Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Three Rules sizzles in five-furlong workout

Three Rules, undefeated in five career starts, blazed five furlongs in 57.64 seconds Friday morning at Gulfstream Park in his last serious move before the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita next Saturday.

With a strong wind at his back, Three Rules, under exercise rider Patrick Harris, was timed by track clockers in fractions of 21.80 for the quarter-mile and 32.80 for three furlongs, and he galloped out five furlongs in 1:12.40. It was the fastest of 21 moves at the distance, with the second-fastest time 57.88 seconds.

“It was faster than what we wanted but he came out of it pretty good,” trainer Jose Pinchin said. “Hey, last week was perfect, this week not perfect. What can we do?

“It is what it is. He was scoped after; everything was good.”

Last week, Three Rules worked five furlongs in 1:00 at Gulfstream.

Three Rules, who dominated the Florida Sire Stakes series this summer and fall, will now have a laborious trip out west. He was scheduled to leave Gulfstream by van at noon Saturday and head to Louisville, Ky., arriving Sunday. On Monday, he will catch an early morning flight to Southern California.

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Pinchin said Three Rules would have an easy morning Tuesday, perhaps a visit to the paddock or starting gate, before galloping Wednesday through Friday.

Cornelio Velasquez will ride Three Rules. He is currently riding in Saudi Arabia but is expected to arrive at Santa Anita on Wednesday, according to Pinchin.

– additional reporting by Mike Welsch