Pavel works five furlongs for BC Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – Pavel, who won the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June, worked five furlongs in 1:02.80 at Santa Anita on Friday in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill on Nov. 3.

Trainer Doug O’Neill said Pavel galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.40.

“The track was slow, and he broke off slow,” O’Neill said.

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Pavel, 4, was second to BC Classic future-book favorite Accelerate in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 18, beaten 12 1/2 lengths. Pavel was given a brief rest at a local farm following that race and resumed workouts in late September. Friday’s workout was the third for Pavel since his return to training.

O’Neill said he is still forming his team of Breeders’ Cup runners, adding that the California-bred B Squared is a candidate for the Dirt Mile or Turf Sprint.

Owned by the Reddams, B Squared was ninth at 51-1 in the 2017 BC Sprint at Del Mar. This year, B Squared has one win in 10 starts, the Thor’s Echo Stakes for statebreds at six furlongs here in April. B Squared was second in the E.B. Johnston Stakes for statebreds at Los Alamitos on Sept. 8.

Zuma Beach, Surfer Girl on Monday

There are two $100,000 stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Monday – the Zuma Beach Stakes and the Surfer Girl Stakes for fillies. Both races could yield runners for the BC Juvenile Turf or BC Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 2.

King of Speed, the winner of the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 2, is part of a projected field of eight in the Zuma Beach. He is expected to race against Honcho, More Ice, Much Better, Rijeka, Ship of the Line, Spin Lightning, and Takeo Squared.

Summering, who won the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 3, will be favored in the Surfer Girl against six expected rivals – Candura, Ladymidtown, Lady Prancealot, Lakerball, Miss Bigly, and My Sweet Baboo.

After Monday, racing resumes at Santa Anita for a three-day weekend next Friday.