Clocker: O'Brien horses stretch their legs

Santa Anita
Main track: Fast
Turf: Firm
Weather: Clear
Temp. 66

ARCADIA, Calif. – The first local appearance of trainer Aidan O’Brien’s large and imposing Breeders’ Cup contingent, led by Turf favorites Found and Highland Reel, highlighted Thursday morning’s training session at Santa Anita, which was tempered some after Suedois sustained a stress fracture in his foot. The injury occurred during a routine gallop over the turf course and will keep him out of the Turf Sprint.

The hillside turf course was open for training for the first time this week, with four members of the Turf Sprint lineup taking the opportunity to school across the main track and back to the grass to conclude the morning’s activities.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2016: Odds, comments, video previews, and more

All of the O’Brien horses went to the main track for an extended period. HIGHLAND REEL jogged nearly a mile, then galloped about 1 1/8 miles. The Arc runner-up, Highland Reel got very warm by the time he had finished his morning’s work, although reportedly that is not uncommon for him. He’ll vie for favoritism with Arc winner Found in the Turf.

FOUND also got a little warm by the time she jogged home following her training session, as did the O’Brien-trained COUGAR MOUNTAIN, who runs in the Mile.

Several other Europeans got to really stretch their legs over the turf course Thursday, with ULYSSES (Turf) far and away the most impressive of that group. He smoked three-eighths in 34.81 while reaching out beautifully over the firm ground and galloping out with terrific energy into and around the turn. He was followed by DUTCH CONNECTION (Mile), three-eighths in 36.66, and potential Mile favorite LIMATO, who switched back to his right lead nearing the wire while completing three furlongs in 38.10.

On the main track, SHAMAN GHOST (Classic) and stablemates COLORFUL CHARADES (Juvenile Fillies) and JAMYSON ‘N GINGER (Juvenile Fillies) were also allowed to blow out down the stretch, with Shaman Ghost continuing out strongly another furlong in 12 and change into the clubhouse turn.

Among those who made favorable impressions Thursday morning were Sprint rivals LIMOUSINE LIBERAL and A. P. INDIAN, along with defending Filly and Mare Sprint winner WAVELL AVENUE. Her stablemates LADY ELI (Filly and Mare Turf) and RYMSKA (Juvenile Fillies Turf) also looked very good as the final two Breeders’ Cup horses to train over the main track.

The following are impressions of recent workouts at Santa Anita by some of the key contenders on Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup program.

Juvenile Fillies

NOTED AND QUOTED turned in two impressive drills within six days, including an eye-catching five-eighths on Oct. 25, although she did lose her focus once losing her company on the gallop-out.

CHAMPAGNE ROOM went five furlongs in 58 and change on Oct. 29 but had her work compromised after hooking up with three others, including Hoppertunity, and being floated five to six wide into the stretch.

Sprint

DREFONG looked very sharp in both his Oct. 24 and Oct. 30 drills, while MASOCHISTIC was able to harness his speed under Mike Smith, relaxing beautifully from the gate on Oct. 29.

Juvenile

NOT THIS TIME is an imposing-looking 2-year-old. He put an exclamation mark on his final preparations for the Juvenile with a big five-furlong move on Oct. 29, coming home in 23 and change while going easily over a bit of a loose track and galloping out with great energy into the turn.

Turf

ULYSSES looked absolutely brilliant blowing out three-eighths over the turf on Thursday.

:: Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Results, replays, charts, and more

Filly and Mare Sprint

TARA’S TANGO may prove a live longshot over her home course following a huge breeze here on Oct. 28. She came home her final quarter-mile in 23.31 under just a hint of urging from jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Mile

TOURIST has always been a good work horse, but he couldn’t look any better than he did coming down the lane to complete an awesome 47.89 half-mile in 23.47 while just breezing along, ears pricked at the wire. That was eye-catching, especially for a turf specialist on the dirt.

Classic

CALIFORNIA CHROME was very good at his home base of Los Alamitos on Oct. 22, even better there five days later, and has turned in a series of superstar two-mile gallops since arriving here this week.

ARROGATE hasn’t run since his monstrous performance in the Travers, but you’d never know it after watching him work here on Oct. 25 and Oct. 31. The most recent work was about as good as it gets, a five-furlong maintenance move in 59.31 in which he put his long and powerful stride on display while breezing effortlessly.