Mid-Atlantic will be well represented in Breeders' Cup

In regards to the Breeders’ Cup, this has been a remarkable year in the Mid-Atlantic, with three Win and You’re In qualifiers stabled at Parx racing alone. Additionally, BC Challenge Series winner Glorious Empire is gearing up for the Turf at Fair Hill, and Grade 1 Hopeful winner Mind Control is bedded down at Monmouth Park.

The Parx trio are Imperial Hint, who earned a fees-paid BC Sprint berth in the Grade 1 Vosburgh; Discreet Lover, upset winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, who is headed to the Classic for trainer Uriah St. Lewis; and Jaywalk, whose Grade 1 Frizette victory for trainer John Servis assures her a spot in the gate for the Juvenile Fillies.

On Sunday at Parx, trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. gave Imperial Hint his first work since he easily won the Vosburgh at Belmont Park on Sept. 29. Imperial Hint, an eager work horse, sped three furlongs in a bullet 34.51 seconds and galloped out a half-mile in 47.53 while “in hand,” according to track clocker Scott Bakos.

:: Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Results, replays, charts, and more

“He went beautiful, like he usually does,” Carvajal said. “We went out when the track opened at 7 a.m. He jogged and then went right into it like always.”

Carvajal plans to work Imperial Hint again at Parx next weekend, then pre-enter him on Oct. 22 and ship that day or soon thereafter. Carvajal is still working out transportation details, but is leaning toward vanning to Churchill Downs, where Imperial Hint will be given his final work for the Nov. 3 Sprint.

About 80 miles to the south at the Fair Hill Training Center, Chuck Lawrence is fine-tuning Glorious Empire for the BC Turf. Glorious Empire led throughout to win the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Aug. 25.

Lawrence and owner Matt Schera considered running Glorious Empire in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont, but instead opted to train him up to the Breeders’ Cup. A key factor in their decision was how well Glorious Empire ran winning a June optional-claiming race at Delaware Park following a 10-week break.

“We already had the Win and You’re In and done everything we needed to, so we decided to go straight to the Breeders’ Cup,” Lawrence said. “He’s real happy now and I’m glad we skipped the race.”

Lawrence worked Glorious Empire seven furlongs in 1:29.40 over the Tapeta track at Fair Hill on Friday and plans a stiffer work this week.

“He’ll have his major work Friday or Saturday,” Lawrence said. “I’d like to see him go in 1:27 or 1:28 and gallop out a mile in 1:39 or 1:40.”

:: Breeders' Cup PP packages: Get PPs, betting strategies, DRF+ Pro access, and more

This will be Lawrence and Schera’s second trip to the Breeders’ Cup. Cage Fighter finished 12th and last at 150-1 in the 2015 BC Turf for them. While Glorious Empire will be a longshot, he has vastly improved since being stretched out in distance three races ago, and has a decidedly better chance.

“When Matt and I went to the Breeders’ Cup with Cage Fighter, he was on the muscle from the moment he stepped on the track,” Lawrence said. “This horse is much easier to work with. He’s full of himself but he’s very workmanlike. He’ll do whatever the rider wants.”

Mind Control had a minor setback when he came down with a fever in Kentucky and had to be scratched from the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Returned to Monmouth by trainer Greg Sacco, he worked five furlongs in 1:02 Sunday.