Collected fires bullet on busy morning at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – Led by Collected, who will be trying to seize Horse of the Year and champion older male on dirt with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, more than a dozen horses with Breeders’ Cup aspirations turned in key workouts on Saturday morning at Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup races Nov. 3-4 at Del Mar.

Collected, who won the Pacific Classic in his last start and is training straight into the Classic on Nov. 4, worked six furlongs in 1:12 under his regular rider, Martin Garcia, during a drill in which Blackjackcat, who is preparing for the Breeders’ Cup Mile on turf, joined him for the final five furlongs.

The company was not planned but the work was a strong, solid move for Collected, who pulled clear of Blackjackcat late – not unexpected, being as Blackjackcat is better on grass. Blackjackcat was timed in 1:00.20 for trainer Mark Glatt.

“He was good. He needed that work. He's doing really well, holding his weight well," said Bob Baffert, who trains Collected. His time was the best of 14 at the distance.

Baffert said he could pre-enter as many as five horses in the Classic on Monday. In addition to Collected, he has Arrogate, Mubtaahij, and West Coast pointing for the race. He also said that Cupid is likely to be pre-entered in both the Classic and the Dirt Mile.

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If Cupid goes in the Dirt Mile, as expected, one of his rivals is expected to be Gato Del Oro, who was timed in 1:26.40 for seven furlongs for trainer Richard Baltas.

Trainer John Sadler sent out Stellar Wind for a seven-furlong workout in 1:28.20 in company in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 4, and also worked Accelerate, who will be cutting back to one mile for the Dirt Mile on Nov. 3. Victor Espinoza was aboard both.

Accelerate, working with stablemate Kristo, went six furlongs in 1:12.40 and pulled away from his workmate in the stretch. Accelerate has won three times in four starts at Del Mar, including an upset over Arrogate in the San Diego this past summer.

Sadler, like Baffert and trainers Jerry Hollendorfer and Mick Ruis – among others – said his horses will have their final Breeders' Cup works at Santa Anita and then ship to Del Mar the week of the Breeders' Cup.

Baffert also worked Constellation for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 4. She was timed in 1:14.40 for six furlongs. Her rivals include Finest City, the defending winner of that race, who went so easy in her five-furlong move in 1:02.40 for trainer Ian Kruljac that clockers labeled it breezing, the sole work of 196 so denoted on Saturday.

One of the most impressive drills of the morning was turned in by Free Drop Billy, who shipped in early to train on West Coast time for Dale Romans for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. With exercise rider Tammy Fox aboard, Free Drop Billy went five furlongs in 59.60 seconds with a long, loping, effortless stride. His time was the best of 70 at the distance and he appeared under no undue pressure to earn it. He was one of just two horses whose five-furlong clocking was under a minute.

Romans also worked Hollywood Star five furlongs in 1:00.60 for the Juvenile.

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Simon Callaghan sent out Encumbered and Run Away for five-furlong works. Encumbered, who will return to grass for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 3, was timed in 1:00.20, while Run Away went in 1:00.40 in his solo drill for the Juvenile on Nov. 4.

Retro, preparing for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 3, went a half-mile in 51 seconds for Richard Mandella.

On the training track, a surface often used here by trainers with grass horses, Itsinthepost worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 for trainer Jeff Mullins for the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 4.