Breeders' Cup Clocker: Only four potential starters work; three from Asmussen
KEENELAND
Weather: Cloudy
Track: Fast
Temp: 55
LEXINGTON, Ky. - After having more than 60 Breeders’ Cup contenders work at Keeneland over the past two mornings, the clocker’s tab was a light one, as expected, here Sunday. Only four potential Breeders’ Cup starters breezed during the morning, with three from the potent barn of trainer Steve Asmussen, who brings a strong hand to the table for the big event next weekend.
The skies were overcast, with the rain that was originally forecast for early Sunday morning holding off until the end of training hours. The turf course was open for business this morning, but there were no takers, workers or otherwise, with the European invaders still making their way through the quarantine procedure and not expected to be on track locally until Monday at the earliest.
Asmussen sent out a trio of Breeders’ Cup hopefuls for typical maintenance-type breezes less than a week out before their respective races. The group was led by top Classic contender EPICENTER, who cruised a leisurely half-mile in 51.29 seconds before easing up well off the rail into the clubhouse turn. Epicenter seems to do his best work in the morning with company, as was the case last Sunday when he went an impressive five furlongs punctuated by a very strong gallop out.
GRAND LOVE was the first of the Asmussen Breeders’ Cup contingent to breeze today under the cover of darkness, going an easy half-mile in 50.59 while well-held to finish before also easing up and off the rail once through the wire. She, too, is coming off a very solid work, in company, here a week earlier.
The speedy SOCIETY was hard to throttle down for a mere maintenance work this morning, swinging a bit wide off the turn before completing a half-mile under a strong hold in 49.78 while still full of herself going out in 1:04.00. Society remains in top form in preparation for the Distaff.
The only real serious work of the morning came from Filly and Mare Sprint contender EDGEWAY who, like last week, was on the track and ready to get down to business just moments after the tractors came off following the first renovation break. Edgeway eased away from the five-furlong pole under exercise rider/assistant trainer Juan Leyva, ultimately completing the distance in 1:00.18, her final half in 47.55 while never extended at any point. She pulled up after three-quarters in a sharp 1:13.72. Must respect this gal off what she’s shown since shipping locally from Santa Anita along with stablemate Flightline.
A couple of turf horses who made a nice impression galloping over the main track this morning included HIGHLAND CHIEF for trainer Graham Motion preparing for the Turf, and trainer Wayne Catalano’s promising 2-year-old ANDTHEWINNERIS eyeing the Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday.
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