Clocker: Baffert puts three BC entrants through works

SANTA ANITA
Track: Fast
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 67

ARCADIA, Calf. - A relatively quiet Sunday at Santa Anita, where only seven potential Breeders’ Cup starters worked, all pretty much in maintenance mode with less than a week to go before the main event.

The main track was tight and fast with cloudy skies prevailing throughout the morning.

Trainer Bob Baffert dominated the session, sending out three of the seven Breeders’ Cup workers, led by DORTMUND, the likely favorite for the Dirt Mile, and DREFONG, who figures to have a big say in the Sprint.

Dortmund, with his Breeders’ Cup jockey Martin Garcia aboard, worked in company with Ten Blessings and went an easy-as-can-be five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 1:00.79 while posting splits of 23.62 and 47.40 along the way. Dortmund, in blinkers, was under a big hold early after breaking a length behind his mate, drew even at the quarter pole and just cruised to and through the wire before easing up quickly once completing the impressive-looking drill on the point of the clubhouse turn.

Drefong will also be ridden by Garcia, in the Sprint, and he was aboard for this work as well. The King’s Bishop winner broke nearest the rail at the 4 1/2 furlong pole inside an eager Mor Spirit and maintained a short advantage over his stablemate throughout while going easily the entire way. He registered splits of 23.65 and 48.08 before completing the distance a sixteenth of a mile beyond the wire in 1:00.10 while also with blinkers.

GUN RUNNER was the first worker of the morning and looked very sharp, breezing a very easy, maintenance half-mile in 24.41, 48.53, quicker than usual for a Steve Asmussen trainee five days out from the race. Gun Runner galloped out well, in 1:02.05, and appears to be going into the Dirt Mile on top of his game.

DELTA BLUESMAN was a bit rank and eager to begin approaching the half-mile pole, covering his opening quarter in 23.23 before coming to hand to complete his easy half-mile in 47.32, also for the Sprint.

CARINA MIA and TOURIST made it a very good morning for trainer Bill Mott, both breezing easy half-miles punctuated by strong finishes and an energetic gallop out. Carina Mia, traditionally a good work horse, was first up, going four furlongs in 47.91, her final quarter in 23.28, ears pricked at the wire, before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.74. Tourist was the final Breeders’ Cup worker of the day, nearly duplicating Carina Mia’s effort, cruising a half-mile in 47.87, coming home in 23.47, before going out five-eighths in a solid 1:00.56. He’s made a particularly good impression all week, with this a very encouraging move for a turf specialist on the dirt.

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