DEL MAR, Calif. – Bill Mott has won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff five times, and it appears he’ll have a strong chance to make it a six-pack Friday, the way Elate has been training since arriving at Del Mar.
The positive impression Elate gave in recent gallops was confirmed with an eye-catching workout Sunday morning that Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch caught in 48.78 for a half-mile, with a final quarter-mile in 23.60 seconds. Exercise rider Neil Poznansky was aboard.
Itsinthepost has never won a Grade 1 stakes. He did not have his last start in a major stakes at Belmont Park or a famous European track, such as Ascot or Chantilly.
When he starts in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar, Itsinthepost will be overlooked, despite a win in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita on Oct. 1. The focus will be on runners from New York or Europe.
“He’s French,” trainer Jeff Mullins protested with a laugh Sunday morning. “He’s not local. He’s a transplant.”
Del Mar
Track: Fast
Weather: Hazy
Temp.: 65
DEL MAR, Calif. – Two-year-olds took center stage at Del Mar on Saturday, with three of the nine Breeders’ Cup workouts during the morning turned in by horses pointing for the Juvenile, including Free Drop Billy and Hollywood Star for trainer Dale Romans.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Dale Romans decided to send his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runners out to California several weeks in front of the Breeders’ Cup, and the decision appears to be agreeing with Free Drop Billy, who continued his impressive local training with a five-furlong work on Saturday morning here at Del Mar that Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch caught in 1:00.86.
Romans also worked Hollywood Star five furlongs, in 1:01.98, a bit later in the morning. Both were ridden by his life partner, exercise rider Tammy Fox.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The veteran gelding Imperative will not run in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Friday at Del Mar owing to "what appears to be the beginning of a hairline fracture of the pelvis," trainer Bob Hess Jr. said Saturday.
"It'll heal. He'll be fine. But he's out of the race," Hess said. "I don't think it will be career-threatening."
Hess said Imperative was uncomfortable after galloping on Saturday morning. "He was lame back at the barn," Hess said.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Bolt d’Oro is the established horse to beat in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar next Saturday, but Firenze Fire confirmed that he will be one of the serious challengers in the 1 1/16-mile race with a serious workout Saturday morning at Belmont Park.
Firenze Fire, the Grade 1 Champagne winner, worked a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.12 and galloped out extremely well over the training track Saturday in his final drill for the Juvenile.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Calling it “one of the best breeze days I’ve had going into a Breeders’ Cup,” trainer Chad Brown worked 12 of his 13 expected Breeders’ Cup starters Saturday morning at Belmont Park.
Lady Eli, who could be making her final career start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, topped the list with a sensational five-furlong workout in 1:00.79 over the turf course. Lady Eli, with exercise rider Walter Melasquez aboard, worked in company with Roca Rojo, and the pair went their first quarter in 24.75 seconds and got their final three-eighths in 36.04.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Stellar Wind and Abel Tasman – a champion preparing for the final start of her career, and the other a potential champion preparing for her final start of the season – posted final workouts for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Saturday at Santa Anita.
The 5-year-old Stellar Wind and the 3-year-old Abel Tasman worked moments apart at 7:50 a.m.; both worked in company.
Del Mar
Weather: Overcast/foggy
Temp: 55
Track: Fast
DEL MAR, Calif. – Finally, some real action at Del Mar, the home of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup. There were a half-dozen Breeders’ Cup workouts on Friday morning at Del Mar, including a sizzler from Sprint contender American Pastime and an easier, maintenance-type move turned in by Classic outsider Pavel.
DEL MAR, Calif. – There never seems to be a dull moment these days for trainer Jorge Navarro.
On Friday, Navarro sent out his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile contender Sharp Azteca for a routine gallop over the main track at Del Mar that turned out to be not so routine after all. Not after the multiple Grade 2 winner and potential Dirt Mile favorite lost one of the two saddle towels he was wearing along with his saddle pad approaching the wire.
