Society ready to turn on speed in Breeders' Cup Distaff
LEXINGTON, Ky. - While Nest is the 3-year-old filly getting most of the attention heading into Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Society is another 3-year-old that handicappers will have to consider in the race.
Society, dominant winner of the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing on Sept. 24, wrapped up preparations for her first start against older females in the Distaff by working a half-mile in 49.78 seconds Sunday morning at Keeneland, per Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch’s watch.
While the typical work for a trainer Steve Asmussen runner a week out from a race is on the slow side, Society doesn’t know slow. It was all exercise rider Carlos Rosas could do to keep her from going too fast.
“You go around there ‘Whoa, baby, whoa, baby,’ " Asmussen said. “She is as sharp as a three-inch tack. Her works here have been impressive.”
Her race record is becoming impressive as well.
Society has won five of six starts including a 6 3/4-length score in the Charles Town Oaks and a 5 3/4-length romp in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx. She owns a maiden win at Keeneland last October when trained by Wayne Mackey.
“She is in a beautiful rhythm,” Asmussen said. “She’s very fast. Effortlessly fast.”
Asmussen also plans to run the 4-year-old Clairiere in the Distaff. She was expected to have her final breeze on Monday.
Epicenter works for Classic
The final work for Epicenter before Saturday’s $6 million Classic was of the typical Asmussen variety, an easy half-mile in 51.29 seconds, per Welsch’s watch. He went in quarter splits of 25.29 and 26.00 under Wilson Fabian.
It was Epicenter’s fourth work at Keeneland since moving here from Saratoga in late September. Epicenter has not run since winning the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 27.
“By himself, Epicenter is a sloppy work horse,” Asmussen said. “But I really like how strong he has trained here at Keeneland.”
Epicenter started his career in September 2021 and has raced 10 times without a meaningful break, aside from a brief freshening following his runner-up finish in the Preakness. Asmussen said that Epicenter has matured mentally and has remained strong physically.
“I remember the week of the Travers, when we schooled him thinking what a combination of strength and athleticism he is,” Asmussen said. “We’ve obviously had a couple of schooling sessions here and he’s just magnificent right now.”
Meanwhile, Flightline “looks good,” trainer John Sadler said Sunday morning following Saturday's five-furlong work. Flightline was expected to return to the track on Monday for a jog.
Edgeway breezes for F&M Sprint
Edgeway breezed five furlongs in 1:00.18, with a final quarter of 24.67, per Welsch. Edgeway, preparing for the Filly and Mare Sprint, galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.72.
Trainer John Sadler moved the work up from Monday due to the threat of rain. Sadler also wasn’t looking for as fast a work as she had last week, when she blazed a half-mile here in 46 seconds.
“She went quicker on her first work and then today was nice, we wanted not to breeze too fast because she’s an excellent workhorse,” Sadler said.
Edgeway finished second in last year’s Filly and Mare Sprint after winning the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Santa Anita. Edgeway will enter the race off a win in the Rancho Bernardo, a race from which the runner-up, Slammed, came back to win the Thoroughbred Club of America by 6 1/2 lengths.
At Belmont Park on Sunday, Fingal’s Cave worked a half-mile in 49.60 seconds over the training track. Fingal’s Cave, second in the Raven Run at Keeneland on Oct. 22, needs one defection from the body of the race to get into the Filly and Mare Sprint. Fingal’s Cave, who has won four of five starts, would get in if Kimari is entered in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint - her listed first preference - as her trainer Wesley Ward would prefer. Ward said he still needs to have a final discussion with the owners of Kimari. Entries are due at 10 a.m. Monday.
David Donk, trainer of Fingal’s Cave, said he doesn’t plan to ship Fingal’s Cave from New York until 2 p.m. Monday so he’ll know by then if she makes it into the field.
“Saw good energy from her this morning, I’m happy enough with her,” Donk said. “Obviously it’s a big challenge, she seems to be doing well, if we get in, we’d run.”
*** Grand Love, also trained by Asmussen, worked a half-mile in 50.59 for the Juvenile Fillies.
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