Breeders' Cup workouts: Palace Malice breezes sharp five furlongs
ELMONT, N.Y. – It was another busy morning for Breeders’ Cup hopefuls in New York on Sunday, and a very busy morning for jockey John Velazquez. Velazquez was aboard four of the Cup contenders to work here Sunday, including three within about a 45-minute span after the renovation break.
Sunday also proved to be a busy and productive morning for trainer Chad Brown, who sent out eight likely Breeders’ Cup starters to work. Seven of those works came over the turf, the eighth by Summer Applause, who got the day started with an encouraging drill over the main track shortly after dawn.
As was the case the previous morning, there was a little chill in the air when the main track opened at 5:30 a.m., with clear skies and perfect conditions prevailing at all venues.[bc_video_id:307822:]
Dirt tracks:
Palace Malice (Classic) – The final Breeders’ Cup worker of the day, his appearance was briefly delayed while Velazquez finished up turf obligations for trainers Shug McGaughey and Brown over at the main track. But the Belmont Stakes winner was worth the wait, as he turned in the best move of the day, going five furlongs in 59.95 seconds with Velazquez sitting chilly all the way.
Palace Malice posted splits of 24.32 and 35.82 seconds for his opening three-eighths, came home a final quarter without urging in 24.13, then galloped out eagerly as always, completing six furlongs in 1:13.07 before pulling up seven-eighths in 1:27.99. Rating: A-
Summer Applause (Filly and Mare Sprint) – Not a fast final time over what was a lively main track Sunday, a half-mile in an average-looking 49.54 in company with the versatile stakes winner Street Secret. But what caught the eye was the way Summer Applause finished and, even more so, galloped out, shading 24 for her final quarter before galloping out another two furlongs past the wire in 25.16 to pull up six panels in 1:14.70. Rating: B+
Havana (Juvenile) – The first of Velazquez’s four workers and another who did his best work past the wire, galloping out very willingly after an easy half-mile in 49.12 on the training track to complete five-eighths in 1:01.96 before pulling up six furlongs in 1:15.19 and seven-eighths in 1:29.72. Rating: B+
Graydar (Classic) – Worked in company with Fantasy of Flight, a multiple graded stakes-placed mare, over the training track and clearly was best of the team coming to the wire, with his partner put to urging to keep up during the latter stages, albeit with a final quarter in a modest 25.09. Graydar was asked to go on after the wire and did not respond as readily as expected, galloping out another furlong into the turn in 14.25. Rating: B-
Turf course:
Point of Entry (Turf) – With Velazquez up, Point of Entry drilled five-eighths around the dogs in 1:02.10 and responded willingly enough to late pressure before appearing to get a little tired nearing the wire, with just an average-looking gallop-out. Rating: B
Real Solution (Turf) – Worked five-eighths outside and in company with fellow Grade 1-winning mate Big Blue Kitten and clearly was the best of this team today, shading 23 for the final quarter-mile while well within himself throughout before galloping out three to four lengths clear of his mate into the turn. Rating: A-
Big Blue Kitten (Turf) – This Grade 1 winner had trouble keeping pace with Real Solution through the late stages of their 1:02.54 five-furlong drill, finishing a half-length back under pressure, then falling back several lengths galloping out another furlong or so past the finish line. Rating: B
Granny Mc’s Kitten (Juvenile Fillies Turf) – With Joel Rosario up, she went in company with Testa Rossi, the pair completing the final quarter of a 49.58 maintenance-looking half-mile in 23.27 without much need of urging to the wire. Rating: B
Testa Rossi (Juvenile Fillies Turf) – Easy maintenance half-mile just two weeks removed from her winning U.S. debut; finished willingly enough in company with Granny Mc’s Kitten without being asked. Rating: B
Kitten Kaboodle (Juvenile Fillies Turf) – I had to scoot from the main track to the training track to catch Classic workers and got only a ground-level look of the remaining turf trials, including this one, in which Kitten Kaboodle clearly got the best of workmate La Reine Bourbon coming to the wire before galloping away strongly into the turn. Rating: B+
Ready to Act (Juvenile Fillies Turf) – Appeared to be under less pressure coming to the wire than workmate Watsdachances after an easy-looking half-mile. Rating: B
Bobby’s Kitten (Juvenile Turf) – The likely favorite for the Juvenile Turf made a great impression, according to colleague David Grening, who said he broke off three lengths behind workmate Storming Inti, readily drew even coming to the quarter pole, then finished on even terms while having plenty left in reserve at the wire. Rating: B+