Summers takes more controlled approach in Napoleon Solo work
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ELMONT, N.Y. – After two extremely fast workouts, Preakness winner Napoleon Solo took it down a notch Friday morning at Belmont Park, working a controlled half-mile in 48.72 seconds over the main track as he prepares for the Breeders’ Cup in two weeks at Keeneland.
In an effort to beat the forecasted rain, Napoleon Solo worked just after the track opened at 5:30 a.m. Under jockey Emily Ellingwood, Napoleon Solo went his first quarter in 24.87 seconds, came home in 23.85, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.72. By design, it was a slower work than on Oct. 9, when Napoleon Solo blazed six furlongs in 1:10.67, which came a week after he went five furlongs in 58 seconds.
“Last week was fine. Emily and Napoleon got their competitive juices going,” trainer Chad Summers said. “We went a half today with a little more of a controlled breeze, controlled gallop-out. We had the track [almost] to ourselves, Emily was on the walkie-talkie. She said that it was just like an open gallop.
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“He had his ears pinned forward, he was happy as can be,” Summers said. “He tried to buck her off when he turned around going back to the gap.”
Napoleon Solo, who since the Preakness has finished second in the Haskell and Travers, is expected to run in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31, but Summers reiterated Friday the horse also will be pre-entered in the $1 million Dirt Mile.
Summers said Espoir USA, the principal owners of Napoleon Solo, want to examine the fields for the races before making a decision.
“We’re with everybody else, see where Knightsbridge goes and Sovereignty goes,” Summers said. “It affects the pace of both races whether you’re talking about the Classic or the Dirt Mile. There are good horses in both races. There are more proven horses in the Classic than the Dirt Mile. The Dirt Mile is kind of wide open.”
Summers noted that beyond the Breeders’ Cup, Napoleon Solo is being pointed to the $20 million Saudi Cup in February and the Dubai World Cup in March.
Napoleon Solo was scheduled to leave for Keeneland on Saturday morning and will have his final work for the Breeders’ Cup next Friday.
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