Clocker: Monomoy Girl looks sharp in Breeders' Cup workout

Churchill Downs

Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 51
Track: Good

LOUISVILLE, Ky.- It was a cool and at times misty morning, but that didn’t stop Monomoy Girl from providing a definite ray of sunshine during training hours Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Monomoy Girl was one of seven potential Breeders’ Cup starters to work over a racetrack labeled “good” from start to finish following some overnight showers and an additional drizzle or two that began shortly before the end of the first renovation break.

Monomoy Girl has always been a very good work horse, but she might have outdone herself in her final serious Breeders’ Cup prep, even moving her usually reserved trainer Brad Cox to speak in superlatives when asked for his assessment.

With her regular exercise rider Florent Geroux aboard, Monomoy Girl broke off about three lengths behind workmate Dazzling Gem, and made up most of that ground through a 24.61 opening quarter. She turned for home on even terms after a 36.49 three-eighths split then began to gradually edge clear of her overmatched partner through midstretch, readily extending her advantage to three lengths while still in reserve at the wire, completing five-eighths in 1:00.13 before galloping out a strong six furlongs without need of prodding in 1:13.50.

The work was reminiscent, especially in light of the less-than-perfect conditions, of Monomoy Girl’s final drill prior to her victory here last spring in the Kentucky Oaks and further solidifies the notion that she’s undoubtedly the one to beat again over her home track in the Distaff.

Monomoy Girl was the last of three Breeders’ Cup contenders Cox worked Saturday. Both Will Call (Turf Sprint) and Golden Mischief (Filly and Mare Sprint) went within minutes of one another shortly after the track opened for training at 5:30 a.m., each going solo and turning in more maintenance-like breezes just two weeks removed from their previous starts.

Will Call was the first of the two to go, cruising a half-mile in 49.61, finishing strong and shading :24 for his final quarter over the wet and somewhat sticky main track, continuing out with terrific energy into and around the turn, galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.21 before pulling up three-quarters in 1:16. Impressive for a turf specialist on the dirt.

Golden Mischief, who will bring a three-race winning streak into the Filly and Mare Sprint, breezed an easy half-mile in 50.32 before also galloping out very willingly (1:04.20) into and around the clubhouse turn.

Bucchero, who defeated Will Call a half-length in the Grade 2 Woodford at Keeneland on Oct. 6, appears to be maintaining his top form after breezing four furlongs in 48.38 under his regular pilot Fernando De La Cruz. Bucchero completed his final quarter in 23.45 while kept several paths off the rail down the stretch and while going easily to the line before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.86 working in blinkers.

The final Breeders’ Cup worker after the opening break was Juvenile Fillies hopeful Reflect, who went a relatively easy half-mile over the rain-slickened strip in 48.40, finishing strong and also showing excellent energy going out five furlongs into the bend in 1:01.60 for trainer Keith Desormeaux.

Trainer Dale Romans announced it will be the Breeders’ Cup Sprint for Promises Fulfilled and the Dirt Mile for Seven Trumpets after the two worked several minutes apart after the second renovation break on Saturday.

Promises Fulfilled began at the three-eighths pole with a Cox team right on his heels, posting an 11.48 opening split before edging away from his pursuers at the wire in 35.51 and extended the advantage completing the half-mile breeze on the turn under a bit of encouragement in 48.24. As expected, he had plenty of run left on the gallop out, getting five panels in 1:00.73.

Seven Trumpets, an excellent work horse, began at the half-mile pole under exercise rider Tammy Fox, finishing strong to the wire in 24, 47.08 before completing the five-furlong drill without need of much encouragement in 1:00.35. He galloped out three-quarters in 1:14.50.