Clocker: Impressions of Saturday BC contenders

By Mike Welsch and Mike Vesce

ARCADIA, Calif. – The first local appearance by Shared Belief was the highlight of Thursday morning’s training activity at Santa Anita, a session that also included a sharp blowout by Sprint contender Rich Tapestry and the opening of the unique downhill turf course for the only time this week.

Fiesolana was one of five horses who took the opportunity to train over the downhill layout, running down the hill before galloping strongly and blowing out a good three-eighths in 38.26 seconds for the Filly and Mare Turf.

The following are final workout and training impressions of horses racing on Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup program from observations made by Mike Vesce and me over the past several weeks.

Juvenile Fillies

Feathered – Two easy maintenance moves since the Grade 1 Frizette, indicating no change in current form. She worked in hand on the inside of Miss Always Ready on Oct. 26 through okay half-mile splits and did gallop out with some good energy.

Angela Renee – Just a very average maintenance half-mile when being asked more to finish than her well-held maiden mate Oct. 26, although she did gallop out with good energy in company around the turn.

Danette – Got a little tired during the closing stages of her final prep Tuesday while never extended by Kent Desormeaux, although she looked just average on the gallop-out.

Conquest Eclipse – Appeared happy and had her ears pricked coming to the wire while asked to do little during a maintenance half-mile Oct. 24 after showing big speed, earning bullets in both previous local works.

Cristina’s Journey – Looked okay breezing an easy five furlongs over a chewed-up track Oct. 25.

Take Charge Brandi – Turned in a very average-looking half-mile maintenance work Oct. 27.

Majestic Presence – Not a bad six-furlong drill Oct. 24, although she did get passed by her workmate on the gallop-out.

Puca – An easy and in-hand maintenance move Oct. 19, but she showed a real late kick on Oct. 13 and especially Oct. 26, when completing the final quarter-mile in a blazing 22.80 seconds, then galloped out five furlongs in a very sharp 59.80. Expecting this filly to give a good account of herself Saturday.

Wonder Gal – Average-looking breeze Oct. 27 when asked late, although she did have good energy on the gallop-out.

By the Moon – Worked a B- on Oct. 27 on the outside of Paulassilverlining in 13.40, 37 flat to the top of the lane, was just going easily to the wire, with the rider just sitting in 1:02.20, and galloped out an okay six furlongs in 1:17.80.

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Filly and Mare Turf

Abaco – Two solid moves over the Belmont turf course for this mare, indicating she’s doing well. Figures to be a strong exotics play.

Just The Judge – Looks none the worse for wear from her busy schedule. Handled the hard turf well, breezing an easy five furlongs in 1:02.44 at Santa Anita on Wednesday, came right back the following morning with a strong 1 1/8-mile gallop. She’s showing no signs of bouncing off her big effort two weeks earlier in E.P. Taylor.

Dank – Defending champ may be cycling around to another big performance. Looked sharp blowing out down the stretch right on the heels of stablemate Telescope over the turf Wednesday.

Dayatthespa – Watched this mare train for the last couple of years and have never seen her doing better than the last four months. Two fantastic moves over the Belmont turf course since her Keenleand win. She’s been galloping out great. Get the sense that with her high cruising speed, she can get the 1 1/4-mile distance.

Fiesolana – She got to test the downhill course, then looked pretty sharp blowing out another three-eighths over the regular turf strip in 38.24 while being eased up prior to the wire Thursday.

Emollient – Three pretty average moves in a row over the Belmont turf course for this filly without showing any real gallop-out in any of them; would have to step it up to run well in this spot.

Irish Mission – This mare seems to be doing well, based on her last three works over the Belmont turf course, in which she finished and galloped out very nicely on each occasion.

Parranda – Looked okay working in the dark over the main track on a couple of occasions during the week.

Stephanie’s Kitten – She’s been extremely tough to gauge all year, as she’s worked well, run poorly and vice-versa. She went extremely well Oct. 10 but had her head cocked out badly in her two subsequent breezes. She has, however, galloped out very well in all of them.

