Shared Belief takes it easy in Breeders' Cup Classic work

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shared Belief, the likely favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and V. E. Day, one of the race’s outsiders, both turned in easy half-mile workouts Tuesday in their final preps for Saturday’s $5 million race.

Shared Belief worked at Golden Gate Fields, where he trains between starts on the synthetic Tapeta surface. His trainer and co-owner, Jerry Hollendorfer, said he thought he worked Shared Belief too sharply in his final prep before last month’s Awesome Again Stakes when he went a half-mile in 47.60 seconds. So, he had jockey Russell Baze ease off the gas pedal Tuesday. Shared Belief, working alone, was timed in 52.40 seconds.

“Baze told me he was ‘awesome,’ ” Hollendorfer said. “I just wanted an easy work because the race is in four days, and he’s shipping.”

:: BREEDERS’ CUP WORKOUTS: Video analysis, news, and times

Shared Belief was scheduled to be sent by van later Tuesday from Golden Gate to Santa Anita. He was scheduled to walk at the barn Wednesday morning here, then have a paddock schooling session later in the day.

“He’s put on a little weight,” Hollendorfer said. “His coat is good. I think you’ll like what you see.”

V. E. Day arrived here over the weekend and took a day to adjust to his surroundings, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said.

“He was a little quiet, not eating much,” Jerkens said. “He was good by the next day.”

V. E. Day was going easily through his work, which Daily Racing Form timed in 49.06 seconds.

“He had a nice work last week on the Belmont training track,” Jerkens said. “I didn’t want to do too much here.”

A field of 15 was entered Monday night for the Classic. Fourteen can run, so Big Cazanova was placed on the also-eligible list. The only way he can get into the race is if there is a scratch from the main body of the field by 8 a.m. Friday, which is scratch time for all 13 Breeders’ Cup races.

Big Cazanova was entered in the Grade 2, $200,000 Las Vegas Marathon Stakes at 1 3/4 miles on Friday in case he does not get into the Classic.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2014: Post positions and odds

Shared Belief, unbeaten in seven starts, drew post 6 and was installed as the 9-5 favorite on the morning line of Santa Anita’s Jon White. Mike Watchmaker, DRF ’s national handicapper, has Shared Belief favored at 2-1.

V. E. Day is just inside of Shared Belief in post 5. V. E. Day most recently finished sixth, then was moved to fifth via disqualification, in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He had won four straight prior to that, including the Travers and Curlin stakes.

“I wanted to give him a good try on dirt because he had worked so well on dirt,” Jerkens said. “He ran great in the Curlin, and he ran even better in the Travers.”