Breeders' Cup clocker: Melatonin becomes workaholic ahead of Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – A cool, crisp morning for Breeders’ Cup horses training at Santa Anita on Wednesday was marred at the very end when Metaboss was pulled up by his rider near the quarter pole during a routine gallop over the turf course and was vanned off with a career-ending injury.

The entire contingent of Breeders’ Cup runners is now on the grounds, several making their first appearance on the track Wednesday since arriving from out of town. Only two horses worked Wednesday, Melatonin over the main track for the Classic and Nuovo Record on grass for the Filly and Mare Turf.

MELATONIN has been just about the most active Breeders’ Cup contender here of late, with Wednesday’s half-mile breeze his third official work in an 11-day span, and he certainly has shown no wear and tear from that busy schedule. With regular rider Joe Talamo aboard, Melatonin broke off at the half-mile pole, relaxing nicely and turning in an even, maintenance-type move, posting a 23.87-second quarter-mile split before completing the distance, going easily throughout, in 47.98.

Talamo didn’t allow him to do too much on the gallop-out just 72 hours ahead of his race, the two-time Grade 1 winner pulling up five furlongs in 1:02.24. He’s made a good impression in all three recent works but obviously faces a daunting task against California Chrome and Arrogate in the main event.

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NUOVO RECORD has done little more than jog and gallop easily, mostly over the training track, since arriving from Japan last week but was really allowed to stretch her legs Wednesday. Nuovo Record galloped with good energy to the three-eighths pole, where she angled down to the rail and breezed to the wire in 38.81 while on her left lead through the stretch before continuing out strongly around the clubhouse turn and beyond. This was by far her best morning since coming stateside.

Among those who made terrific first impressions Wednesday were A. P. INDIAN (Sprint) and IRONICUS (Mile).

A. P. Indian proved to be a real handful for his rider, especially when galloping through the wire the final time. Trainer Arnaud Delacour said afterward, “He’s usually not that strong, but it was his first day here. To me, it’s a very good sign.”

Ironicus looked very happy and healthy while galloping strongly in the dark in advance of the Mile, a race in which he figures to be among the favorites.

Among the Europeans who visited the turf for the second time Wednesday, it was noteworthy that ULYSSES (Turf) never turned a hair in the cooler weather after getting very warm the previous morning. LIMATO (Mile) was really enjoying himself, throwing in a couple of bucks and kicks prior to switching leads approaching the wire during his routine gallop.

The following are thoughts regarding recent workouts by a few key horses racing on Friday’s Breeders’ Cup card.

Juvenile Turf

Both GOOD SAMARITAN and BIG SCORE are coming into the race off very strong moves, with Good Samaritan striding out beautifully while breezing on the grass here Monday and Big Score finishing strong under a big hold while working on the dirt four days earlier.

Dirt Mile

DORTMUND had his big work Oct. 25, going five furlongs in 59.86, finishing strong while just being nudged along at the end before galloping out extremely well under urging into and around the turn.

RUNHAPPY was a bit reluctant to go to the pole, but once dropping down on the rail, he looked like the same horse who had trained so brilliantly prior to his victory a year ago in the Sprint at Keeneland. He went five furlongs from the half-mile marker in 58.55, going easily throughout, under the cover of darkness Oct. 29, although his ability to get a mile against the likes of Dortmund and company remains a question.

Distaff

Each of the big three in this race has looked good in the last couple of weeks. SONGBIRD, a superior work horse, was absolutely cruising during a maintenance-type five-furlong breeze in 1:01.63 on Oct. 27. BEHOLDER has been in beast mode, sandwiching some eye-catching gallops around a very solid six-furlong work in 1:14 and change with jockey Gary Stevens aboard shortly after Songbird worked Oct. 27.

Stevens also was up on STELLAR WIND, who has a reputation for being just an average work horse, during a serious six-furlong drill in 1:13.15 on Oct. 28. She finished the work strong and galloped out nicely while in company with the millionaire Grade 1 winner Hard Aces.

The complete Daily Racing Form workout report for Friday and Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup cards can be purchased here.