Breeders' Cup: Napoleon Solo gets competitive in blazing six-furlong work

ELMONT, N.Y. – Preakness winner Napoleon Solo won’t have any problem coming from off the pace in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Friday at Belmont Park, Napoleon Solo worked six furlongs in 1:10.67 over the main track, getting his last quarter under urging from Emily Ellingwood in 22.04 seconds as he passed, on the inside, a pair of horses working for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. That pair, which were not scheduled company, had to be about 12 lengths in front of Napoleon Solo when he began his work at the six-furlong pole.

“They’re both just competitive,” trainer Chad Summers said, referring to Ellingwood and Napoleon Solo. “He’s not a horse that’s going to hang out eight lengths behind them. . . . When he’s on his ‘A’ game, there’s not a better work horse in the country than him.”

Coming off a five-furlong work in 58 seconds on Oct. 1, when Napoleon Solo worked in company, Summers wasn’t necessarily looking for another fast work on a gorgeous Friday morning on Long Island. Napoleon Solo went off a very reasonable opening eighth in 13.22 and a quarter in 25.65. But he must have took note of the pair of workers ahead of him and decided to he wanted to catch them as he got his last half in 45.02.

Napoleon Solo came from off the pace to win the Preakness. He set the pace in the Haskell and Travers, both races in which he was beaten a half-length.

“His last race might have been his best race yet, but his last race wasn’t good enough to win the Breeders’ Cup,” Summers said. “You have to continue to improve; a regression is not going to put him on the podium.”

Initially, Summers said he planned to work Napoleon Solo next Friday and then ship the following day to Keeneland, where he will have one more work a week before the Breeders’ Cup. Summers said he may elect to open gallop Napoleon Solo next Friday, but will decide that as the week goes along.

Summers said that Napoleon Solo would be pre-entered in both the Classic and Dirt Mile, but all signs indicate he will run in the Classic.