Sun, 10/28/2012 - 12:06

Churchill Downs: Breeders' Cup Classic prospect Fort Larned turns in bullet workout

Tom Keyser
Fort Larned, shown in New York before the Jockey Club Gold Cup, worked a sharp five furlongs Sunday in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Cornhusker and Whitney Handicap winner Fort Larned completed his final work for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic by breezing five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.40 seconds on a fast track at Churchill Downs on Sunday.

Working in company with Indiana Derby winner Neck ‘n Neck, Fort Larned started approximately five lengths behind his workmate, and the pair finished together through the lane, trainer Ian Wilkes said.

“Everything went to plan,” Wilkes  said. “He did it very easily and galloped out nicely.”

Sun, 10/28/2012 - 11:46

Belmont: Breeders' Cup prospects come out early to beat bad weather

Barbara D. Livingston
Point of Entry, shown exercising on Oct. 22, went out for his final workout before the Breeders' Cup Turf, breezing four furlongs in 47.61 seconds Sunday morning.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The final works are in. Now, it’s a matter of getting the horses out of New York for next week’s Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita.

With Hurricane Sandy on the way, New York horsemen scurried about Belmont Park early Sunday morning with a dozen Breeders’ Cup-bound horses putting in workouts over three tracks in about a 75-minute period from 7 to 8:15 a.m.

Sat, 10/27/2012 - 16:55

Breeders' Cup Clocker Report: Super Ninety Nine impresses

Barbara D. Livingston
Super Ninety Nine, with Rafael Bejarano up, works five furlongs in 59.57 seconds for the Juvenile Sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Railbirds had to gulp down their coffee or wolf a quick breakfast at Santa Anita’s famous Clocker’s Corner if they didn’t want to miss any of the steady and, at times, frenetic action that took place here Saturday morning, with more than two dozen horses turning in their final major preps for Breeders’ Cup 2012.

The main track, which had been a bit on the dull side the previous two days, was a lot livelier throughout Saturday’s training session. The dogs were out 30 to 40 feet on the turf course.

Work of the day (main track)

Sat, 10/27/2012 - 15:43

Breeders' Cup: Decision on Dullahan's race no clearer after main-track work

Barbara D. Livingston
Dullahan, with exercise rider Tammy Fox up, works five furlongs on the main track in 1:00.12 on Saturday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – With 48 hours until the deadline as to whether to enter Dullahan in the Breeders’ Cup Turf or the Classic next Saturday, trainer Dale Romans was no closer to a decision Saturday morning at Santa Anita after watching Dullahan work on the main track.

Not even the tempting bribe of a freshly baked cookie could pry the information. Told he could have one for a good quote, Romans responded, “Dullahan’s running in the Classic!”

He quickly added, “You said good quote. Does it have to be the truth?”

Sat, 10/27/2012 - 15:34

Breeders' Cup workers at Keeneland get fast conditions despite rain

Coady Photography
Breeders' Cup Mile candidate Willcox Inn, with exercise rider Hilary Pridham aboard, works five furlongs in 1:00.80 in company with Every Way, a 2-year-old graded stakes-placed filly. at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Despite steady rain Friday night in Kentucky, seven Breeders’ Cup horses were able to work Saturday morning among Keeneland, Churchill Downs, and Churchill Downs Trackside.

At Keeneland, where the synthetic Polytrack surface drains easily, leaving it always fast, the weather conditions were of no consequence, and five Breeders’ Cup works were conducted.

Trainer Tom Amoss breezed a pair of horses over the Keeneland main track, with Phoenix winner Sum of the Parts going a half-mile in 47.60 seconds and Global Power covering the same distance in 50 seconds.

Sat, 10/27/2012 - 15:12

Breeders' Cup: Pletcher pairs Dreaming of Julia, Shanghai Bobby for final drill

Barbara D. Livingston
Dreaming of Julia figures to vie for favoritism in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher was looking for a suitable partner to bring out more from his undefeated Grade 1-winning 2-year-old filly Dreaming of Julia in her final workout before next Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Who better than Pletcher’s undefeated Grade 1-winning 2-year-old colt, Shanghai Bobby, to do just that?

Pletcher appeared to get the desired result as Dreaming of Julia, who figures to vie for favoritism with Executiveprivilege in the Juvenile Fillies, worked a half-mile in 48.54 seconds Saturday over the Belmont training track.

Sat, 10/27/2012 - 14:56

Breeders' Cup Turf: Romans still torn between two races for Little Mike

Four-Footed Fotos
Arlington Million winner Little Mike isn't Hay Jude's only successful foal. Another, Little Nick, has earned nearly $500,000.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Trainer Dale Romans has not ruled out a start in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 for Little Mike, the winner of the Arlington Million in August.

Little Mike is pre-entered for the BC Mile and BC Turf, with the Mile as his first preference.

Romans said on Saturday that he wants to study the BC Turf, notably the pace scenario, before making a final decision.

“I think we’re 60-40 for the Mile,” he said. “It will be about who is going in each race and the speed scenario.”

Sat, 10/27/2012 - 14:19

Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf: Lady of Shamrock facing a different class of competition

Barbara D. Livingston
In Lingerie (left) works a half-mile in 46.60 seconds on turf Saturday at Santa Anita in company with Turbo Compressor.

Lady of Shamrock has won four turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies this year. Her last two starts were victories in Grade 1 races during the summer. Earlier this year, she was unbeaten in three turf stakes at Santa Anita.

All of that would seemingly make Lady of Shamrock a leading contender for Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita. But an interrupted preparation in recent months and a stellar field of fillies and mares in the Filly and Mare Turf will make Lady of Shamrock a bit of an outsider.

Sat, 10/27/2012 - 14:00

Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic: Grace Hall gets final work at Delaware Park

Tom Keyser
Grace Hall will ship to Santa Anita on Tuesday for Friday's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic.

Grace Hall is fit and ready to ship. She worked a half-mile Saturday at Delaware Park in 47.80 seconds, breezing, a work trainer Tony Dutrow deemed “as good as I could have dreamed.”

Winner of the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks last out and 6 for 10 overall, 3-year-old Grace Hall is scheduled to fly out of New York on Tuesday and run Friday at Santa Anita in the $2 million Ladies’ Classic. The expected field of eight includes early favorite Royal Delta, along with unbeaten fillies Awesome Feather and My Miss Aurelia.

Sat, 10/27/2012 - 13:14

Breeders' Cup: Spendthrift still pondering where Beholder, Jimmy Creed will run

Shigeki Kikkawa
Beholder earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure for her Oct. 4 allowance win at Santa Anita.

With Breeders’ Cup entries due Monday, a final decision had not yet been made by B. Wayne Hughes regarding which BC races his two Spendthrift Farm runners, Beholder and Jimmy Creed, will go in. However, it appears both will be running short, not long.