Brown contenders get in workouts ahead of Breeders' Cup
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though he couldn’t completely beat the rain that fell Friday morning, trainer Chad Brown was able to get six potential Breeders’ Cup contenders their important workouts over a decent Belmont Park main track in preparation for the Nov. 3-4 event at Santa Anita.
Following a heavy rain shower, Zandon, the Grade 2 Woodward winner and live longshot for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, began the proceedings shortly after 6:30 a.m., going a half-mile in 49.66 seconds. He got his last quarter in 24.19 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.40.
“He’s holding his form. This is just maintenance stuff. He’s doing very well,” Brown said.
Search Results, one of two horses Brown is pointing to the Distaff, worked a half-mile in 49.33 seconds, getting her final three furlongs in 36.29 and then galloping out six furlongs in 1:02.99.
“I thought Search Results was exceptional. She’s in top, top form for her last career start,” Brown said.
Randomized, also pointing to the Distaff, went a half-mile in 49.63 seconds while galloping out five furlongs in 1:03.47. She went in the second set of workers, just after 7 a.m.
“I let her stretch her legs a little bit and came back a little bit quicker than I normally do after a race, but because of the weather I did it and I thought she went fine,” Brown said.
Goodnight Olive, looking for a repeat victory in the Filly and Mare Sprint, worked immediately after Search Results and went a half-mile in 49.79 seconds, getting her last quarter in 24.07 seconds.
“Goodnight Olive did her normal work, right on par for what she does,” Brown said.
General Partner, the Grade 1 Champagne runner-up, worked a half-mile in 48.88 seconds for a possible start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Brown said he is still in discussions with owner Seth Klarman about whether to run in the Juvenile, though Brown said the horse would be pre-entered by Monday’s deadline as he would like to watch another workout next week.
“Do I want to go a mile and a sixteenth with this horse against a really strong group?” Brown said. “He’s had three career starts, he has good experience, he has good tactical speed – potentially could be controlling speed in the race. I’d like to see him back on a dry track. I need to talk to Seth about this and make a joint decision.”
McKulick, pointing to the Filly and Mare Turf, worked a half-mile in 50.22 seconds in company with Fluffy Socks over the main track. Brown was pleased enough with the work, noting that McKulick typically works on turf, but that is not available at Belmont due to construction.
Brown did add Adhamo to his list of Breeders’ Cup pre-entrants, saying he would be pre-entered in the Turf. Adhamo, who finished third in the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine, is at Saratoga where on Friday he worked a half-mile in 49.95 seconds over the turf.
Brown said Adhamo may have been compromised by soft turf at Woodbine. Adhamo won last year's Grade 1 United Nations over firm Monmouth turf.
Brown has Gina Romantica and In Italian at Keeneland where he was hoping to work those two on the turf Saturday, weather permitting. While both horses will be cross-entered in the Filly and Mare Turf and Mile, Brown said he is leaning toward the Mile with Gina Romantica and is undecided where to run In Italian, the runner-up in last year’s Filly and Mare Turf.
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