Paradise Woods takes it nice and easy in BC Distaff work

ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita specialist Paradise Woods, among the main challengers to favorite Midnight Bisou in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, continues to send positive vibes.

Paradise Woods and jockey Abel Cedillo cruised through a six-furlong workout Sunday at Santa Anita, a comfortable solo drill in which she rationed her speed. That was a main objective for a mare with a history of stress. Although Paradise Woods sometimes gets keen, her work went smoothly.

“We always want her to relax in her works, and then finish a little bit, and I thought she did that,” Shirreffs said following the 7:50 a.m. work. “I thought the workout was very nice.”

Paradise Woods is racing fit; She scored her fifth Santa Anita victory Sept. 29 in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes. The training objective leading to the BC Distaff is to maintain her physical and mental fitness.

After the work, Cedillo said to Shirreffs, “Man, she’s so happy out there.” Shirreffs added Paradise Woods “looked it, too. That’s what you want to see – clip along, clip along, no stress.”

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2019: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, and more

Cedillo kept Paradise Woods far off the rail and clockers gave her 1:13.60 over a surface producing slow times. The work was the first in 11 days for Paradise Woods. Shirreffs would have worked her Tuesday, Oct. 15, but Santa Anita normally does not allow timed works on Tuesdays. An exception is this week and next, when works will be allowed all seven days.

Early this week, on Tuesday, Shirreffs said Paradise Woods “did one of those big, happy gallops, not quite fast enough to be on the work tab, but enough to give her a good blow.”

Paradise Woods will have her final Distaff workout, five furlongs, on Sunday. Cedillo will ride her in the Distaff. Paradise Woods has won four graded stakes at Santa Anita including two Grade 1’s in 2017 – the Santa Anita Oaks and Zenyatta (before the race downgraded).

Distaff contender Secret Spice worked earlier Sunday, following the 6:30 renovation. Jose Valdivia worked Secret Spice in company with highly regarded maiden Taishan. Secret Spice’s work time was 1:00. John Velazquez rides Secret Spice in the Distaff.

Midnight Bisou, 7 for 7 this year and early favorite for the Distaff, is scheduled to work Monday morning with jockey Mike Smith.