Melatonin, Union Strike put in works for Breeders' Cup races

The Grade 1 winners Melatonin and Union Strike were among several Breeders’ Cup race hopefuls to work at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Union Strike worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:14 in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 5. Union Strike joined trainer Craig Dollase’s stable this week after owners Mick and Wendy Ruis transferred their runners from their daughter, first-year trainer Shelbe, to Dollase.

Union Strike has not raced since winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 3. She was held out of the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1 because of a sore shin diagnosed in mid-September but has worked steadily since the beginning of the month.

Melatonin, who won the Santa Anita Handicap in March and the Gold Cup at Santa Anita in June, worked seven furlongs in 1:27, his longest workout since returning to training following a brief illness in the summer. Trained by David Hofmans, Melatonin has not raced since the Gold Cup at Santa Anita and will start in the BC Classic on Nov. 5.

In other works, With Honors worked a half-mile in 49 seconds for a start in the BC Juvenile Fillies. Trained by Keith Desormeaux, With Honors won the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 5 and was second in the Chandelier Stakes.

Three outsiders for the BC Turf on Nov. 5 worked a half-mile. Texas Ryano, second in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship on Oct. 2, was timed in 49.20 seconds, while Twentytwentyvision, third in the John Henry, was timed in 48.80 seconds.

Metaboss, fourth in the John Henry and second in the Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 20, worked on the training track in 50.40 seconds.

Living The Life, the millionaire 6-year-old mare who was second in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters in Pennsylvania on Sept. 19, worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds. She will start in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 5.

Accelerate worked five furlongs in 1:00.40. The winner of the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Derby on Sept. 24, Accelerate could be pre-entered in the BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 4, but trainer John Sadler said on Saturday that a final decision has not been reached.

Trainer Phil D’Amato worked two hopefuls for the BC Turf Sprint on Nov. 5 – Hunt worked a half-mile on the training track in 52.20 seconds, while Toowindytohaulrox worked a half-mile on the main track in 48.80 seconds.

Hunt was third in the Eddie D Stakes here on Sept. 30. Toowindytohaulrox won the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar in July and was fourth in the Eddie D Stakes.

Kitcat, a Group 1 winner in Chile in May who finished second in the Swingtime Stakes in her American debut Oct. 8, breezed three furlongs in 36 seconds. She will make her next start in the BC Mile on Nov. 5.