Original Spin catches eyes

ELMONT, N.Y. - Friday was supposed to have been the quietest morning on the Breeders' Cup workout watch, with nary a Breeders' Cup work scheduled at Belmont Park. But with the local forecast calling for better than a 50 percent chance of rain beginning Saturday, trainers Kiaran McLaughlin, Anthony Mitchell, and Jimmy Jerkens called an audible and beat the wet weather by getting in their final preps following Friday's renovation break. The racetrack was cuppy and slow for early morning Breeders' Cup gallopers but sped up appreciably after being liberally watered during the break.

Work of the Day

Original Spin - Juvenile Fillies, five furlongs in 1:00.06: With Jockey Jerry Bailey aboard, Original Spin spent quite some time out on the racetrack before beginning her five-furlong work. After standing on the course for several minutes, Original Spin walked with a pony to the three-eighths pole, then reversed direction and galloped another 1 3/8 miles before breaking off at the half-mile marker. After getting an opening three-eighths in 37.24 seconds, Original Spin began to accelerate once leaving the turn, covering her final two furlongs down the straightaway in 11.50 and 11.32 while under little urging from Bailey. She proceeded to gallop out strongly around the turn, pulling up six furlongs in 1:13.37. This was an extremely impressive move for a lightly raced filly who appears to be coming up to the Juvenile Fillies in peak form.

Henny Hughes - Juvenile, four furlongs in 47.10: One of the first horses to breeze following the break, Henny Hughes broke off at the half-mile pole in full stride and got an opening quarter in an eye-catching 22.44. He continued well coming out of the turn, reaching the eighth pole in 34.85 before tiring slightly from the rapid pace. He completed his half-mile in 47.10, which was still the fastest of the 23 four-furlong works timed here Friday. He galloped out five-eighths in 1:00.25. Henny Hughes is a very fast horse who regularly works fast, but there is a question of whether he can stay 1 1/16 miles.

Artie Schiller - Mile, six furlongs on turf in 1:12.26: The lone turf worker of the morning, Artie Schiller turned in a Jekyll and Hyde type work, covering the first three furlongs in a leisurely 37.24 before coming home his second three-eighths in 35.10, while under some encouragement during the latter stages. He did show some noticeable neck sweat coming across the wire on what was a relatively cool morning, but seems to be holding up well for another shot at the Mile.

Clocker's notes

* Borrego did not work but was asked for a little more than a normal gallop when sent along at nearly a two-minute lick with a couple of sub-15-second eighths thrown in down the straightaways just for good measure. He is one of the most easily recognizable Breeders' Cup hopefuls training on the grounds, with his big white-blazed face and strong, athletic build.

* Trainer Doug O'Neill has scheduled Saturday works for his two Juvenile contenders, Stevie Wonderboy and Jealous Profit. Both tuned up for those drills with strong gallops Friday. Stevie Wonderboy made a particularly favorable impression, looking more like a seasoned veteran than a 2-year-old prospect.