Top Breeders' Cup Juvenile contenders have final works

ELMONT, N.Y. – The top three choices for next Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita put in their final workouts Sunday.

At Santa Anita, American Pharoah, the probable race favorite, worked five furlongs in 1:00.18 with jockey Martin Garcia up.

At Belmont Park, Carpe Diem and Daredevil, who will, in some order, be the second and third choices for trainer Todd Pletcher, worked over the training track. Carpe Diem, the Breeders’ Futurity winner, went a half in 49.00 seconds, while Daredevil, the Champagne winner, worked four furlongs in 47.46 in an eye-catching move.

Daredevil, with Javier Castellano up, worked inside of fellow 2-year-old stakes winner Blofeld. The two went off in a quick 23.65 but still went a sharp 23.81 down the lane. Daredevil galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.71, six furlongs in 1:14.67, and pulled up seven-eighths in 1:30.20.

“He’s a horse that has only run twice. I figured it’d be an education for him to be on the inside,” Pletcher said. “I thought he worked very impressively.”

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Shortly before Daredevil worked, Carpe Diem, with jockey John Velazquez up, worked outside the 3-year-old stakes winner Vinceremos. That pair went together through a first quarter in 24.45 and a second quarter in 24.55. The two galloped out in 1:02.29 and six furlongs in 1:15.92.

Pletcher said, “Carpe was inside last time. I wanted to have him start off on the outside and maybe sit off that horse a little bit, get him to settle, which I thought he did well. He finished good, galloped out good, seemed happy. Good work.”

Pletcher has great respect for American Pharoah but feels good about his chances.

“Both of these colts give you good feels,” Pletcher said. “I think American Pharaoh is a very good horse, so we got to run against him on his home track, but I’m still very confident we’re bringing two very nice horses that are doing extremely well at the moment.”

Speaking of American Pharoah, the dual Grade 1 winner completed his preparations for the Juvenile on Sunday, working five furlongs for trainer Bob Baffert.

American Pharoah worked in company after the third and final renovation break at Santa Anita. American Pharoah started inside his workmate and drew away with authority down the lane.

"Isn't he scary?" Baffert said. "He just does it effortlessly."

Baffert usually works his better horses outside a workmate but said he put American Pharoah inside because "he sees things."

"He'll duck out," Baffert said. "I don't have a problem with him being inside horses."

Other Juvenile contenders working Sunday at Santa Anita were Lucky Player, who went four furlongs in 50.40, and Blue Dancer, who went a half-mile in 49.00. At Aqueduct, the Champagne runner-up Upstart worked five furlongs in 1:00.57.

A field of 13 is expected for the Juvenile when post positions are drawn Monday at 1 p.m. Pacific.

"You've got to draw well, break well," Baffert said. "Todd's horses are good, too."

– additional reporting by Jay Privman