Drysdale aggressively cranking up Oleksandra for Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint
ELMONT, N.Y. – Oleksandra, on a bit of a condensed schedule to make the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 7, worked five furlongs in 1:00.98 on Friday morning over the Belmont Park main track. It was her fifth work in 21 days.
Under jockey Joel Rosario, Oleksandra started about two lengths behind a stablemate, joined him in upper stretch and finished on even terms through a final quarter of 23.76.
“She went very well,” trainer Neil Drysdale said. “It’s a bit of a tall order, but right now she’s progressing well.”
Oleksandra hasn’t run since she beat the boys in the Grade 1 Jaipur here on June 20 in what was just her second start of the year. She was later diagnosed with a broken splint bone and was out of training for about 2 1/2 months.
That Oleksandra only runs hard for about a quarter-mile is one reason Drysdale believes it is possible for her to make the Breeders’ Cup off what would be a 140-day layoff.
“Isn’t she normally last at the quarter pole,” Drysdale mused.
Drysdale said Oleksandra would likely have two more works at Belmont before shipping to Keeneland.
◗ Firenze Fire, the Grade 2 Vosburgh winner, worked five furlongs in 1:03.20 Friday over Belmont Park’s main track in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Going easy by himself, Firenze Fire got his last quarter in 24.65 seconds.
Trainer Kelly Breen said he would come back with something a little stronger next week, hoping to emulate the training pattern he used leading up to the Vosburgh.
◗ Gufo, the Belmont Derby winner, will skip the Breeders’ Cup Turf and point to the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 28, trainer Christophe Clement said Friday. Clement will also train Hill Prince Stakes runner-up Decorated Invader to that race.