Breeders' Cup workouts: Hymn Book, My Conquestadory get drills in
Belmont Park
Clear
Temperature: 47
Main track: Fast
ELMONT, N.Y. – As expected, Monday was a quiet morning at Belmont Park on the Breeders’ Cup watch, with Hymn Book the only prospective starter to breeze over a somewhat cuppy racetrack shortly after dawn. A similar scenario took place in Kentucky, where the undefeated My Conquestadory, a leading candidate for both the Juvenile Fillies and Juvenile Fillies Turf, was the lone Cup worker at Churchill Downs.
Hymn Book (Dirt Mile) – Worked in company with the 2-year-old maiden Mischieviously for trainer Shug McGaughey. Began slowly, negotiating his opening quarter in 26.16 seconds before picking up the pace under little urging down the stretch. The two finished on even terms after a half-mile in 50.62. Hymn Book, who has never been known to light it up in the morning, did his best work after the wire, galloping out five-eighths in 1:03.36 before pulling up six furlongs in 1:16.54. Rating: B
My Conquestadory (Juvenile Fillies or Juvenile Fillies Turf) – With Eurico Rosa Da Silva aboard at Churchill Downs, My Conquestadory started two lengths behind Phenomenalmoon and went in 25.34 and 36.88 to the top of the lane. She was then asked a bit down the lane to draw even at the wire in 1:01.54 for five furlongs. She galloped out well in 1:14.72 for six furlongs. This was a solid work, and she handled the Churchill dirt surface just fine. Rating: B
Reviewing the weekend
With more than two dozen potential Breeders’ Cup starters still in New York, the weekend was a busy one at Belmont Park, with several horses making very favorable impressions in their penultimate works prior to the main event at Santa Anita on Nov. 1-2. Here are the top five:
1. Palace Malice (Classic) – He impressed on a regular basis during training hours this summer at Saratoga and signaled he continues to maintain his top form by cruising through an easy five furlongs over the training track in 59.95 on Sunday under jockey John Velazquez. He finished with good energy before galloping out willingly, as usual, around the turn, completing six furlongs in 1:13.07 before pulling up seven-eighths in 1:27.90. Grade: A-
2. Real Solution (Turf) – Got the best of regular workmate and fellow Grade 1 winner Big Blue Kitten on a couple of occasions this summer at the Spa and did so again Sunday during an easy but very impressive five-furlong move in 1:02.54. He finished a half-length best while well in hand before galloping out many lengths clear into the turn. Rating: A-
3. Royal Delta (Distaff) – The reigning filly and mare champ turned in an eye-catching move here at Belmont Park two weeks prior to winning the 2012 Ladies’ Classic and looked every bit as sharp again Saturday morning, breezing five-eighths in 59.88 while in hand to the wire. She shaded 24 for her final quarter before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.98 and pulling up seven-eighths in 1:27.63. Looks ready for another big effort in the Cup. Rating: B+
4. Artemis Agrotera (Juvenile Fillies) – Another horse who really impressed all summer at Saratoga, and she continues to hold her best form after posting a sizzling but relatively easy half-mile in 46.64 over a lightning-fast strip Friday. She continued willingly past the wire, galloping out five-eighths in 59.43 before pulling up six furlongs in 1:13.58. Rating: B+
5. Close Hatches (Distaff) – Really liked the way she finished and galloped out after covering five furlongs in 1:00.42 on Saturday morning. She completed her final quarter – doing it easily – in 23.63 and out six furlongs in 1:13.58. Rating: B+
– additional reporting by Michael Vesce