Breeders' Cup Clocker: Starting gate popular spot on a hectic morning
KEENELAND
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 49
Track: Fast
Turf: Good
LEXINGTON, KY – With every Breeders’ Cup starter required to be on the grounds by 11 a.m. Tuesday, Keeneland was a beehive of activity throughout training hours Wednesday. One of the most popular spots was the starting gate, which hosted dozens of schoolers throughout the course of the morning, including the entire contingent from the barn of trainer Aidan O’Brien.
As always, the man of the hour was FLIGHTLINE, who was among the first horses out on the track, turning in another flawless session in preparation for his role as the overwhelming favorite in the Classic.
RICH STRIKE, who had his final serious work Oct. 25, was asked to pick things up a notch or two in lieu of another official breeze, cruising along for a full mile at a two-minute clip while looking good doing so Wednesday morning.
HOT ROD CHARLIE reined it in a bit after flying around here Tuesday, although he was allowed to stretch it out some, completing his final three-eighths in 42.40 from the wire out, before pulling up near the five-furlong marker.
TAIBA was out for just a leisurely stroll but looked happy, with his ears up, passing by the grandstand. LIFE IS GOOD was among the first horses to school at the gate early this morning before turning in another strong but restrained gallop, while OLYMPIAD made yet another excellent appearance during his routine gallop.
CHAIN OF LOVE was the only 2022 Breeders’ Cup starter to turn in an official work Wednesday, breezing five furlongs in 1:04.09, easing away from the pole in 14 and change before completing her final quarter under moderate urging in 23.53 for the Filly and Mare Sprint.
Like Hot Rod Charlie on Tuesday, several of his Breeders’ Cup-bound stablemates from the Doug O’Neill barn were really trucking out there Wednesday, including AWAKE AT MIDNYTE and SLOW DOWN ANDY, both completing a full mile under the cover of darkness in 1:48 and change.
RECKONING FORCE had an unofficial blowout down the lane and through the finish line while equipped in blinkers, which he will wear for the first time Friday in the Juvenile Turf. Mile hopeful MALAVATH had a spirited run of his own down the stretch, equipped with blinkers as well, although he does not wear the shades when he races.
Trainer Chad Brown’s potent group of Breeders’ Cup runners all had themselves another good morning, with BLAZING SEVENS and REGAL GLORY both catching the eye. The same can be said, once again, for the energetic WONDER WHEEL, who seems to be thriving for Mark Casse coming out of her victory in the Alcibiades.
The turf course, which took quite a bit of rain on Sunday, remains on the softer side, at least near the outer rail where all grass training takes place each morning. The strip hosted more than a dozen potential Breeders’ Cup starters Wednesday, seven of whom hail from the barn of trainer Charlie Appleby. All turned in fairly spirited gallops over the boggy ground. A bit earlier, DRAMATISED (Juvenile Turf Sprint) had herself a little quarter-mile blowout as well while testing the course for the first time since getting out of quarantine, switching back to her left lead before completing the distance in 25.40 while well reserved throughout.
Trainer Bob Baffert sent SPEED BOAT BEACH out to get a feel for the course for the first time. The undefeated and lightning fast youngster will likely be a major pace factor and among the key contenders Friday in the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
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