Wandering Eyes

Australian jockey Sam Clipperton capped off one of his most turbulent weeks in Hong Kong with his sweetest success yet, winning the Group Two Premier Bowl aboard rising star Hot King Prawn. The 24-year-old, who had ridden just one winner for the season before the dominant victory, paid credit to “loyal supporter” John Size, who has continued to give him rides when many others have looked elsewhere. Before the Premier Bowl, Size had given Clipperton 86 rides for just two winners (and... View the full article

Beauty Generation again left trainer John Moore and the masses in awe on Sunday, dismantling a strong field to take out the Group Two Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) for the second year running. As he did when winning on National Day three weeks ago, Zac Purton was able to dictate the race from near the front on Beauty Generation and Moore was effusive with his praise for the six-year-old. “What he’s done, carrying the top weight and still being able to run near a track... View the full article

Fran Berry was not exactly the typical Irish rider setting off for pastures new when his path took him to Britain in 2016. Hardly some wide-eyed teenager with his possessions in a handkerchief attempting to catch a break away from the competitive domestic circuit, he was a jockey with an international following and a regular position in the top four throughout this century. There was an itch which needed scratching, which explains why he decided to uproot his wife Laura and toddler son Jordan from Kildare for a fresh start in Berkshire and a position with Ralph Beckett. “The job at Ralph’s came up as I was looking to leave Ireland,” he explains. “The July before I moved over I’d ridden my 1000th winner in Ireland. It had been in my head for a while that I’d done five or six winters in Japan, that’s where I was basically basing my year around, but unfortunately for me they had changed the criteria to get in. Really due to the success of Mirco Demuro and Christophe Lemaire, it went from having to be top five in Ireland to qualify for a licence to be top two and perhaps ride a Longines G1 winner during the year as well. Realistically that wasn’t going to happen and I just felt, all in all, I couldn’t do a lot more there. At 35 years of age it was now or never.” The partnership began well, with a Royal Ascot strike by Kinema (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Duke Of Edinburgh H. and Beckett reaching a career-best total of 101. However, the following summer an announcement was made that the agreement had been terminated by ‘mutual consent’ and that Berry was freelance. “When myself and Ralph didn’t work out it was mid-season,” he says. “You’re starting from scratch in a new country, after only coming back a couple of months from being injured, so basically starting from zero. You’ve no real contacts, everybody’s made arrangements, you’re trying to get into different yards, building up a rapport with different trainers and them getting to know you a bit better.” A useful member of the profession quickly came to his aid, as Berry recalls. “I’ll always be grateful to Henry Candy. I went freelance on a Saturday and he rang me on the Sunday morning asking if I’d be interested in riding work two mornings a week. That was a big fillip. To get a call from a trainer like him is uplifting to the spirits when it’s a wondering-what-you’re-going-to-do-now kind of thing. ‘You might not like it’, he said, ‘you might go back after day one’, but I’ve been there ever since.” He continues: “There have been times it hasn’t been easy, there was a quieter period last August and September, but we had a good winter. I enjoy the variety of it and the way the Saturdays are set up in England during the summer, it’s not a bad thing to be free where you go, to a point. It’s very important as a freelance to get return business, you can get a ride or two for anybody but if you can’t get return business you’re doing something wrong. I think a positive thing has been that the majority of people I’ve ridden for keep using me, and that’s how it’s been building up in the right direction.” The ‘we’ Berry refers to includes Tony Hind, uber-agent to the likes of Ryan Moore and Jim Crowley, and Berry explains that the pair had formulated a long-term plan together. “‘Boney’ and I met in Hong Kong years ago and always kept in touch. He got me riding Kool Kompany (Ire) (Jeremy) for Richard Hannon in the G2 Railway S. and was the first man I spoke to when I thought about moving. He thought it would be a good idea, but to come over freelance it would be too hard to start off, so if I could secure a position it would give me a good base, that’s where the Ralph Beckett link came. It served a purpose in getting