Breeders' Cup Clocker: Sovereignty joined by Telescopic, T Kraft, Listenupshance

KEENELAND
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026
Weather: Clear 
Temperature: 51
Track: Fast 
Turf: Good

LEXINGTON, KY. - Sunday turned out to be relatively uneventful on the Breeders’ Cup workout front following a chaotic morning just 24 hours earlier, except for a few brief moments after the second renovation break, when reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty came out on a totally deserted racetrack to turn in one of the more crucial breezes in the lead-up to this year’s program.

With regular work rider Neil Poznansky aboard, Sovereignty broke off about a length behind his regular work partner Thunder Roll and rated off his target through an opening quarter-mile in 25.09 seconds. Sovereignty joined his mate settling into the stretch, then stuck his head in front at the wire after a strong finish, completing four furlongs in a sharp 48.37 without being asked for his best. He then sustained good momentum on the gallop out, getting five-eighths in 1:00.83 before easing up six panels in 1:15.70.

:: ON SALE NOW: DRF Breeders' Cup Packages! Get everything you need to win and save big.

Not the flashiest of works seen here this week, but a solid effort coming off the slower and deeper surface he trains over regularly at the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga. And surely more than enough to solidify his spot in the starting gate coming off the extended layoff in this year’s Classic.

With the clock ticking down to Breeders’ Cup Friday and Saturday, the majority of the other main track works earlier in the day were maintenance-like in design. Starting with Telescopic’s easy half-mile working outside company in 48.95. It was punctuated by a nice gallop out in 1:01.63 for the grass specialist on dirt who still appears to need a little help to crack the starting lineup for the Turf.

The other main track workers on Sunday included the Sprint-bound pair of Listenupshance, who breezed three-eighths in 37.40, and Sovereignty’s stablemate T Kraft, four furlongs in 25.55, 50.67. Dirt Mile hopeful Chunk of Gold, who looked the best of the early group, got his half-mile in 25.75, 49.63 with a big gallop out, five-eighths in 1:02.28 out in 1:16.13.

The turf course will be open for training the rest of the week, with trainer Wesley Ward sending out the only four workers of the morning over the grass. The group was led by Bacio, the one to beat in the Turf Sprint, especially after the way he looked cruising four furlongs in 49.07 and a final quarter split in 25.88, which is a relatively monster clocking over the less-than-firm footing around the very wide dogs.

Bacio’s effort and final time stood out in comparison to his mates Ruiva and No Nay Hudson, who completed the same distance in 51.69 and 54.82 with Fanshell Beach going too slow to even post an official clocking. All were kept on a contained rein over the somewhat boggy going near the outside rail.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.