Santa Anita: Paynter works for Breeders' Cup Classic

Paynter, preparing for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, worked in company Monday, but heavy fog obscured all but the final half-furlong of the drill, so track clockers said they were unable to give him an official time.

Paynter is scheduled to have one more work prior to the Classic.

Bob Baffert, who trains Paynter, confirmed that Paynter and Game On Dude were pre-entered Monday in the $5 million Classic, the richest of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races. Pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup were due Monday and will be announced Wednesday.

The fog did clear enough to time the drill by the Baffert-trained Fed Biz, a candidate for the BC Dirt Mile who went five furlongs in 59.20 seconds, equaling the best time at the distance Monday.

Baffert also sent out Breeders’ Cup candidates Fascinating (Juvenile Fillies, 1:00.40), New Year’s Day (Juvenile, 59.20 seconds), and Secret Compass (Juvenile Fillies, 1:00.60) for five-furlong works.

On turf, Indy Point, heading to the BC Turf, sizzled a mile in 1:36.60 for trainer Richard Mandella, who also worked Vionnet, a candidate for the BC Filly and Mare Turf, six furlongs in 1:15.20.

Across town at Betfair Hollywood Park, Teddy’s Promise, one of the leading candidates for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, went five furlongs in 1:01.80 for trainer Ron Ellis. She went so easily that track clockers designated the work “breezing,” which is rarely given out in Southern California. Of the 84 horses who worked at Hollywood on Monday, Teddy’s Promise was the only horse whose work was termed “breezing.”

Ellis also worked Centralinteligence, his BC Dirt Mile candidate, who was timed in 1:30.80 for seven furlongs.