Takaful sharp in BC Sprint drill

ELMONT, N.Y. – Takaful, the Grade 1 Vosburgh winner, breezed four furlongs in 48.30 seconds over the Belmont Park training track Thursday morning preparing for a start in the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

Takaful, a bit of a quirky horse to train, jogged alongside a pony from the six-furlong pole to the 3 1/2-furlong marker before breaking from the pole running. He left the three-furlong pole running and went his first eighth in 12.20 seconds, hit the wire in 36.15, and got his final eighth in 12.15 with the work officially ending a furlong past the wire. Takaful proceeded to gallop out five furlongs in 1:01.93.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said, “He worked very well, and we’ll come back and do it again next Thursday, Friday or Saturday” depending on weather.

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McLaughlin utilized a pony to keep Takaful company instead of using the headgear he typically trains in. Most mornings, Takaful trains in equipment that McLaughlin calls “pacifiers,” which are basically blinkers with screens over the eyes.

“It’s just been something to help us train horses that don’t want to train,” McLaughlin said. “Makes them focus. They’re looking through screens, it changes their view and makes them pay attention a little bit more.”

Takaful will ship to Del Mar on Oct. 31.

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