Breeders' Cup Clocker: Pletcher runners steal the show
KEENELAND
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 41
Track: Fast, turf firm
LEXINGTON, Ky. – As has been the case on several occasions during the current Keeneland meet, trainer Todd Pletcher took center stage here Friday. This time during training hours when sending out three of the biggest names slated to compete on Breeders’ Cup Saturday – Life Is Good, Malathaat, and Nest – to turn in their penultimate works for the Classic and Distaff on another cool, crisp Kentucky morning with temperatures struggling to reach 40 degrees when the track opened for training at 5:30 a.m. Eastern.
LIFE IS GOOD went solo as usual and was never asked for his best, also as usual. The four-time Grade 1 winner breezed five furlongs in 1:00.42, completing his final quarter in 24.02, then galloping out six panels in 1:13.25 and seven-eighths in 1:26.60 before pulling up a mile in 1:40.18 over a fresh track immediately after the second renovation break.
Good stuff by any standards, although visually he just did not seem quite as impressive as he had been all summer at Saratoga when absolutely dragging regular exercise rider Amelia Green out of the saddle on a regular basis during a series of eye-catching gallop-outs that seemed to go on forever.
MALATHAAT and NEST worked in company and seemed as sharp as ever, Malathaat nearest the rail with her ears pricked while holding a slim edge over her younger mate after a super easy, maintenance-like half-mile in 24.22 and 48.52. The pair continued on five furlongs into the turn in 1:01.08 before easing up six panels in 1:13.94, both giving every indication they’re sitting on another top effort when they meet for the first time in the afternoon on Breeders’ Cup Saturday.
WONDER WHEEL got things started immediately after the track opened, breezing a very strong and easy half-mile in the dark in 47.74 before punctuating the drill with a big gallop-out, easing up after six furlongs in 1:14.13. She appears to have suffered no ill effects from her gutsy victory here on opening day in the Ashland.
FREE LOOK was trainer Chad Brown’s lone Breeders’ Cup worker Friday morning, holding her own in company with the older, multiple Grade 3-winning turf specialist Dolce Zel, both completing an easy half in 49.40 after easing away from the four-furlong marker, the team shading 36 for their final three-eighths over the main track.
HAPPY SAVER had Never Change for a workmate and a set of blinkers on this morning to go four furlongs in 48.48, breaking off about 1 1/2 lengths behind his partner, joining up quickly after an opening furlong before galloping out slightly second-best under a tad more encouragement in 1:01.29. Happy Saver has not worn blinkers in any of his 12 previous starts.
Pletcher also was prominent during turf works when putting ANNAPOLIS and MAJOR DUDE in company to breeze a half-mile in 48.20 and gallop out five-eighths in 1:01.08, both shading 23 for the final quarter while going easily throughout. Annapolis held the edge to and through the wire while saving ground inside his mate. Although the dogs were up on the turf course this morning, Annapolis and Major Dude worked well inside the cones near the inner rail.
CAMPANELLE was full of run leaving the five-furlong pole, as is customary for many Wesley Ward workers over the grass, completing the distance in 1:01.78 off splits of 24.33 and 37.77 around those wide dogs. She did ease up fairly quickly once through the wire.
WEBSLINGER finished full of run, also shading 24 down the lane, completing a half in 48.67, although he did have his head cocked out a bit during the latter stages while getting one crack of the stick as a reminder approaching the wire. He galloped out five-eighths in 1:02.09.
DELIGHT and stablemate BORN DAPPER walked away from the half-mile marker in a leisurely 14 seconds before covering their final three furlongs around the dogs in 36.87, Delight breaking about a half-length back before sticking his head in front at the wire. The pair posted the strongest “double out” of the morning, sustaining big energy into and around the relatively tight clubhouse turn before pulling up after a full six furlongs.
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