Limousine Liberal works his way into BC Sprint

LEXINGTON, Ky. – There was a chill in the air when the track opened for training at Keeneland early Friday morning, with colder weather yet to come this weekend at the host site for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup.

Nine potential Breeders’ Cup starters breezed over a fast track on Friday, and Limousine Liberal and Sticksstatelydude were all but confirmed for the Sprint and Juvenile, respectively, by the time they had finished cooling out after their works.

Work of the day

After breaking off at the five-furlong pole, Limousine Liberal (officially five furlongs in 59.60 seconds) found himself with some unexpected company – well, briefly, anyway – in the Todd Pletcher team of Curalina and Race Day. Limousine Liberal quickly passed the startled duo as they began their work at the half-mile marker, with Race Day’s rider looking over his shoulder at the speedy 3-year-old, who ran by while under a strong hold.

Limousine Liberal was kept several paths off the rail while easing nearly three lengths clear turning for home and then widened that advantage to the wire, completing his final half in 47.40. He continued to remain well removed from the inside while galloping out willingly around the turn, where he was joined by Curalina and Race Day. It was easy to understand why trainer Ben Colebrook changed his plans after this work and is opting for the Sprint rather than the Perryville Stakes for Limousine Liberal.

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Both Curalina and Race Day worked well despite not being able to match strides with Limousine Liberal down the lane. They were never extended and both finished well, going a half-mile in 48.47. Curalina, who was very eager to begin, was nudged along perhaps a tad while toward the inside of Race Day at the wire, with both completing their final quarter in 24.07 before continuing on with good energy around the turn and galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.01.

The undefeated Rachel’s Valentina may have been the most anticipated worker of the morning when she breezed for the first time in 11 days. But watching her train was difficult because she went into the dark shortly after 6 a.m. in company with Sweet Ella. The work was scheduled for five furlongs, but the duo just walked away from the pole, completing an opening eighth in 14.23, and both were officially credited with a half-mile drill by the track clockers.

Rachel’s Valentina broke a length on top along the inside and was edging away at the wire after her partner briefly pulled even turning for home. Rachel’s Valentina finished well within herself in 49.03 before galloping out strongly into the bend, pulling up nearly nine lengths in front of her tiring mate after covering five furlongs from the half in 1:02.25.

Sticksstatelydude went an easy half-mile in 48.13, with a first quarter in 24.10, while never extended, galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.13 in his first work since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He followed shortly behind Hopeful Stakes winner and fellow Juvenile contender Ralis, who worked five-eighths in 1:00.19. Ralis tired slightly down the lane after a 35.39 opening split while chasing an Eoin Harty team.

Frivolous was the first Breeders’ Cup worker after the break, zipping along in front of a Wesley Ward team through a swift 24.40 for the first quarter and 47.50 for a half. Pointing for the Distaff, Frivolous galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.

Pletcher also worked the 2-year-old turf specialists Thrilled and Azar four furlongs over the main track in 49.33, with Azar a bit rank before settling into stride when joined by his workmate at the half-mile pole. Thrilled switched back to her left lead at the sixteenth pole, leaning in just a bit nearing the wire. Both galloped out well in 1:01.80.