Elite Power works half-mile for possible start in Met Mile
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Breeders’ Cup winners Elite Power, Cody’s Wish and Goodnight Olive all appeared on the Churchill Downs worktab Saturday morning, with two of those horses pointing to stakes here next weekend.
Elite Power, the Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and champion sprinter of 2022, worked a half-mile in 50.80 seconds, going in company with the 3-year-old Classic Legacy. It was Elite Power’s second work since winning the Riyadh Dirt Sprint at Saudi Arabia on Feb. 25. Elite Power, trained by Bill Mott for Juddmonte, is not pointing to a race at Churchill, rather the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap or the Grade 2, $250,000 True North Stakes, both on the June 10 Belmont Stakes Day card at Belmont Park.
The prestige of the Met Mile is likely to win the day with owners, though trainer Mott indicated the True North, at 6 1/2 furlongs, would be his preference.
Elite Power, a son of Curlin, has won six consecutive races including the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Grade 2 Vosburgh, both at six furlongs, last fall. He did win a mile race at Churchill Downs last summer.
Upon returning from Saudia Arabia, Elite Power spent a couple of weeks at Juddmonte Farm in Lexington before shipping over to Churchill.
Saturday, Mott also sent out Cody’s Wish, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, for a half-mile work in 49.40 seconds. Cody’s Wish, who has eight works since March 1, is pointing to next Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Churchill Downs Sprint on Derby undercard.
Lastly, Goodnight Olive, the female sprint champion of 2022 who kicked off her 2023 campaign with a victory in the Grade 1 Madison, worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds. She is preparing for a start in the Grade 1, $750,000 Derby City Distaff. Goodnight Olive, trained by Chad Brown, has won seven consecutive races including the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
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