Come Dancing works fast six furlongs for Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint

ELMONT, N.Y. – It was a chilly 42 degrees early Saturday morning on Long Island, but Come Dancing warmed things up in a hurry with sizzling six-furlong workout in 1:10.19 over Belmont Park’s training track in preparation for a start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

Trainer Carlos Martin wanted one last serious move in his Grade 1-winning mare, so he put a lead horse, the 4-year-old New York-bred mare Stonefactor, out eight or so lengths ahead of Come Dancing who broke running at the five-eighths pole under Javier Castellano.

Come Dancing zipped through an opening quarter in 22.41 seconds and three furlongs in 33.19 as she pursued her workmate. In upper stretch, after letting Come Dancing take some dirt, Castellano guided Come Dancing along the inside. Come Dancing completed five furlongs in 56.47. She covered six furlongs in 1:10.19 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:23.62.

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“It was a little faster than I would have liked in a perfect world, but Javier said she was moving comfortably and felt great,” Martin said. “Great horses are going to work fast, and he wanted to let her finish up. I’m not going to worry too much about it.”

Martin said putting the workmate out so far in front of Come Dancing was similar to what he did in her major workout before the Grade 1 Ballerina, which Come Dancing won on Aug. 24 at Saratoga.

“It wouldn’t work to her advantage if we didn’t put out anybody that far in front because she just gobbles you up in a sixteenth or eighth of a mile,” Martin said.

Castellano said he wanted Come Dancing to get dirt in her face, but the workmate went out too far in front and he didn’t want to chase that one. Turning for home, Come Dancing did get some dirt in her face and when Stonefactor tired, Castellano guided his mare up the rail.

“Anybody can question themselves when you see numbers like 56 or 1:10, but the way she did it, easy, I’m happy with that,” Castellano said. “I’m not a trainer, but they wanted a good work today, and I think she got it.”

Come Dancing, who has gone 4 for 5 this year with a second to Midnight Bisou in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, figures to battle Covfefe for favoritism in the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Come Dancing will have one more blowout next weekend at Belmont before shipping to Southern California on Oct. 28.

Brown works trio of BC contenders

Trainer Chad Brown sent out three of his prospective Breeders’ Cup horses for workouts Saturday morning.

Dunbar Road, the Grade 1 Alabama winner preparing for the $2 million Distaff, worked a half-mile by herself over the main track in 48.60. Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Vesce had Dunbar Road in splits of 24.80 for the quarter and had her galloping out five furlongs in 1:02, six furlongs in 1:14.20, and up a mile in 1:28.60.

On turf, Structor worked five furlongs in 1:00.75 in company with Unleveraged. The pair got their final three furlongs in 35.20. Structor, the Grade 3 Pilgrim winner, is pointing to the $1 million Juvenile Turf on Nov. 1.

Selflessly, the Grade 2 Miss Grillo winner, worked five furlongs in 1:00.34 in company with debut winner Princesa Caroline. The pair got their final quarter in 23.68. Selflessly is pointing to the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, while Princesa Caroline, a half-sister to champion Lady Eli, is likely for next Sunday’s Chelsey Flower at Belmont.

* Another Miracle, preparing for a possible start in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, went three furlongs in 37.52 over the Belmont inner turf course for trainer Gary Contessa.