Gormley continues works in prep for Breeders' Cup Juvenile

ARCADIA, Calif. - Gormley began October by winning his stakes debut in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1. Through the rest of the month, trainer John Shirreffs has planned workouts to prepare the colt for a variety of circumstances that could occur in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here on Nov. 5.

On Oct. 10, Gormley worked a half-mile, starting directly behind a stablemate. Gormley worked behind stablemate Veneto on Sunday, but ran on the outside. Ridden by jockey Chantal Sutherland, Gormley worked six furlongs in 1:15. Sutherland has frequently worked Gormley, while Victor Espinoza has had the mount in races.

The workouts were designed to ensure Gormley can handle racing from off the pace. He led throughout the FrontRunner at 1 1/16 miles, and fought for the lead throughout a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 3 before winning by 4 1/4 lengths. The maiden race was Gormley’s career debut.

“We want him to get comfortable in his position,” Shirreffs said. “In his first work back, he came from behind a horse and got dirt in his face.”

Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Gormley is a leading contender for the BC Juvenile, a race that plays a key role in year-end voting for champion 2-year-old male. There are hopes Gormley can claim that title.

“We’re pretty excited about him,” Shirreffs said. “He’s a talented horse and handles everything well.”

-- Gormley was one of several hopefuls for Breeders’ Cup races to record workouts at Santa Anita on Sunday. Drefong, winner of the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga in August, worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:12.20, the fastest of 15 recorded works at the distance.

“He got a little tired in the last part,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “I’m starting to lean on him now.” Drefong will start in the BC Sprint on Nov. 5.

-- Ashleyluvssugar worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds in advance of a start in the BC Turf on Nov. 5. Trained by Peter Eurton, Ashleyluvssugar has won consecutive starts in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 20 and the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship here on Oct. 2. Ashleyluvssugar earned a fees-paid berth with the win in the Del Mar Handicap. That will save the partners who own the 5-year-old $100,000 in entry fees.

Ashleyluvssugar will be a longshot in a field led by the New York multiple stakes winner Flintshire and possibly Found, the winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France on Oct. 2.

“Being on his home turf can help a little bit,” Eurton said.

-- Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer worked Point Piper and Tara’s Tango. Point Piper, who won the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in August and was fourth in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park on Oct. 8, worked a half-mile in 50.80 seconds. He is expected to start in the BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 4.

Tara’s Tango worked five furlongs in 1:00, the fastest of 59 recorded works at the distance. The winner of the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar in August, Tara’s Tango was fourth in the Zenyatta Stakes here on Oct. 1. She is scheduled to start in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 5.