Rusty Slipper – Her most recent turf work was much better than the final time would indicate; was well held throughout and finished with plenty of energy without being asked.

Filly and Mare Sprint

Sweet Reason – Blew out a sharp three furlongs at Belmont on Oct. 19 but was not quite as good at Santa Anita eight days later when put to strong urging from the sixteenth pole on in, completing a fast half-mile while making some noise at the wire. She did not work well prior to a pretty good effort in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup and continues to breeze and train wearing a protective cup blinker over her injured right eye.

Little Alexis – She’s had a couple of good weeks in Southern California, her energy level extremely high on a daily basis; gives the impression that she might be coming up to her best race. The question is whether it will be good enough against this field over a track that may not flatter her running style.

Stonetastic – Flashed her abundant speed and did it easily, blowing out a super three furlongs with a sensational gallop-out Oct. 25. She seems to have come out of the work well and looks like the controlling speed in this event.

Artemis Agrotera – Three beautiful moves in succession since the Gallant Bloom. Jose Ortiz was up Oct. 25 in 36.60 to the top of the lane. He never moved a muscle to the wire in 1:00.60, and she galloped out fantastically in 1:13.80 and 1:28.80.

Better Lucky – Two pretty average moves since her last race. She’d need to improve significantly to have a say in here.

Living the Life – Impressed in her Oct. 26 drill at Santa Anita. Took dirt, finished strong, galloped out extremely well, and looks very happy over the main track. Has the look of a sleeper in a wide-open dash.

Turf Sprint

Reneesgotzip – An easy- and efficient-looking half-mile breeze but without much in the way of a gallop-out on Santa Anita’s turf Oct. 26. Recall her final work being a lot more eye-catching prior to the 2013 Sprint.

Silentio – Finished extremely well and galloped out with similar energy while well held over Santa Anita’s turf Oct. 26; looks ready for another big performance over the tricky course.

Sweet Swap – A very average five-furlong drill Oct. 26; seemed to be making some noise coming to the wire.

Ambitious Brew – A super five-furlong drill on turf last weekend; had Mike Smith aboard, and he never let him run, but he still shaded 24 seconds for the final quarter of a 1:00 move punctuated by big gallop-out; has never run a poor one down the hill.

Bobby’s Kitten – Five solid moves over the Belmont turf course, with Joel Rosario aboard for most of them; get the impression the shorter distances are better for him, but how he takes to the downhill course is anyone’s guess.

Marchman – Sent hard during the latter stages of an even and average half-mile work over the local strip Oct. 25.

Home Run Kitten – Nice main-track move Oct. 25; finished strong in traffic during the rush with Joe Talamo aboard; seems to be maintaining his sharp current form.

Za Approval – Decent series of dirt moves for this turf specialist. He was working well but looked just okay Oct. 26 in the fastest of his four most recent works.

Juvenile

Private Prospect – Easy but unspectacular six furlongs in 1:13.49 with an average gallop-out at Santa Anita on Oct. 22.

Lucky Player – Typical Steve Asmussen half-mile blowout Oct. 26 on the heels of a faster drill the previous week; will have to step up his game.

Texas Red – Average-looking breeze Oct. 25; proved only narrowly best under pressure over a workmate who fanned wide and was waiting on him entering the stretch.

Souper Colossal – Couldn’t have looked better while going a swift half-mile over a tight main track in 45.59 while well within himself under Paco Lopez before galloping out extremely well around the turn; did not pull up until back around to the quarter pole. Obviously razor sharp; hopefully didn’t drain the tank five days out from his race.

Carpe Diem – Was rank to the pole but settled well and was the best of a Todd Pletcher team with the talented Blofeld on Oct. 19; came back with an easy maintenance half-mile the following week, both over the Belmont training track. He seems to be holding his form nicely.

Mr. Z – Showed some early zip but tired a bit during the latter stages of a 48-and-change half-mile in the dark here Monday while equipped in blinkers, which he’ll race with for the first time Saturday.

One Lucky Dane – Long-striding 2-year-old finished well and galloped out with good energy Oct. 27 but seemed to be a little stiff during a routine gallop Thursday.

