Improbable, Maximum Security lead BC hopeful workouts

ARCADIA, Calif. - An all-star team of Breeders’ Cup hopefuls worked at Santa Anita over the weekend led by Sunday appearances from top older horses Improbable and Maximum Security.

Improbable, the winner of three consecutive Grade 1 races since early June, worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds, a time slightly faster than Maximum Security’s clocking of 47.80 seconds.

Improbable and Maximum Security were first and second in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 26, their final prep races for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

Improbable left trainer Bob Baffert impressed with his workout.

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“He just glides,” Baffert said. “He’s an unbelievably moving horse. He bounced out of it very well.”

Maximum Security, the champion 3-year-old male of 2019, won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 22.

“Max looked great,” Baffert said.

Baffert plans to have three runners in the BC Classic, a group that will include Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, a close second to the filly Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Oct. 3.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Improbable in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 1, will have the mount in the BC Classic, Baffert said. Drayden Van Dyke rode Improbable in the Awesome Again.

“Drayden rides him here,” Baffert said.

The 3-year-old sprinter Collusion Illusion worked a half-mile in 49.60 seconds Sunday for the BC Sprint on Nov. 7. Trained by Mark Glatt, Collusion Illusion won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 1 and was third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 27.

On Saturday, eight prospective runners for Breeders’ Cup races were given workouts, notably the Baffert-trained 2-year-old filly Princess Noor, who worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds for the BC Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 6. Princess Noor is unbeaten in three starts, including the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 26.

Among 3-year-old fillies, Gamine worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 7, while Harvest Moon worked a half-mile in 49.20 for the BC Distaff the same day.

Gamine was third in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Sept. 4. Harvest Moon won the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes on Sept. 27 for her fourth consecutive win.

Mucho Unusual, the winner of the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares on turf on Sept. 26, worked a half-mile in 49 seconds for the BC Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 7.

Among males, Wildman Jack, a prospect for the BC Turf Sprint, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds. He was second in the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes on Sept. 25. United, the winner of the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship on Sept. 26, worked a half-mile in 51.80 seconds for the BC Turf on Nov. 7.
Spielberg, a maiden who was third as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Sept. 26, worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds for the BC Juvenile on Nov. 6. A $1 million yearling purchase, Spielberg is winless in three starts for Baffert.