Clocker: California Chrome works likes he means it

Santa Anita/Los Alamitos

Track: Fast

Weather: Clear

Temp. 68

ARCADIA, Calif. – With rain in the forecast, Thursday suddenly became the work day of choice for many Breeders’ Cup contenders, including five members of the prospective Classic field, led by California Chrome, who worked over his home course at Los Alamitos. Also working Thursday were Distaff rivals Songbird and Beholder at Santa Anita.

The main track at Santa Anita, which seemed to have tightened up some following light showers earlier in the week, appeared to be a bit on the cuppy side again for the nearly 180 horses who filled out the morning’s extremely busy work tab.

CLASSIC

CALIFORNIA CHROME – He worked five furlongs in 59 seconds and continued out six furlongs in 1:12.08 as timed by Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman. After watching the tape of the drill, we agreed it was a much more impressive move than we’d witnessed at Los Alamitos just five days earlier.

California Chrome, working once again in blinkers, showed more interest early and finished with his usual great energy but without needing the moderate encouragement he was given near the end of his previous work. Off this move, it’s hard to expect anything but another huge performance in the Classic.

MELATONIN – Like California Chrome, this two-time Grade 1 winner came back on five days’ rest. And like California Chrome, Melatonin responded with a strong effort with blinkers on.

Melatonin, with Joe Talamo up, broke off a half-length behind a stablemate, rated through splits of 23.75 and 35.67, got fanned about four paths wide off the turn, drew even with his target near the eighth pole, and, despite leaning in a tad through midstretch, edged 1 1/2 lengths clear after five furlongs in 59.67. Melatonin continued out six furlongs in 1:12.98 while tapped once to keep him about his business nearing the seven-eighths pole, pulling up seven furlongs in 1:27.45 and galloping out a long way down the backstretch. Fitness will not be an issue here.

FROSTED – Unlike the other Classic hopefuls, he was given just a maintenance breeze and couldn’t have done it any easier or looked any better. He turned in an even half-mile in 48.23, with a first quarter in 24.15, before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.59. He continues to make a very favorable impression since arriving from New York.

NYQUIST – His move was botched when workmate Ralis broke off at the seven-furlong pole, some 15 to 20 lengths in front. Ralis had to wait on the Kentucky Derby winner, who made up most of the ground through a 38.53-second opening three-eighths. With Mario Gutierrez up, Nyquist angled over to the rail and finally poked his head in front near the eighth pole, maintaining a short advantage under urging to the wire after covering seven furlongs in 1:27.62. He galloped out a mile in 1:41.80.

This certainly was not his best work, although there were extenuating circumstances.

WIN THE SPACE – This was an okay six furlongs for a Classic longshot. With Gary Stevens aboard and the horse wearing blinkers, he went four furlongs in 48.61 and completed six furlongs in 1:13.16, out seven furlongs in 1:26.59. He was asked some to finish from midstretch to the wire.

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DISTAFF

SONGBIRD – Those wondering about the definition of a “breezing” work need only to have watched the undefeated 3-year-old filly cruise five furlongs just before dawn. She went in fractions of 25.13, 37.44, and 1:01.63, going about as smoothly and easily as you’ll see from start to finish. She finished with her ears pricked and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.31.

The work was slower than usual for an absolutely brilliant work horse, but it was outstanding nonetheless in preparation for her stiffest test yet.

BEHOLDER – She made an outstanding impression the last several mornings in preparation for the final work of her career, and she was certainly eager to get things rolling. Stevens had his feet on the dashboard through splits of 24.07 and 36.32 while tracking a target who’d broken off about four lengths ahead. Beholder fanned wide off the turn but quickly angled down to the rail, caught her mate near the eighth pole, then edged well clear when put to urging from the sixteenth pole to the finish. She completed five-eighths in 1:01.06 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60.

Hard to fault her as she comes into her career finale.

LAND OVER SEA – She worked with Frank Conversation and covered seven furlongs in 1:29.30 while under urging to finish on even terms with her well-held partner. With Gutierrez up, she went in fractions of 38.25 and 1:03.20.

Among the most impressive of the other Breeders’ Cup workers here Thursday was BIG SCORE (Juvenile Turf), who turned a very solid five furlongs in 1:00.63 with Flavien Prat aboard. He broke five lengths behind a stablemate and readily pulled away through traffic while well held to the wire. This was an extremely impressive breeze on dirt from an improving young turf specialist.

Defending Turf Sprint champ MONGOLIAN SATURDAY blew out three furlongs in a swift 35.21, going easily, in much the same manner as prior to his victory a year ago at Keeneland.

Aside from Frosted, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin also sent out TAMARKUZ (Dirt Mile) and LADY SHIPMAN (Turf Sprint) to breeze maintenance-type half-miles in 49.94 and 49.21.

WHAT A VIEW (Turf) likely had his work compromised when he had to spend nearly a half-hour just standing around while the strip was closed due to an incident. What a View eventually was able to go about his business, turning in a leisurely five furlongs in 1:03.28 after covering the first three furlongs in 38.15. He worked in blinkers with trainer Kenny Black aboard.

Prat also worked TEXAS RYANO (Turf), who went an easy five-eighths in 1:01.07, with the first three furlongs in 36.61. GOMO (Filly and Mare Sprint) breezed five furlongs with Gutierrez up in 1:01.60, with the first three furlongs in 37.01.

– additional reporting by Jay Privman