Daredevil – Have always thought this was Pletcher’s most talented 2-year-old, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down. Was much better than Divine Oath on Oct. 19 while going very easily and finished very well without being asked alongside Blofeld on Oct. 26.

Upstart – Trains in relative anonymity at Aqueduct. He’s made a very good impression when seen galloping here during the week but must overcome a tough post.

Turf

Telescope – Looked solid while blowing out on the grass directly in front of stablemate Dank on Wednesday.

Twilight Eclipse – Just an average five-eighths breeze over the main track for this long-winded turfer at Belmont on Oct. 18.

Imagining – He’s always been an average work horse, and it’s been no different in his last three works.

Brown Panther – Hard to fault him after watching him blow out over the local turf course Wednesday.

Flintshire – Got extremely hot during his first visit to the track Monday but adapted well and was definitely a lot more relaxed as the week progressed.

Big John B – Finished okay under moderate urging to complete an average five-eighths breeze on grass Oct. 25; looked a little sharper when we were watching tape of a six-furlong trial over the same course with Mike Smith up six days earlier.

Sprint

Seeking the Sherif – Blew out a half-mile from the gate in an easy 47.37 on Sunday; broke well while controlling the work throughout inside his mate. He loves this track but is poorly drawn on the rail.

Indianapolis – Was extremely impressed watching tape of his Oct. 20 gate drill, when he gave Secret Circle all he could handle while working nearest the rail. But he seems to have regressed off that move, tiring late under pressure with Smith aboard one week later, going five-eighths on the main track while clearly making noise as he passed by the wire.

Secret Circle – Looked okay while being extended by Indianapolis, from what could be seen on tape, of his Oct. 20 gate work before returning a week later with a strong move from the pole, finishing very well without need of urging through the stretch. Defending Sprint champ is training well, although perhaps not quite as spectacular as prior to his victory in this race a year ago.

Private Zone – Super-easy half-mile maintenance breeze in company earlier in the week; was a lot more impressive visually than the final time might indicate. He seems to be holding form well for his new mentor since the Vosburgh.

Rich Tapestry – Gives no indication of regressing off his huge U.S. debut; looked sharp while finishing in traffic without being asked going five furlongs Oct. 25; blew out extremely well down the stretch and into the turn while wearing blinkers Thursday.

Mico Margarita – Trains in draw reins and blinkers on a daily basis; turned in an okay maintenance half-mile Oct. 27, a week removed from an extremely fast five-furlong drill; looks to be in top form but getting a major class test in the Sprint.

Palace – Loved his six-furlong work over the Belmont training track Oct. 18 with Cornelio Velasquez, which looked even better than a similar drill over the same course prior to his victory in the True North; blew out a similarly swift half-mile here nine days later, and it’s hard to knock his present form.

Big Macher – Strong worker put in an easy, half-mile maintenance breeze while removed from the inner rail Oct. 25; another in this race seemingly on top of his game.

Bakken – Worked well but got a bit hot Oct. 15 and had his head cocked some Oct. 20 and 26, which is something I’ve not seen from him in the past.

Fast Anna – One of the most impressive-looking specimens in this year’s Breeders’ Cup, he has trained very well since arriving in Southern California, punctuated by an extremely fast but easy five furlongs with Gary Stevens up with blinkers on Sunday; posted splits of 11, 22.13 and 33.06 and still had something left in tank at the end while seemingly within himself to the wire. Fast and talented but is giving away a lot of experience against this group.

Mile

Obviously – Strong worker was at his best Oct. 25 over his home course; sizzled five-eighths around the wide dogs in 58.66 and seemed to have plenty left at the wire. Expect him to take this field a long way on the front end over the hard inner strip.

Mustajeeb – Looked fine blowing out three-eighths in company over the Santa Anita turf Thursday, his final quarter without urging in 25.17.

Toronado – Haven’t seen much of him, but there’s nothing to knock from what he’s done during routine morning gallops since his arrival.

Tom’s Tribute – Turned in a decent five-eighths breeze over Santa Anita’s turf under light urging from Smith last weekend, but would have preferred to have seen a little better going out.

