Sadler's Joy works solid half-mile in BC Turf prep
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
ELMONT, N.Y. – The retired Twilight Eclipse won’t be making a fifth consecutive appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but his former trainer, Tom Albertrani, will be back in the $4 million race Nov. 4 at Del Mar.
Albertrani will making his fifth straight and sixth overall appearance in the Turf, this time with Sadler’s Joy, who Monday worked a half-mile in 49.72 seconds over the Belmont Park main track. It was the first work for Sadler’s Joy since his fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Sept. 30.
Monday’s work, which included a final quarter of 24.63 with a steady gallop-out all the way around the turn, was an indication that not only has Sadler’s Joy come out of his last race in good order but he’s held up well to a seven-race campaign that began in January.
“He’s been coming out of his races in really good shape every time,” Albertrani said. “Today we saw it, that was a really good work. He’s definitely still on his game; just keep him like that for another couple of weeks.”
Sadler’s Joy, a 4-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy, is 2 for 7 this year with both wins coming at 1 1/2 miles, the distance of the BC Turf, including the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on Aug. 26 at Saratoga. In the Hirsch, Sadler’s Joy was sent off the lukewarm 7-2 favorite, but could manage only a fourth-place finish, six lengths behind Beach Patrol.
Sadler’s Joy was last of 11 early, 18 lengths off the pace. Sadler’s Joy is a late-running sort, but even that was too much ground to make up, especially over a course, though listed firm, that had some give in it as rain had fallen earlier in the day.
“You don’t want to try and take him out of his running style, but I would just like to be a little closer in his next start,” said Albertrani, who will retain jockey Julien Leparoux for the Breeders’ Cup. “We know he’s got that kick. Certainly, we know pace makes the race, but I’d think in an ideal world you’d like to be a little closer.
“Julien did say that he probably didn’t prefer that ground that day,” Albertrani added. “That could have been another piece of the equation.”
In the BC Turf, Albertrani finished third with Twilight Eclipse in 2014 and third with Brilliant Speed in 2011.
