Europeans required to put in work

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Six Perfections, the reigning Breeders' Cup Mile champion, was to work at least three furlongs Friday morning or risk being scratched by the track stewards before even getting a chance to defend her title.

Texas racing regulations require all horses who have not raced within the last 45 days to have a published workout of at least three furlongs before being allowed to start. Six Perfections has not run since finishing second in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Aug. 15.

Six Perfections went to the track here for the first time Thursday morning after arriving from Europe earlier in the week, but barely got out of a jog after visiting the starting gate at the head of the stretch.

"They have to make at least some effort to work," said Gary Reckner, the head clocker at Lone Star. "Normally we have a cutoff point for a legitimate published work, which for 3-year-olds and up is 40 [seconds] for three furlongs, although we are willing to accommodate the Europeans, who do not have the same standards, and allow them to go slower."

The workout rule also applied to European invaders Powerscourt and Whipper, both of whom worked to the clockers' satisfaction Thursday. Powerscourt was credited with three furlongs in 42.40 seconds, and Whipper went three furlongs in 44.