Kaigun – Finished with good energy, completing an okay five-eighths drill on turf Oct. 25, but just average during routine morning gallops over the main track since the work.

Summer Front – He’s worked steadily and very well since the middle of August with Javier Castellano aboard for several of those drills. He’s been easily better than talented stablemate War Correspondent the last three weeks while well in hand and with big gallop-outs on each occasion.

Sayaad – Picture perfect dirt move Oct. 25 while in hand with his ears pricked through splits of 13.20, 37.20, 48.20, and out very nicely in 1:00.60 and 1:14.80.

Seek Again – Two average moves over the Belmont turf course, but he always runs big off bad works, so no real concern.

Tourist – His last two moves on dirt were just average, but I didn’t particularly care for his turf move Sept. 15 either. He was working well all summer long; there is some hesitation with him making his first start against older horses.

Classic

Prayer for Relief – One of the many “lookers” in this field; was allowed to roll through a 59-and-change five-eighths drill Oct. 25; finished okay under pressure but with just an average gallop-out.

Cigar Street – He worked extremely well prior to his last race and has been good but not great since that win. Loved his Oct. 13 breeze but thought the subsequent two were quick “B” moves in which he was being asked to finish. He acclimated quickly to the local strip, with nobody looking any more impressive or imposing out on the track during Wednesday and Thursday training sessions.

Imperative – Hard to knock his final prep Oct. 23; finished strong without being asked at any point by jockey Aaron Gryder. Expecting his best, which still might not be good enough in this loaded lineup.

Moreno – Not nearly as impressive in his final Classic breeze this year as before the race a year ago; left his company early but struggled some to finish a six-furlong trial Oct. 24; has had the lemon squeezed pretty hard this year and may not be quite as sharp as he was earlier in the season.

V. E. Day – Good, easy, and energetic move Oct. 14 and a very strong one Oct. 21, when finishing well while just asked a tad before galloping out a mile in 1:40.40 in a “B+” move. He looked loaded at the end of a very easy half-mile blowout Tuesday.

Shared Belief – Colleague Jay Privman attended and was impressed with this purposeful six-furlong work at Golden Gate on Oct. 21, which was actually more like seven-eighths the way he was hard ridden from the wire on out over a deep track. It did appear on tape that he was under some urging much of the way before passing a couple of overmatched mates at midstretch. Looked good in the flesh when seen galloping and schooling at the gate Thursday.

Bayern – Thought his 1:11.64 six-furlong work last Sunday was very solid as he crushed an overmatched mate under Martin Garcia without ever really being extended, but he wasn’t striding out nearly as well during routine morning gallops Wednesday and Thursday; figures to take pressure from Moreno during the early stages of the Classic.

Zivo – Three good “B” moves since the Jockey Club, but he was working B+’s and A-’s before that and was actually outworked Oct. 18 by Endless Chatter. That said, he looked fantastic and extremely happy galloping Wednesday and Thursday.

Footbridge – Powerful-looking colt finished well enough working five-eighths Monday, but would have preferred to have seen a little more energy on the gallop-out.

Tonalist – Extremely tough horse to gauge based on workouts. I liked his Oct. 13 work, really liked the one Oct. 19, but didn’t think he was moving all that well Oct. 25 with his head up in the air a bit. Not the best work horse, especially when going solo; he made a very favorable impression during his Thursday training session.

Candy Boy – Liked his work in company Oct. 25, even though he was a bit rank breaking off and seemed to get to loafing near the wire once drawing well clear of his target, yet he still had enough left to gallop out a mile in 1:38.51.

California Chrome – Watching tapes of his final two works at Los Alamitos, it appears the Derby winner has cycled back to the top of his game, and he did have good energy galloping over the Santa Anita strip Tuesday and Thursday. Might be worth noting that he turned in the work of the week before finishing a disappointing albeit troubled fourth in the Belmont.

Majestic Harbor – Another impressive-looking individual, he’s coming off just an easy maintenance half-mile with Tyler Baze up last Sunday.