Clocker: Goldencents, Close Hatches impress

ARCADIA, Calif. – All the players are on the grounds for Breeders’ Cup 2014, and many of them had their first opportunity to really stretch their legs Wednesday.

A large European contingent visited the turf course shortly after 7:30 a.m., among them Just The Judge, who breezed five furlongs in 1:02.37, with her final three-eighths in 36.39 seconds. Brown Panther blew out a half-mile in 51.27, coming down the stretch in 23 and change. Dank and stablemate Telescope looked very sharp blowing out on the grass.

Cigar Street made an awesome impression Wednesday galloping over the main track, as did Zivo, who appeared to handle the strip extremely well. Other Classic contenders who have continued to catch the eye were Majestic Harbor and Prayer for Relief, while California Chrome did not have quite the same energy level Wednesday as he had displayed the previous morning.

The following are workout reports and impressions for horses racing on Friday’s Breeders’ Cup program who were seen by Mike Vesce and me in New York and California over the past several weeks.[bc_video_id:340651:]

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JUVENILE TURF

Luck of the Kitten

Oct. 25 – Went a half-mile in fractions of 25.45 and 49.92 on the turf, going easily with Mike Smith up. Not much in the way of a gallop-out. Rating: C+

Conquest Typhoon

Oct. 25 – Looked good on the grass working outside Juvenile Fillies Turf candidate Conquest Harlanate. Went in fractions of 24.66 and 37.64 and finished strong to complete five-eighths in 1:00.47 without much urging. Rating: B
Offering Plan

Oct. 26 – Was well in hand under Irad Ortiz while going easily alongside Startup Nation. Worked in fractions of 25.40 and 50.80, out six furlongs in 1:16.20. Rating: B-

Oct. 19 – Best of a team with Startup Nation, finishing a half-length in front after five-eighths in 1:01.85 while going easiest. He galloped out seven-eighths in a solid 1:26.50 with Jose Lezcano up. Rating: B

Oct. 13 – Worked with Startup Nation in 26 seconds to the top of the lane and finished well to the wire without being asked for much effort in 49.80. He galloped out very nicely in 1:14.60 for six furlongs and 1:28.80 for seven furlongs. Rating: B

Startup Nation

Oct. 26 – Was well in hand and going easily alongside Offering Plan in fractions of 25.40 and 50.80, out six furlongs in 1:16.20. Rating: B-

Oct. 19 – Was under a bit more pressure to finish working inside Offering Plan, with the work briefly affected by a loose horse on the course. He worked five-eighths on the grass in 1:01.85, and he and Offering Plan went out as a team in 1:26.50. Rating: B-

Oct. 13 – Worked with Offering Plan in 26 seconds to the top of the stretch and finished well to the wire while in hand in 49.80 for a half-mile. He galloped out very nicely in 1:14.60 for six furlongs and 1:28.80 for seven furlongs. Rating: B+

Lawn Ranger

Oct. 25 – Dawdled over the turf course through a 40-second opening three furlongs under Brice Blanc and responded to heavy pressure to complete the final quarter in 23.46. He continued out nicely into the bend. Rating: C+

Danny Boy

Oct. 25 – Was allowed to roll through a purposeful five-furlong turf drill in 1:00.20. He remained under some encouragement galloping out strongly into the bend. Rating: B

DIRT MILE

Goldencents

Oct. 24 – Just cruising from start to finish in an extremely impressive run over the main track with Rafael Bejarano like a statue in the irons. He worked five-eighths from the half-mile pole in 59.26, shading 36 for his final three-eighths while finishing into the turn. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.88 and pulled up seven-eighths in 1:25.55. Couldn’t have asked for much better. Rating: A-

Golden Ticket

Oct. 25 – Worked over a strip that had tightened up some after being watered during the break. He sped five furlongs in 59.36 off a relatively easy 24-second opening quarter. He finished willingly when asked for run and galloped out an average three-quarters in 1:13.15. Rating: B

Bronzo

Oct. 27 – Picked him up a furlong into his five-eighths work and got him to the wire in 47.18. He finished under steady urging and while on his left lead with just an average gallop-out into the turn. Rating: B-

Fed Biz

Oct. 25 – Broke a half-length behind and outside of Declassify, was hard held while moving a half-length in front at the quarter pole, fanned four to five wide turning for home, and edged clear. He completed five-eighths from the 4 1/2-furlong pole in 59.02 while never extended down the stretch. Rating: B

Tapiture

Oct. 26 – Looked good during a typical Steve Asmussen half-mile maintenance move. He cruised to the top of the stretch in 26 and a tick and finished up nicely while well held to the wire. He completed his final quarter in 24.38. He appears to be sitting on another big effort. Rating: B

Big Bane Theory

Oct. 24 – Turf specialist looked good working on dirt, although the drill didn’t come off exactly as orchestrated. He was rank under Joe Talamo, breaking abreast of two workmates. He finally was eased back off the others to take dirt around the turn, fanned wide at the head of stretch, ran by his targets inside the sixteenth pole, and completed the five furlongs in 59.69. He shaded 13 seconds galloping out another eighth into the clubhouse turn. Rating: B

JUVENILE FILLIES TURF

Partisan Politics

Oct. 26 – Worked with Sivoliere in 25.60 to the top of the lane with Javier Castellano aboard. She was in hand and traveling easier, finishing a half-length best in 49.80. She galloped out three lengths in front in 1:15 for six furlongs and 1:30.60 for seven furlongs. Rating: B

Oct. 19 – Best of a turf team with Sivoliere, finishing a head in front nearest the rail while going easily in 48.25 for a half-mile. She shaded 24 for the final quarter and galloped out a solid six furlongs in 1:13.55. Rating: B

