Quiet morning for works

Belmont
Cloudy, 51¦
Main track fast

ELMONT, N.Y. - The first day of clocker reports for the 2005 Breeders' Cup proved to be a relatively quiet one at Belmont Park, with most of the significant action taking place on the West Coast, where Rock Hard Ten worked at Santa Anita and Lost in the Fog breezed over his home course at Golden Gate.

The lone Breeders' Cup worker at Belmont on a seasonably cool Thursday morning was Sensation, who figures among the key contenders for the Juvenile Fillies. Many of the Breeders' Cup gallopers got in their morning's work in the relative anonymity of the Belmont training track, including horses from the barns of Todd Pletcher and Nick Zito.

Sensation - Juvenile Fillies, five furlongs in 1:01.53: With jockey Eibar Coa aboard, Sensation broke off outside of and in company with stablemate Trippi Appeal, a talented 2-year-old colt who has finished second behind Breeders' Cup Juvenile favorites First Samurai and Private Vow in his last two starts. The pair went off at a leisurely pace, getting the opening quarter-mile in in 13.02 and 25.18 seconds, then continued as a tandem throughout the drill, completing the final three eighths in 36.35 seconds. Neither was asked to extend themselves at any point. They galloped out another eighth-mile past the wire aided by a moderate tailwind, pulling up six furlongs in 1:14.06.

First Samurai made an awesome impression. He is a powerfully built chestnut who looks more like a 3-year-old than a 2-year-old, and he has the demeanor of an older, more seasoned horse. He went through his regular morning routine of standing calmly for a period of nearly 20 minutes near the finish line before embarking on a 1 1/2-mile gallop, looking around from time to time to take in the sights, while maintaining a comfortable stride throughout his one tour of the oval.

Both Original Spin and Along the Sea, who will join Sensation in the Juvenile Fillies, also galloped on Thursday. Original Spin spent quite some time away from the barn, visiting the paddock and jogging three-quarters of a mile the wrong way of the course before reversing direction and galloping an easy 1 1/2 miles. Along the Sea galloped with blinkers on, an equipment change trainer Ralph Ziadie is expected to make during her final work and for the Breeders' Cup.

Golden Gate Fields
Overcast
Main track fast

Lost in the Fog - Sprint, five furlongs in 1:00.40: With regular rider Russell Baze aboard, Lost in the Fog broke away from the pony between the five- and six-furlong poles and turned in an even and easy work on a fast track. He posted splits of 12.20, 24, 36, and 48.20 seconds while never asked by Baze at any point. He was not breathing hard when he came off the track en route back to trainer Greg Gilchrist's barn.

"He ran up to the bit better than he did when he had that fast work of 57.20 prior to his last start, and as soon as he switched leads he just took off," said Baze, who has ridden Lost in the Fog to 9 of his 10 victories.

Santa Anita
Clear, 74¦
Main track fast, turf firm

Rock Hard Ten - Classic, seven furlongs in 1:25.60: He worked at 12:30 p.m. Pacific time, a half-hour before the opening race on Thursday's card at Santa Anita with exercise rider Paul Nilluang up. Rock Hard Ten broke off nearly three lengths behind stablemate Dixie Glow and rated willingly off his rabbit until passing the three-eighths pole after covering an opening half-mile in 49 seconds on a fast track. The two were on even terms entering the stretch, at which point Rock Hard Ten gradually began to edge clear under little urging. While getting in ever so slightly near midstretch, he completed his final quarter in 24.40 seconds. He appeared full of run while galloping out strongly around the turn and down the backstretch.

Flip Flop - Filly and Mare Turf, six furlongs on turf in 1:12.80: She worked with two stablemates and around the dogs. The work was the best of nine at the distance.

Turfway Park
Cloudy, 51¦
Main track fast

Stream Cat. Juvenile, five furlongs in 1:00.20. Stream Cat's work was the fastest of nine at the distance.

- additional reporting by Steve Andersen, Chuck Dybdal, and Marty McGee