Complexity, Wow Cat join BC workout crowd

ELMONT, N.Y. - Grade 1 winners Complexity and Wow Cat led a group of nine potential Breeders’ Cup starters who put in workouts Saturday morning at Belmont Park.

Despite some light early morning rain, the Belmont main track was fast and harrowed following the 8:45 a.m. renovation break.

Complexity, winner of the Grade 1 Champagne, was among 10 Chad Brown-trained runners who worked right after the break. Working by himself, Complexity went a half-mile in 49.23 seconds, going his opening quarter in 25.36 seconds and his second quarter in 23.87 seconds. Complexity galloped-out five furlongs in 1:02.10 as he prepares for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“He’s always been a tremendous moving horse, very efficient action, he’s easy on himself, he’s really push-button, he’ll do whatever you want him to do,” Brown said. “He’s nice and relaxed and that’s the way we want him.”

Right after Complexity worked, Grade 1 Beldame winner Wow Cat worked a half-mile in 49.28 seconds in company with Pacific Wind. Wow Cat, on the inside, and Pacific Wind were basically together through an opening quarter in 24.78 seconds and a second quarter in 24.50 while galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.28. Wow Cat is preparing for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“Just a little maintenance work,” said Brown, adding that Pacific Wind is going to point to the Grade 3, $250,000 Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct on Dec. 1.

Brown was scheduled to breeze an arsenal of Breeders’ Cup horses on the turf on Sunday at Belmont.

Meanwhile, trainer Todd Pletcher sent out three potential Breeders’ Cup starters for works Saturday morning.

Hi Happy, runner-up in the Grade 2 Knickerbocker on Oct. 8, worked a half-mile on dirt in preparation for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf. Pletcher called Saturday’s work “a standard 49-and-change breeze with a nice, solid gallop-out. Seems to be maintaining form.”

Pletcher is trying to get Smart Choice to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Smart Choice won a “Win and You’re In” race in Peru in June. On Saturday, she worked a half-mile on the turf in 49.39 seconds in company with the 2-year-old maiden turf winner Empire of War, who will be pre-entered in the Juvenile Turf.

For Smart Choice, it was her fourth move since Oct. 1 and she did gallop-out seven furlongs in 1:28.25.

“I thought it was a nice, steady progressive breeze, galloped-out well,” Pletcher said. “She seems to be improving all the time since she’s been here. It’s still a tall challenge for a South American to come here and acclimate and run against that class of competition, but she seems to be going in the right direction.”

Trainer Barclay Tagg is sending two horses to the Breeders’ Cup. Cassie’s Dreamer, third to Jaywalk in the Grade 1 Frizette, worked a half-mile in 48.93 seconds in company with Brucia La Terra, the runner-up in the Frizette. Manny Franco was aboard Cassie’s Dreamer for the work and will ride her for the first time in the Juvenile Fillies.

Tagg said he is hoping that Cassie’s Dreamer will relax in the Juvenile Fillies and come with a run. Brucia La Terra, who is not Breeders’ Cup nominated, will likely run in the Tempted at Aqueduct on Nov. 2.

Tagg said Verve’s Tale, third to Wow Cat in the Beldame, will be pre-entered in the Distaff. She worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds by herself Saturday morning.

Uncle Benny, winner of the Futurity Stakes on turf at Belmont on Oct. 7, worked a half-mile in 51.39 seconds over the Belmont training track. He worked in company with Astounding.

Though Uncle Benny earned an automatic berth into the Turf Sprint, trainer Jason Servis said he plans to list the Juvenile Turf at a mile as his first preference with the Turf Sprint as his second when pre-entries are made Monday.

Disco Partner, winner of the Belmont Turf Sprint and a top candidate in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, worked four furlongs in 51.53 seconds over Belmont’s main track.