O'Brien plays different tune with Mendelssohn for BC Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mendelssohn’s last-place finish in the Kentucky Derby spurred trainer Aidan O’Brien to “change the system” when it came to preparing the 3-year-old for Saturday’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

So far, O’Brien believes the plan has worked. Saturday could provide the proof.

“We would feel he’s probably in a better place now than he was going to Kentucky,” O’Brien, referring to the Derby, said Thursday at Churchill Downs. “He’s had more experience, and he knows what’s expected. We’re looking forward to it, really.”

That experience came in three races in the U.S. following the Derby. It started with a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Dwyer at Belmont. It continued with a second-place finish in the Travers at Saratoga in August.

The final piece of the plan came in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, where Mendelssohn chased the 5-year-old Diversify through a wicked pace yet lost by only two lengths when finishing third to Discreet Lover.

“Obviously, it was a fast, strong pace, which was good preparation for here, but he didn’t wilt at the line,” O’Brien said. “He kept coming, so we thought it went great. But you’re never sure because they have to come back and they have to come out of their races well. He came back and had an easy time for a while and freshened up very quick, and his work gradually built up. We were very happy with his last two bits of work, and we felt that he has come forward again.”

O’Brien, who has never won the Classic in 15 tries, said, “It’s a different preparation than we’ve ever done before.”

O’Brien said he shipped Mendelssohn back and forth from Ireland because, “We felt we’d be able to control his exercise and keep him safe in between runs, and all we had to do then was get over and back without him stressing too much.”

“He’s got a very good constitution,” he said.

O’Brien said jockey Ryan Moore would continue his own preparations for the Classic by talking with the Hall of Fame jockey turned broadcaster Jerry Bailey, likely about the potential pace of the race. Moore had put Mendelssohn on the lead in the Travers and seemed to be gunning for it again in the Gold Cup before Diversify outfooted him, having to run a half-mile in 45.64 seconds to do so.

“Obviously, dirt racing, we think you have to be a little strong, fast, and hard forward,” O’Brien said. “I’d imagine he will go forward, and then he’ll see how the race will develop. We know he doesn’t mind leading.”

O’Brien spoke Thursday after all 15 of his Breeders’ Cup entrants – plus Mendelssohn’s traveling companion, Seahenge – visited the sloppy Churchill Downs track on a rainy morning.

Aside from Mendelssohn, O’Brien’s Breeders’ Cup participation will be on the turf. On Saturday, he will likely send out seven runners in four of the turf stakes, including the duo of Magical and Hunting Horn against Enable in the $4 million Turf.

Magical finished 10th, 5 1/4 lengths behind Enable, in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but then came back and won the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes under Ryan Moore on soft ground at Ascot. O’Brien called the Arc “a conditioning race” for Ascot.

“In Ascot, Ryan gave her a beautiful ride,” O’Brien said. “She cruised through the race very easy and sweet with ease in the ground and won very nice. We thought she might come forward from that, so we’re looking forward to seeing her run.”

O’Brien said the best of Hunting Horn, 15th in the Arc, might be seen next year.

O’Brien has three runners in the Mile. Happily is 0 for 6 this year but is coming off a head loss in a Group 1 at Newmarket on Oct. 6. She breaks from post 3 in the Mile.

“She’s drawn well,” O’Brien said. “If she breaks, she’ll get the mile well, and she will handle ease in the ground, and she’s in very good form.”

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Gustav Klimt is stretching out to a mile after narrow losses in Group 1’s at six and seven furlongs, including a fourth-place finish, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp last out. He drew post 13 for the Mile.

“He ran very well in Longchamp,” O’Brien said. “Ryan was really happy with his run. He finished on the bridle in the race and has come out of it very well. He hasn’t got a good draw, but he’s in good form.”

I Can Fly, O’Brien said, “will handle ease in the ground. … If the pace is genuine up front, she has a chance to come right into it.”

O’Brien said Magic Wand and Athena, his two starters in the $2 million Filly and Mare Turf, would probably prefer firmer ground than they will get on Saturday.

Lost Treasure, O’Brien’s starter in the Turf Sprint, “has unbelievable ability, but he’s a bit of a character,” he said.

“He gets there and waits,” O’Brien said. “Honest to God, if you get to the wire, two strides before it, he’ll wait. Really, you want to be there with about a neck or a head. With a horse like that, things have to fall [right] for you. You can win by a short head or get beat a length.”

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