Breeders' Cup Clocker: Europeans make first appearance on track
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KEENELAND
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 61 degrees
Track: Fast
Turf: Firm
LEXINGTON, KY. – The first sightings of the always powerful European contingent on hand for the Breeders’ Cup highlighted training hours Tuesday at Keeneland, with activity from the new arrivals coming over all three local strips – the main track, training track, and turf course, which was back in business after being closed due to wet conditions Monday.
There were no official workouts recorded for any Breeders’ Cup runners here Tuesday, although if history is any indication, it is likely some of the Europeans will be allowed to stretch their legs and blow out, primarily on the turf, over the next couple of mornings.
Well before any of the Euros hit the track, FLIGHTLINE put in his regular early morning appearance, back to serious work after walking Sunday and merely jogging Monday exiting his crowd-pleasing work here Saturday. And Flightline looked every bit as sharp and strong coming out of that work as he had going in, showing plenty of energy while picking up his pace noticeably, per usual, during the latter stages when full of run around and exiting the clubhouse turn.
LIFE IS GOOD had another good day while also coming out of a strong work last Saturday, looking ready to explode if allowed but under tight restraint throughout his routine gallop, which came in draw reins once again this morning.
HOT ROD CHARLIE, surprisingly, was almost in breeze mode just 72 hours removed from his final serious work for the Classic. “Charlie” was motoring coming by the wire while kept well removed from the rail, completing the final three-eighths of his “gallop” in 41.03 seconds before coming to hand quickly down the backstretch.
OLYMPIAD looked a picture of health as did all the Bill Mott Breeders’ Cup participants to train this morning, relaxing nicely for his routine gallop, which pre-ceded similarly orchestrated sessions for Dirt Mile morning-line favorite CODY’S WISH and stablemate WAR LIKE GODDESS, among the leading players in the Turf.
Major Distaff contenders SOCIETY and MALATHAAT both caught the eye this morning. Society, somewhat like Life Is Good, was hard held while trying to drag herself loose from her exercise rider to do much more if allowed. Malathaat looked very happy, ears up, coming to and through the wire.
Just about everybody around the racetrack, both fans and horsemen alike, paused what they are doing when the Aidan O’Brien army comes out to train for the first time at every Breeders’ Cup venue. This year’s contingent was seven strong going in cavalry-like precision, one behind the next, cantering briskly nearly once around the main track, with none of the group acting up or seemingly turning a hair in their new surroundings.
The same could be said, for the most part, for the powerful eight-horse Godolphin team of trainer Charlie Appleby, all of whom waited for the turf to open just after 9:30 a.m. to canter once around on the outer rail, led by a grand-looking MODERN GAMES and with REBEL’S ROMANCE, morning-line favorite for the Turf, the only member of the group to act up a bit during the session.
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