Life Is Sweet has sharp work for World Cup

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Even in the mornings, Life Is Sweet can be overshadowed by her undefeated stablemate Zenyatta.

Life Is Sweet, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic at Santa Anita last November, worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 at Hollywood Park on Friday. It was the fastest workout of the morning at the distance, until Zenyatta zipped six furlongs in 1:11.80 about 30 minutes later.

While Zenyatta is bound for the $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita on March 13, Life Is Sweet is being given a more global goal. She will make her next start against males in the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan racecourse in Dubai on March 27.

Friday, Life Is Sweet worked in company with a stablemate. She stalked the work partner to early stretch and finished with a slight advantage, galloping out in front.

"That's her normal work," trainer John Shirreffs said.

Life Is Sweet has started once this year, finishing second to St Trinians in the Grade 2 Santa Maria Handicap for fillies and mares on Feb. 13.

"She's done better since the Santa Maria," Shirreffs said. "I was a little disappointed she wasn't more aggressive up the backstretch in that race. She needs to put the rider in position to do good things.

"I think we had a little setback with the weather. Not everything fell into place."

Shirreffs said that Life Is Sweet will have one more workout in the United States before leaving for Dubai on March 16. The Dubai World Cup is run over 1 1/4 miles on a Tapeta synthetic track.