Hot Rod Charlie sharp, Letruska surprised in BC works at Del Mar
DEL MAR, Calif. – A flawless final work for Classic-bound Hot Rod Charlie and a compromised work for Distaff favorite Letruska highlighted the activity among Breeders’ Cup horses Saturday morning at Del Mar.
The works for those two, and 11 other Breeders’ Cup horses, took place on a cool, overcast morning.
Both Hot Rod Charlie and Letruska worked right after the mid-morning renovation break.
Hot Rod Charlie, under Flavien Prat, worked in company with another Doug O’Neill trainee and put that horse away coming through the lane, clocking seven furlongs in 1:26.80, before galloping out well.
“I thought it went great,” O’Neill said. “Flavien called on him and he went well. I’m very happy.”
Among those in attendance for the work were co-owner Bill Strauss and his wife, Margie, and O’Neill’s nephew, Patrick, who is part of the Boat Racing partnership that also is a co-owner of the colt.
Hot Rod Charlie is among 10 who were pre-entered on Monday in the Classic and who are expected to be entered on Monday prior to posts being drawn for all 14 Breeders’ Cup races.
In contrast to Hot Rod Charlie’s work, the drill with Letruska did not unfold as planned, as she ended up in company, not what trainer Fausto Gutierrez desired.
Letruska broke off at the five-furlong pole and came up inside a Richard Baltas trainee – Brandon’smylawyer, as first reported by TVG’s Joaquin Jaime - who was commencing a work at the half-mile pole. The two were together around the turn – with the rider on Brandon’smylawyer eventually moving to the middle of the track – before Brandon’smylawyer edged away coming to the wire. Letruska was timed in 1:01.20 for five furlongs.
It was an unfortunate situation, but one that can happen right after a renovation break when trainers are trying to work over a freshly groomed surface.
Horologist, scheduled to take on Letruska in the Distaff, went an easy half-mile in 49.60 seconds. Of the 55 horses who worked at Del Mar on Saturday, Horologist, trained by Bill Mott, was the only one whose work was designed as breezing. The others were listed as handily.
Mott also worked Channel Maker, who is attempting to get into the Turf. He went a half-mile in 48.40 seconds.
Channel Maker, third in last year’s Turf, was ranked 19th among the 22 horses pre-entered for the Turf, which has a maximum field of 14. There have been a couple of defections from the expected lineup owing to injury (Imperador) or being re-routed to other Breeders’ Cup races, but Channel Maker is in serious danger of not getting in.
“Last year’s turf champion and he won’t get in,” Mott said, referring to Channel Maker winning a divisional Eclipse Award last year.
Mott said if Channel Maker does not make the field he would remain at Del Mar and await the Hollywood Turf Cup here Nov. 26.
In addition to Mott, O’Neill also had a second worker, with Mackinnon going six furlongs in 1:14.80. It was a particularly impressive work, being as it was on dirt for a horse who is a grass horse. Mackinnon goes in the Juvenile Turf on Friday.
Phil D’Amato had a busy morning, working four of his Breeders’ Cup runners, all at five furlongs, including the Juvenile Fillies pair of Ain’t Easy (1:01) and Desert Dawn (1:00.60). Helens’s Well, who is in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, was timed in 1:01.60, and the older horse Acclimate, headed to the Turf, went in 1:00.60.
Another 2-year-old, the Keith Desormeaux-trained Oviatt Class, worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds for the Juvenile.
Aloha West, bound for the Sprint, worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds for Wayne Catalano.
Chaos Theory, currently on the outside looking in for the oversubscribed Turf Sprint, worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds for Bob Hess Jr.
Proud Emma, who goes in the Filly and Mare Sprint, went five furlongs in 59.80 seconds under Prat, who climbed aboard her right after working Hot Rod Charlie.