Mutasaabeq among trio of Pletcher workers for Breeders' Cup
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher was able to get workouts into three of his Breeders’ Cup contenders Thursday morning over the training track before the heavy rain came down.
Mutasaabeq, preparing for the $1 million Juvenile Turf, worked a half-mile in 49.58 seconds in company with the debut-winning 2-year-old filly Malathaat. Mutasaabeq, on the outside, went his opening quarter in 24.83, got his second quarter in 24.75 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.19, six furlongs in 1:14.80, and seven-eighths in 1:28.26.
Mutasaabeq won the Grade 2 Bourbon at Keeneland on Oct. 4.
“He’s given us every indication that it was not a hard race on him,” Pletcher said. “He’s come back with good energy, trained well, and has shown you all the things that you want to see.”
Likeable, preparing for the $2 million Juvenile, went five furlongs in 1:01.84 in company with the older male You’re to Blame. Likeable got his final quarter in 25.25 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.97 and seven furlongs in 1:30.30.
“Good, solid work,” Pletcher said. “I think we got a good series of breezes into him to stretch him out around two turns. Now, it’s a question of if he’s good enough.”
Union Gables, who is pre-entered for the Juvenile Turf Sprint and Juvenile Fillies Turf – each worth $1 million – worked a half-mile in 49.31 seconds in company with the debut-winning 2-year-old filly Fifth Risk. Union Gables got her last quarter in 24.10 seconds and went out five furlongs in 1:03.28.
Though Union Gables finished second in the Grade 3 Matron at six furlongs on turf, Pletcher said he would prefer to run Union Gables in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile.
Union Gables is in the field for the Juvenile Turf Sprint and is two-deep on the preference list for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. There are two fillies ahead of her – Simply Ravishing and Crazy Beautiful – who are expected to run in the Juvenile Fillies on dirt.