Owendale, Elate head Breeders' Cup workers at Churchill

CHURCHILL DOWNS
TRACK: Fast
WEATHER: HAZY
TEMPERATURE: 45

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A dozen potential Breeders’ Cup starters worked at Churchill Downs over the last two mornings. Five of the 12 came from the potent stable of trainer Brad Cox, two of whom, OWENDALE (Classic) and ARKLOW (Turf), put in their penultimate works for the event on another crisp and at times hazy morning Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Owendale was the first of six possible Breeders’ Cup runners to work under the twin spires on Saturday, a group that also included ELATE, who will run in the Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

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Cox had designed the work for Owendale to sit off his mate, Pioneer Spirit, during the early stages after breaking from the five-furlong pole. Instead, it was Owendale who led the way nearest the rail while well held through slow opening splits of 13.71 seconds, 26.21, and 37.98. The three-time Grade 3 winner responded to some light encouragement once settling into the stretch to shade 23 seconds for his final quarter to the wire and then steadily drew off from his mate when sharply roused approaching the clubhouse turn, completing six furlongs in 1:13.56 before going out seven-eighths in 1:26.93.

“It didn’t go as planned with the company, who can be a little bit unruly, but he [Owendale] worked fantastic,” Cox said. “They did break off a little slow, he was supposed to sit off, but we had to kind of call an audible on the radio and have him drop to the inside and do his own thing. He got something out of it. He got a good blow. We were pleased with the time and the gallop out. It was positive.”

Arklow had Mr. Misunderstood for a partner when breezing five furlongs from the half-mile marker. The winner of the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic just two weeks earlier, Arklow held a slight edge going easily to the wire outside his mate in 47.87 before completing the distance into the turn in 1:01.10 while given a couple of right-hand taps when perhaps losing focus a tad and drifting slightly approaching the bend. The team continued out another good quarter-mile on even terms, easing up seven-eighths in 1:28.68.

“I thought Arklow breezed extremely well,” Cox said. “It was very, very solid. He’s a horse who can be a little hit and miss on the dirt, but I like what I saw this morning. I work him in company to get a good decent move out of him, whether on the turf or dirt. We’ll do something easier with him here next week.”

Elate, working immediately after the renovation break, galloped a mile before breaking off at the three-eighths pole and just cruising to the wire in 34.65 before galloping out a half-mile in 47.75. The final time was somewhat surprising, considering how easy she made it look.

Trainer Bill Mott “said he just wanted to do a little something with her, but a good work before she goes out there,” said Mott’s assistant, Ken McCarthy. “We were looking for a sign she was ready to go, and I think we saw it this morning. I was a little shocked when I looked at my watch. I thought I must have been off a little bit until I heard the official time. Visually, watching her, she couldn’t have done it any nicer. She was really reaching with that stride of hers.”

Elate will ship to California on Sunday along with stablemates Yoshida and Channel Maker, who arrived at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning and also are being pointed for the Breeders’ Cup.

MR. MONEY (Dirt Mile) is as honest a work horse as they come, and he didn’t disappoint again this morning. Working solo at 5:45 a.m., the four-time Grade 3 winner and recent runner-up in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby breezed five furlongs in 59.03 before galloping out with terrific energy, as always, six furlongs in 1:11.81, seven-eighths in 1:25.96, and up a full mile in 1:41.89. His regular rider, Gabriel Saez, was aboard.

GOT STORMY (Mile) worked in company after the break, breaking off several lengths behind stablemate Osage. The team was on even terms turning for home, with Got Stormy holding a slight edge to the wire outside his partner after five furlongs in 1:01.14, galloping out three-quarters in 1:15.10.

MR FREEZE (Dirt Mile) was among the last horses to work on a very busy morning, covering five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 24.67, 48.08, and 1:00.55. He was going well within himself throughout before easing up around the turn after six panels in 1:14.10. Trainer Dale Romans has still not made a final decision regarding Mr. Freeze’s Breeders’ Cup status.

MATH WIZARD continues to train forwardly for the Classic after zipping four furlongs in 46.40 and galloping out five-eighths in 59.20, according to the track clockers Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park.