Tonalist works five furlongs for BC Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. – Saturday morning did not start off particularly well for trainer Christophe Clement when he was told by New York Racing Association officials that he would not be allowed to work a horse on the turf for the Breeders’ Cup.

Clement’s morning got much better a little while later when Tonalist, his Belmont Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, worked five furlongs in 1:01.75 over the Belmont Park main track in preparation for next Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

Working over a main track labeled “good” shortly after 9 a.m., Tonalist, under exercise rider Lee Vickers, broke off at the half-mile pole and went his first quarter-mile in 25.39 seconds. Tonalist came into the stretch about three paths off the rail, finished the move in 36.36 seconds, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.70.

“I’m very happy with the work,” Clement said. “I thought he looked great. By design, I told him to finish two or three away from the rail. I thought the track was a touch heavy on the rail. I loved the way he did it. I didn’t think my rider was too aggressive. The horse was very willing. He’s happy, he’s sound. There will be no more fast work, and let’s go to the Breeders’ Cup.”

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Overall, Clement said he is extremely pleased with how the four weeks have gone for Tonalist since his victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

“Everything went great, smooth, very happy,” Clement said. “One easy work, two works a touch more aggressive; he’s very fit, he’s barely blowing. He came back to the barn and looked very good to me.”

Unable to make satisfactory flight arrangements with Tex Sutton, Clement will ship all four of his Breeders’ Cup horses – Tonalist, Irish Mission, Summer Front, and Za Approval – to Southern California on a Federal Express flight Tuesday.

Clement had planned to work BC Mile contender Summer Front on the turf Saturday, and about an hour before that work was to be done, he was informed by NYRA officials that the turf would not be open for training. NYRA felt that since it felt compelled to move one of its six scheduled turf races to the main track, it would not be right to allow training over it.

Annoyed at first, Clement said later in the morning that he understood the decision.

“I understand, even if it is a Breeders’ Cup horse,” Clement said.

Clement planned to work Summer Front and Irish Mission (Filly and Mare Turf) on the turf and Za Approval (Turf Sprint) on dirt Sunday.