ARCADIA, Calif. - It frequently takes a top-class runner to record the fastest six-furlong workout time on a weekend morning at Santa Anita.

On Saturday, Imagination, winner of the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 28, held the distinction, working six furlongs in 1:11.60 for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

On Sunday, the times were quicker, led by the 5-year-old mare Sweet Azteca, who zoomed through six furlongs in 1:10.80 in preparation for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Village Voice, who came off a near-yearlong layoff to win the Grade 3 Waya Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 5, worked a half-mile in 50.14 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course Sunday in preparation for a start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 1. 

Village Voice worked on the inside of Alimara (ninth in the Waya), the two going a quarter in 25.92 seconds and galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.46. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - California, here he comes. 

After spending the last 24 weeks in Saratoga, Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner, was scheduled on Wednesday to ship to Southern California, where on Nov. 1 he’ll be the likely favorite in a stacked field running in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Despite his status as defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and reigning 3-year-old champion, Sierra Leone will enter the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic a little bit under the radar. 

“It’s such a deep field and he hasn’t run that much this year, I understand,” Chad Brown, trainer of Sierra Leone, said. “I don’t take any offense to it. Going into the race I do believe he’s one of the main contenders in the race. He’s a horse that’s in good form. His last two races were very good, especially given his trouble in the last race.” 

Dr. Venkman, winner of the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 23, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday in preparation for a likely start in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Trainer Mark Glatt said Dr. Venkman is being considered for the $1 million BC Dirt Mile, but that the Sprint at six furlongs is preferred.

“We’re probably leaning toward the Sprint, but we’re keeping an open mind,” Glatt said. “The Sprint doesn’t look nearly as deep as the (Dirt) Mile potentially could be.”

ARCADIA, Calif. – Twenty days after a maiden romp at Santa Anita, 2-year-old filly Super Corredora will jump into the deep end.

“She’s going in the big one,” trainer John Sadler said Saturday morning, referring to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31 at Del Mar. It’s a big jump from maiden to Grade 1, but Super Corredora ran like a stakes filly when she stretched to a mile and crushed.

“She won with a big number, she won easily, and (the Breeders’ Cup) is right in our home court,” Sadler said. “She’s a Gun Runner, they run better when you stretch them out.”

The recent stakes winners Hey Nay Nay and Intrepido, both intended runners in Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds at Del Mar on Oct. 31, worked at Santa Anita on Friday in moderate and slow times.

Hey Nay Nay, winner of the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 7 and undefeated in three starts, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80, which ranked as the 20th-fastest time of 43 works at the distance. Hey Nay Nay is scheduled to start in the BC Juvenile Turf at a mile.

“The track was a little heavy this morning,” trainer John Sadler said. “He’s right on schedule.”

Jose Ortiz will ride Journalism for the first time in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Aron Wellman, the managing director of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, a syndicate that co-owns Journalism, said the decision was made on Friday morning to replace previous rider Umberto Rispoli.

Wellman declined to elaborate on the reason for the change.

Matt Nakatani, Rispoli’s agent, said late Friday morning that he did not have an immediate replacement mount for Rispoli in the BC Classic.