Oct. 13 – Worked with Lady Eli with Castellano up. She was not asked for much effort in 1:03.40 for five furlongs from the five-eighths pole. She galloped out a mile in 1:42.60. Rating: B

Sunset Glow

Oct. 29 – Looked a little lackluster galloping over the turf course here Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lady Eli

Oct. 26 – Worked with Tammy the Torpedo in 25.80 to the top of the lane and was well in hand to the wire under Irad Ortiz in 49.60 for a half-mile. She galloped out extremely well, up by a length in 1:13.80 for six furlongs and 1:29.80 for seven furlongs. She’s been trainer Chad Brown’s best 2-year-old turf filly since June. Rating: B+

Oct. 19 – Impressive five-furlong breeze over the Belmont turf outside Tammy the Torpedo. She was hard held to the wire, finishing a head best in 1:01.61, completing her final quarter in 23 and out seven-eighths around the clubhouse turn in 1:26.52. Talented filly continues to impress. Rating: B+

Oct. 13 – Worked with Partisan Politics and was not asked for much effort in 1:03.40 for five furlongs from the five-eighths pole. She galloped out a mile in 1:42.60. Rating: B

Isabella Sings

Oct. 25 – Good maintenance move on dirt through splits of 23.40 and 48.20 for a half-mile without being asked, out five furlongs in 1:02.80. Rating: B-

Oct. 19 – Was flipping her lead while being urged along but went quickly from the half-mile pole in 47 for a half-mile and galloped out very well in 1:11.80 for six furlongs. Fast move, just not the prettiest. Rating: B

Oct. 6 – Was being urged along on her wrong lead through splits of 24.40 and 49 for a half-mile. Rating: B-

Sivoliere

Oct. 26 – Worked with Partisan Politics in 25.60 to the top of the lane, was urged some to finish a half-length back at the wire in 49.80 for a half-mile and galloped out three lengths back in 1:16 and change for six furlongs. Rating: B-

Oct. 19 – Finished a head behind while working outside Partisan Politics, with the pair going four furlongs on grass in 48.25. Rating: B-

Oct. 13 – Was urged a tad late through decent splits of 25.80 and 49 for a half-mile. Galloped out well in 1:14.20 for six furlongs. Rating: B

Rainha Da Bateria

Oct. 26 – Blew out three-eighths in 39 and change, picking up the pace down the lane and shading 25 for the final quarter while going easily throughout. Rating: B-

Nickys Brown Miss

Oct. 25 – Went the final half-mile of a five-eighths drill on grass in 48.50 while under mild urging to finish. Rating: B-
Conquest Harlanate

Oct. 25 – Looked good working inside Conquest Typhoon. With Corey Nakatani aboard, she cut the corner and finished extremely well without need of urging. The pair completed five-eighths on the grass in 1:00.47. Rating: B

Tammy the Torpedo

Oct. 26 – Went with Lady Eli in 25.80 to the top of the lane and was urged a tad to keep up in 49.60 for a half-mile to the wire. She galloped out one length behind in 1:14 and change. Rating: B

Oct. 19 – Improving filly held her own, although not quite a match for the undefeated Lady Eli. She was not extended by jockey Jose Lezcano to complete her final quarter in a tick over 23 while finishing about a head behind her well-held workmate. She continued out strongly into the turn on nearly even terms with Lady Eli. Rating: B

Flying Tipat

Oct. 27 – Was allowed to roll from the start by exercise rider Tammy Fox. She finished well despite looking around and seemingly losing focus during the latter stages of a 48.84 half-mile turf drill. Rating: B-

DISTAFF

L’Amour de Ma Vie

Oct. 29 – She handled the main track well Tuesday and Wednesday and stretched out nicely galloping down the stretch Wednesday.

Tiz Midnight

Oct. 25 – She worked six furlongs from the 5 1/2-furlong marker in 1:11.93, with her final quarter in 23.67 without much urging. She galloped out strongly around the turn, getting seven furlongs in 1:24.64, up a mile in 1:38.25. Rating: B

Iotapa

Oct. 28 – Broke off at the half-mile pole and got to the wire in 48.30, going easily, before being asked to pick up the pace. She responded readily to complete five-eighths in 1:00.90. Rating: B

Stanwyck

Oct. 25 – Went a speedy 23.20 to the top of the lane and was pushed some past the wire in 47.60 for a half-mile and 1:00.80 for five furlongs. She kept on going nicely in 1:13.20 for six furlongs and 1:28.20 for seven furlongs. Good move over the Belmont training track. Rating: B

Oct. 13 – Looked good completing the final three-eighths of a drill in 36 without being asked for effort. Rating: B

Valiant Emilia

Oct. 29 – Did not look comfortable galloping over the main track Tuesday and Wednesday.

Oct. 25 – Broke off under Rafael Bejarano a couple of lengths behind Setsuko and surged late under pressure to finish a head in front after five furlongs in 1:00.01 with an average gallop-out in 1:13.38. Rating: B

Untapable

Oct. 26 – Settled into a nice, smooth stride shortly after breaking away for a half-mile maintenance breeze, completing the distance in 50.33 while just cruising. She continues to make an extremely favorable impression since her arrival in Southern California. Rating: B+

Close Hatches

Oct. 26 – Came four wide off the turn after an opening quarter-mile of 23.20 and was not asked to the wire in a sharp 47.20 for a half-mile. She galloped out very well in 1:00.60 for five furlongs, 1:13.60 for six furlongs, and 1:29.80 for seven furlongs. Very nice move, indicating you might be able to forgive her last race. Rating: B+

Oct. 19 – Eased away from the half-mile pole in 24.43 for her opening quarter, fanned four wide into the stretch, and finished evenly without much urging. She galloped out willingly in 1:02.30 for five furlongs. Decent maintenance-type of breeze, but I have seen sharper from her. Rating: B