Lady Ivanka works for Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Virtually all of the New York-based horses preparing for the Breeders’ Cup are based at Belmont Park. There is one, however, who is eight miles away, preparing in what is currently a tranquil environment at Aqueduct.

Lady Ivanka, the winner of the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga on Sept. 2, has been based at Aqueduct since it reopened Sept. 18. On Sunday, Lady Ivanka had her fifth workout over the main track, breezing five furlongs in 1:01.06 for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

Lady Ivanka was the second horse to work following the 8:45 a.m. renovation break. There were fewer than 10 horses on the track at that time. After backing up to the wire, Lady Ivanka stood for a few minutes while trainer and exercise rider Rudy Rodriguez watched one of his other horses, Hoponthebusgus, breeze.

After that breeze was complete, Rodriguez began to gallop Lady Ivanka into the clubhouse turn. She began to pick up her pace at the six-furlong pole and went into her work at the five-furlong marker. With Rodriguez just sitting on her, Lady Ivanka went her opening three furlongs in 37.13 seconds.

In midstretch, Rodriguez nudged on Lady Ivanka, who got her final quarter in 23.93. Just past the wire, Rodriguez hit Lady Ivanka twice to make sure she would gallop out. Lady Ivanka galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.78 and seven furlongs in 1:30.68.

“I wanted to let her pick it up, I wanted her to gallop out,” Rodriguez said. “She had a good work today. I want to see how she comes back tomorrow, and then we’ll take it from there, but so far, so good.”

By virtue of her victory in the Spinaway, Lady Ivanka earned a fees-paid berth in the Juvenile Fillies. Had that not been the case, there might be some debate whether or not to run. But Rodriguez said Lady Ivanka will be pre-entered on Monday, and the plan is to ship to Southern California on Thursday. Lady Ivanka likely will have a workout next Sunday at Del Mar.

Rodriguez has his stable split between Belmont and Aqueduct. Over the summer, Aqueduct’s main track underwent renovation and now has a limestone base, similar to what was on the inner track, which has been replaced by a turf course. Rodriguez said he has been pleased with the surface.

“We were a little concerned about the surface, but the surface has been very good,” Rodriguez said. “There’s a stone over here and over there, but it’s good. “

Rodriguez said he likes the serene atmosphere for Lady Ivanka.

“It’s very quiet,” Rodriguez said. “I want to try to get her to relax.”

Two other Juvenile Fillies prospects worked Sunday at Belmont Park. Separationofpowers and Caledonia Road, the 1-2 finishers in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont on Oct. 8, worked over the main track following the 8:45 a.m. renovation break.

Separationofpowers, third in the Spinaway, went a half-mile in 48.53 seconds, getting her first quarter in 24.36 and second quarter in 24.17 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.40. She worked in company with the maiden Brattata and did the work without being asked.

Caledonia Road, a daughter of Quality Road trained by Ralph Nicks, went a half-mile in 49.07 seconds under exercise rider Heather Smullen. She started a length behind workmate Table for Six and finished basically on even terms while getting her last quarter in 24.66 seconds.

Nicks said he wasn’t looking for much since the work was done two weeks after her last race and two weeks before she runs again.

“It’s not a fitness thing with her,” he said. “She’s plenty fit, just wanted to open her lungs up today and keep her happy.”

Initially after the Frizette, Nicks indicated that Caledonia Road would skip the Breeders’ Cup. But those plans have changed.

“The clients wanted to run,” he said. “I think she'll like the two turns. She's doing well and should improve in her third start."

Caledonia Road made her first two starts for Luke Paiement’s Zoom and Fish Stable and Charlie Spiring. They have sold a one-third stake in Caledonia Road to the Newtown Anner Stud of Maurice and Samantha Regan. Mike Smith has picked up the mount on Caledonia Road, who will ship to Southern California on Oct. 31.

In other Sunday works at Belmont:

• War Flag (Filly & Mare Turf) went a half-mile in 48.78 seconds over the turf in company with Snap Decision. War Flag got her last quarter in 22.29 seconds and galloped out extremely well.

• Annals of Time (Mile) worked five furlongs in 1:01.70 over the turf in company with Money Multiplier.

• Capla Temptress (Juvenile Fillies Turf) went five furlongs in 1:02.40 in company with Mojgan. Unlike her last two works, Capla Temptress began in front of her workmate and seemed emboldened by the challenge of her workmate in the stretch. The pair galloped out very well.

– additional reporting by Mike Welsch

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