DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Peter Miller, surveying the Del Mar racing ovals from the box seats in the grandstand, was up on his toes, like a boxer waiting with nervous energy for the fight to begin. Stopwatch in one hand, walkie-talkie in the other, he watched Mo Forza, with whom he hopes to win the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile, make his way onto the grass course for his final Mile workout Sunday morning.

Oct. 31, 2021

Del Mar
Weather: Hazy 
Temp: 61 
Main Track: Fast 
Turf: Firm

DEL MAR, Calif. - One day before having their names placed in the entry box, 19 potential starters for this year’s Breeders’ Cup turned in their final major preps for their respective races Sunday morning at Del Mar, with 13 going over the main track and six others working on the turf.

DEL MAR, Ca. - For all the excellent turf sprinters Wesley Ward has trained, he never has won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Ward will have three chances to fill that void Saturday at Del Mar, as his trio of pre-entrants for the $1 million Turf Sprint turned in timed workouts over a soggy Keeneland grass course Sunday morning.

Golden Pal, the likely favorite, worked a half-mile in 53.20 seconds going in company with the 2-year-old filly Averly Jane, one of the favorites for the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rattle N Roll, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and one of the top would-be contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Friday at Del Mar, has been withdrawn from consideration after being diagnosed Sunday with a minor foot bruise.

Trainer Ken McPeek said he and his staff noticed Rattle N Roll “had a hind foot bothering him this morning” at his Churchill Downs barn, “and after we pulled a shoe and took a close look, he’s got just a small bruise there. It’s not a major thing, but obviously the timing is a big deal.”

DEL MAR, Calif. – Echo Zulu, expected to be a heavy favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Friday at Del Mar, turned in her final work for the race on Sunday here at Del Mar with an easy half-mile in 50.40 seconds for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Echo Zulu went by herself and never was asked for anything at any point.

The trainer Ken McPeek wanted to avoid working Tiz the Bomb over a wet track, but with Tiz the Bomb set to ship to Del Mar on Monday to start Friday in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, McPeek had no choice.

So, on Sunday at Keeneland, Tiz the Bomb worked a half-mile over a sloppy main track in 47.20 seconds. Working by himself, Tiz the Bomb clocked the fastest of 20 works at the distance.

Hello You, the stylish winner of the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in England on Sept. 24, will be ridden for the first time by American Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.

Ron Anderson, Velazquez’s agent, confirmed the booking Sunday. Velazquez replaces Rossa Ryan, who has ridden Hello You in five of her six starts, including two wins. Hello You, trained by David Loughnane for Avo Racing, has won 2 of 6 starts.

The field for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar may not be finalized until scratch time on the race morning, and will depend on decisions by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien and the powerful Coolmore syndicate that owns all or part of five pre-entrants.

O’Brien has won the BC Turf a record six times, and has had a constant presence in the race since 2011. This year, O’Brien pre-entered Bolshoi Ballet, Broome, Japan, Love, and Mogul, all of whom are Grade 1 or Group 1 winners.

DEL MAR, Calif. - War Like Goddess, Going to Vegas, and Dogtag, three of the five U.S.-based females pointing to Saturday’s $2 million Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar, all put in their final workouts for the race Sunday morning.

War Like Goddess, the potential favorite for the 1 3/8-mile race, worked a half-mile in 48.02 seconds over Del Mar’s main track, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch, getting her last quarter in 24 flat. Though the turf course was open for training Sunday morning, trainer Bill Mott felt content to work her on the dirt.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Rudy Rodriguez is glad he brought his Grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly Bella Sofia out to Southern California early to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint next Saturday at Del Mar.

On Sunday morning, Rodriguez guided Bella Sofia through a half-mile in 48.64 seconds over Del Mar’s main track, getting her last quarter in 23.06 seconds under minimal urging.