Brown works six Breeders' Cup prospects on turf

ELMONT, N.Y. - As it pertained to the Breeders’ Cup, it was all about the turf Sunday at Belmont Park with 11 horses with designs on running in a Breeders’ Cup grass race in less than two weeks putting in workouts on a cold, clear morning on Long Island.

Eight of those horses utilized the Belmont turf course for their works while three others breezed on dirt. Some of the 11 are not guaranteed a spot in the Breeders’ Cup and may not find out their fate until pre-entries are announced on Wednesday.

Trainer Chad Brown, who may pre-enter as many as 13 horses in the Breeders’ Cup, worked six horses on turf Sunday, led by the duo of Stephanie’s Kitten and Dacita, who worked a half-mile in 49.55 seconds together in preparation for a start in the Filly and Mare Turf.

The two were basically head and head throughout the move, with Dacita, under Javier Castellano, on the outside of Stephanie’s Kitten and exercise rider Walter Melasquez.

It was the first work for Stephanie’s Kitten since her victory in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on Oct. 3. It was the sixth work for Dacita since her victory in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga on Aug. 29, her only start in the United States after coming here from Chile. This was the first time Dacita worked with Stephanie’s Kitten and she more than held her own.

“She can be a bit quirky to train,” Brown said of Dacita. “I’ve seen her improve in that area. Mentally, she’s gaining confidence in her surroundings and the people around her. She’s traveling straighter than when she first arrived. Overall, she’s chilled out a bit is really the main thing.”

Brown’s third Filly and Mare Turf contender, Watsdachances, breezed a half-mile in 50.09 seconds in company with Danza Cavallo. They went the first quarter in 14.46 seconds.

“They went off slow and came home fast,” said Brown, who added that Danza Cavallo is pointing to the Grade 3 Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 7.

Last Waltz, a 2-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Danehill Dancer, worked four furlongs in 50.22 in company with allowance-type Regardez. Last Waltz went a final quarter in 23.11 seconds. It was the first work since arriving in Brown’s barn a little more than a week ago.

“I’ve only had her a week out of quarantine. I gave her a breeze and I liked what I saw,” Brown said. “She came home good and she’s a good-sized 2-year-old.”

Another of Brown’s Juvenile Fillies Turf prospects, Llanita, worked five furlongs in 1:02.24 in company with the 2-year-old colt Ray’s the Bar, who is pointing to the Juvenile Turf. They got their final quarter in 23.24 seconds.

Llanita is a maiden who finished fourth in the Grade 3 Miss Grillo and is not guaranteed a spot in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Ray’s the Bar won a maiden race in Britain and was a trouble-trip third behind Isotherm and Azar in the Grade 3 Pilgrim.

Brown said Sunday morning he is contemplating pre-entering Pricedtoperfection in the Juvenile Fillies Turf after she won a maiden race Saturday by three lengths at Belmont Park. She finished third to Tin Type Gal in her debut and was going to run in the Miss Grillo - won by Tin Type Gal - but missed the race due to a bruised foot.

“We always thought she was one of our best 2-year-old filly prospects,” Brown said. “She had a wide trip to Tin Type Gal and probably should have beaten her in a maiden race. She got a much better trip this time and won.”

Brown’s other Juvenile Turf prospect, Camelot Kitten, worked four furlongs in 49.60 Saturday on dirt at Keeneland.

Other horses Brown plans to pre-enter on Monday are Big Blue Kitten, Shining Copper, and Slumber for the Turf; Wavell Avenue for the Filly and Mare Sprint, and Bobby’s Kitten for the Turf Sprint.

Also working on turf Sunday with the Breeders’ Cup in mind were Recepta and Time and Motion, both for trainer Jimmy Toner. Recepta, whom Toner is hoping to get into the Filly and Mare Turf, worked a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.37, shading 23 seconds for her final quarter.

“She went easy last week and I needed her to pick it up today and she did,” Toner said. “She went off nice and comfortable and finished really good. It sets her up well; hopefully we get to run.”

Recepta is coming off consecutive stakes victories in the listed De La Rose and Grade 3 Noble Damsel.

Time and Motion, winless in two starts, worked five furlongs in 1:02.41 and would appear to need some luck to crack the Juvenile Fillies Turf lineup.

Tom Albertrani worked BC Turf contender Twilight Eclipse and BC Turf Sprint hopeful Ready for Rye separately and on dirt Sunday morning. Twilight Eclipse went five furlongs in 1:02.43 with jockey Chris DeCarlo in the irons. He got his final quarter in 23.75. Albertrani caught his last eighth in less than 12 seconds.

“I thought he worked well,” Albertrani said. “That horse has been so consistent the last couple of years. He’s just on cruise control all the time.”

Ready for Rye worked a half-mile in 49 seconds and is being pointed to the Turf Sprint if he can get in. The move was faster than several of his previous moves.

“We just wanted him to do a little bit more,” Albertrani said.

Also working on dirt for a potential start in the Filly and Mare Turf was Hard Not to Like, who went five furlongs in 1:02.46, breezing from the half-mile pole to a furlong past the wire.

Hard Not to Like is a multiple Grade 1 winner this year who is coming off an eighth-place finish in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at 1 1/4 miles.

Trainer Christophe Clement said he was happy with the way Hard Not to Like worked and would consult owner Peter Fuller before determining whether or not to pre-enter in the Breeders’ Cup.