Proviso tops busy Kentucky worktab

LEXINGTON, Ky. – More than a dozen Breeders’ Cup hopefuls turned in workouts Saturday at Keeneland and at Churchill Downs in Louisville in what figures to be their second-to-last works before they compete in the Nov. 5-6 championships at Churchill.

Proviso, one of the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, was perhaps the most notable of the Saturday workers. Two weeks from her rousing victory in the Grade 1 First Lady over the Keeneland turf, the Juddmonte Farms mare was back breezing over the same course when going five furlongs in 1:02.40 with the “dogs” up.

Proviso, a winner of four straight Grade 1 events for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, is part of a sensational prospective cast for the BC Mile, along with Goldikova, Paco Boy, Court Vision, and possibly Gio Ponti.

Proviso's Saturday workout for the Breeders' Cup Mile

Also at Keeneland, the Ken McPeek-trained pair of 2-year-olds, Harlan’s Ruby (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Rogue Romance (Juvenile), worked five furlongs, handily, together on the Polytrack, earning co-bullet clockings of 58.40 seconds.

Working on the Keeneland Polytrack were Silver Timber (Turf Sprint), an easy half-mile in 49.40, and Hot Cha Cha (Filly and Mare Turf), five furlongs in a minute flat.

Meanwhile, over a fast main track at Churchill, where morning activity continues to pick up as the Breeders’ Cup nears, the Dale Romans duo of Paddy O’Prado and First Dude were sent out for separate works under Tammy Fox as both approach the $5 million Classic as potential longshot spoilers. Paddy O’Prado went five furlongs in 1:01, while First Dude went a furlong farther in 1:15.

“I’m really happy with where we stand with both of them,” said Romans. “I like the way they’re finishing up in their works. Obviously we’ve got our work cut out for us, but I think I’ve got my horses coming to a peak. They’ll both work again next Saturday.”

Zenyatta heads a Classic lineup that also includes Blame, Quality Road, Lookin at Lucky, and possibly Gio Ponti.

In other Saturday works at Churchill:

Chamberlain Bridge (Turf Sprint) and Rinterval (Filly-Mare Sprint) both breezed a half-mile in 49.40; Tell a Kelly (Juvenile Fillies) breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80; Hurricane Ike (Dirt Mile), Calvin Borel up, went six furlongs in 1:12.40 in company with stablemate Third Dawn; Seeking the Title (Ladies’ Classic) went five furlongs in 1:01.60, Borel up; My Jen (Filly-Mare Sprint) got a half-mile in 47.60 in company; More Than Real (Juv. Fillies Turf) went a half-mile in 49.80; and Champagne d’Oro (Filly-Mare Sprint) went five furlongs in 59.60 with Miguel Mena up.

Trainer Eric Guillot expressed his customary confidence in Champagne d’Oro, winner of the Grade 1 Acorn and Grade 1 Test earlier in the year. “She’ll be 10-1 and run like 3-5,” said Guillot.

Pre-entries for all Breeders’ Cup events were to close Monday, with release of the names for all 14 races set for Wednesday.

Many Breeders’ Cup runners will have their final pre-race breezes next weekend at Churchill and elsewhere.