Santa Anita
Track: Fast
Turf: Firm
Weather: Clear, 62 degrees
ARCADIA, Calif. – Every trainer has his or her own style when it comes to preparing horses for major races, as was evident throughout Sunday’s training session, with an array of different workout styles on display among the two dozen or so Breeders’ Cup contenders to turn in their final major preps at Santa Anita.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The career of Reneesgotzip has been defined by the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, but that has meant more heartbreak in the last two years.
Reneesgotzip was third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Mizdirection, in the 2012 BC Turf Sprint. Last year, she was second, beaten a half-length by Mizdirection. That was the last time Reneesgotzip faced Mizdirection, who was retired last year.
Reneesgotzip is back in the $1 million BC Turf Sprint over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Saturday. This may be her year.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Big Blue Kitten will not start Saturday in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita and is under consideration for two stakes in Japan in November and December, owner and breeder Ken Ramsey said Sunday.
Ramsey said the $768,600 Fukushima Kinen over 1 1/4 miles on turf Nov. 16 at Fukushima Racecourse and the $3.8 million ArimaKinen over 1 9/16 miles on turf Dec. 28 at Nakayama Racecourse are under consideration.
Kaigun is cross-entered in the Mile and the Turf Sprint, and though the Mile is listed as first preference, serious consideration has been given to entering the Turf Sprint. In fact, as of Saturday afternoon, Kaigun's connections were leaning toward the Turf Sprint, but that position had shifted by Saturday night, with the Mile now the more likely spot.
"We're still throwing it around," said trainer Mark Casse. “We talked about it yesterday afternoon and probably were leaning to the Turf Sprint, but then last night, when we spoke again, we were leaning toward the Mile.”
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.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The speedy Bayern and the steady Majestic Harbor both turned in their final works Sunday at Santa Anita for next Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic on a day that saw Cigar Street and Zivo work at Belmont Park and California Chrome arrive at Santa Anita following an early-morning van ride from Los Alamitos.
Bayern is the likely pacesetter in the Classic, and he flashed his speed with jockey Martin Garcia aboard, traveling six furlongs in 1:11.64, according to Daily Racing Form. He sat off a workmate and finished sharply in the lane.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Untapable and Close Hatches will be a lot closer to one another Friday in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff than they were Sunday morning in California and New York, where the Distaff favorites each posted their final workouts.
Untapable went an easy half-mile at Santa Anita in 50.60 seconds, and Close Hatches worked a half-mile in 47.19 at Belmont Park.
Untapable was under a hold from exercise rider Carlos Rosas in her 7:10 a.m. workout. She broke off by herself at the half-mile pole and was under restraint most of the work.
ARCADIA, Calif.- As one would expect, there is no shortage of speed in the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Three of the swiftest members of the prospective field turned in their final preps for the race on Saturday, Big Macher and Rich Tapestry went out at Santa Anita, and World All Week worked over his home base at Hawthorne Park.
Big Macher, who has not started since turning in an uncharacteristically dull effort in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien at Del Mar on Aug. 24, breezed an easy half-mile in 47.40 seconds with jockey Tyler Baze aboard.
Calculator may be the only maiden in the field for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but with two second-place finishes to likely race favorite American Pharoah in Grade 1 races, he certainly has credentials for running in the $2 million race.
On Saturday, at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in Bonsall, Calif., Calculator completed preparations for the Juvenile by working six furlongs in 1:13.80. It was the second fastest of seven works at the distance. But it was far slower than his six-furlong move in 1:10.80 on Oct. 18.
Saturday’s slower move was by design.
