafter. He powered his way through a final quarter in 22.78 to complete four furlongs in 47.29 while kept well within himself throughout. Had plenty left in the tank while allowed to do more this week than last on the gallop-out, zipping five panels in 59.00 seconds before easing up three-quarters in 1:12.40.
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Englishman was in maintenance mode but it was arguably his best work in a series of very impressive breezes leading up to the Sprint.
Golden Tempo came out after the renovation break in company with the lightly raced maiden winner Commentate for another work that was maintenance-like in design just eight days out from the Classic. He had regular rider Jose Ortiz aboard, breezing four furlongs in 24.59 seconds and 48.47 while kept in hand to the wire before edging clear of his company on the gallop-out nearest the rail in 1:01.47.
Napoleon Solo was among the final Breeders’ Cup workers of the morning, breezing five furlongs shortly after the second break in in 37.33 seconds and 1:00.58. He finished willingly while responding to some encouragement to the wire and into the clubhouse turn, completing six furlongs in 1:13.82, up seven-eighths in 1:26.40. It was another solid effort from a morning all-star, although perhaps not quite as dazzling as some of his more brilliant works from earlier this season.
Todd Pletcher-trained stablemates American History and Damavand breezed in company for the Juvenile, covering four furlongs in 25.44 seconds and 48.72, going easily throughout, with the former best of the team to the wire after galloping out a very impressive five-eighths in 1:00.84.
The duo was the third team of Pletcher trained 2-year-olds to work a half-mile here Friday. Earlier, Liam’s Law and Bold Leadership went in 25.67 seconds and 49.50, out in 1:02.50 with Liam’s Law going easiest of the pair to and through the wire. They were preceded by the fillies Life Changing and Badittude, the team shading 49 secondds for the distance with both being nudged along some to finish.
It was a good morning for trainer Cherie DeVaux, who sent out, along with Englishman and Golden Tempo, Breeders’ Cup Mile contender Brilliant Bertie to breeze a maintenance-like but impressive-looking half-mile of her own in 24.02 seconds and 48.54. He was kept in reserve a couple of lengths behind an inadvertent target he picked up along the way. Brilliant Bertie ultimately caught that one while galloping out well off the rail in 1:01.88. Nice effort from grass specialist on the dirt.
Shisospicy, the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner, is up against it trying to defend that title, having made only one start subsequent to that impressive victory a year ago at Del Mar. She exited a big work here last week by going a very leisurely and almost non-descript three-eighths in 38.43 before easing up on the gallop-out.
For the second Friday in a row, likely Juvenile Fillies favorite Emphatic teamed up to work with her unraced stablemate Supreme Commander. She proved slightly best to the wire in 48.40 seconds before edging several lengths clear continuing out five furlongs in 1:01.46.
Roll On Big Joe was the first to work over the freshly renovated track immediately after the second break, completing five furlongs in 24.50 seconds, 49.60, and 1:01.60 while traveling easily at the end.
Forever Young continues to get a little busier with each passing day since his arrival mid-week, while Magnitude continues to get stronger the farther he goes during routine gallops on a regular basic exiting his good-looking work here last Saturday. Sovereignty made a very favorable impression of his own this morning while his stablemate Knightsbridge trained in a Classic saddle towel this morning after wearing the Dirt Mile cloth on Thursday.
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