me established and getting a feel for the scene. Boney is a very hard worker and has a team of jockeys that most trainers are happy to make just the one phone call to him. I’m in the position not being tied down too closely so that I can slot in for a good spare on the back of some of his other riders.” Although not troubling the principles just yet, Berry should comfortably eclipse last year’s tally of 66 winners and it only takes moments in his company to appreciate why he appears so well-liked in the industry. Warm and unfailingly polite, he even apologises twice for delaying this interview for a physiotherapy session. Among the rider’s newer fans include the Sussex-based Frenchman David Menuisier. He delivered Thundering Blue (Exchange Rate) right on the line in the G2 York S. and was not too far from repeating the trick when third behind Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. “I thought he was well worth a shot at a Juddmonte on a track where he excels,” Berry says. “But it was a big call by David and Clive Washbourn {owner} to supplement him. When you find you’re 50 or 66-1 on the day, I suppose people are wondering what you’re doing and whether you’re burning money, basically. But the horse justified it by running well. For a small team and a young trainer, it could easily not have materialised but it showed he knows what he’s got.” After the Knavesmire, Thundering Blue’s story continued with victory in the G3 Stockholm Cup International S, setting him up for targets even further afield. “I think David wanted to get him on a plane and try him at a mile and a half with the Canadian International and possibly the Japan Cup in mind. I know he was entitled to win but I thought he did it very well at the extra trip off a strong pace.” Thundering Blue was indeed back on his travels soon after his trip to Sweden when he lined up in the GI Pattison Canadian International S. at Woodbine where he found only fellow British trained Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling) too good. There have also been disappointments during Berry’s career, such as suffering serious damage from a fall at the Curragh in 2005 – one of four occasions where he ultimately finished second in the Irish championship. During his long service for John Oxx, he was never able to grasp the lead role in an era of Mick Kinane and Johnny Murtagh. It is to Berry’s credit that he never seems to have been suffused with bitterness. Life has fallen into place in a village near Hungerford which the family are happy to call home. A baby daughter has arrived and Jordan has begun school – “he’s got an English accent as well”. Yet domestic bliss has not taken the edge off the work ethic. Employing a full-time driver to ease the daily slog around the country and riding out for others such as Joe Tuite and Ian Williams are clear indications that Berry might yet enter a title fray again some day. “I’m very ambitious and prepared to work hard, that’s not a problem. I think this year has all been about progress and you’d hope that it’ll build again next year. If you can keep improving, you don’t know what’s going to be around the corner. It was a bit frustrating at home. Pat Smullen is one of my best friends but he was nearly impossible to beat – I ran into him by four or five winners one year and I was well clear in 2005 when I broke my neck. That was probably a missed opportunity but I was lucky to get back riding. It’s something that’s in the back of your mind over here, particularly with the way it has gone (from May to October). If you can get a bit of momentum early in the season, as a freelance you can more or less go where the winners are. I enjoy riding. I know it can be a grind to get on that kind of treadmill, but if an opportunity happened to come along, we’d pursue it with all the effort we could.” Berry still speaks to Smullen every day, and mentions that one of the things he misses most about home was their car sharing journeys to the races along with Kevin Manning and Declan McDonagh. It came as an enormous shock to the racing world when Smullen announced in March that he would be undergoing treatment for a cancerous tumour on his pancreas. “Pat won nine championships – one behind my dad (exceptional jump jockey Frank Berry), although I’m not slagging, him – and hopefully please God he’ll be back for a 10th one next year. He’s doing remarkably well, and it just shows you can never take anything for granted.” Frank now runs owner JP McManus’s racing empire and Berry can also see his longer-term future in the bloodstock world. “It’s something I’m interested in,” he says. “I like going to the sales and you keep your eyes open for the next step, whenever that is. Through my travels I do get calls about finding horses, I’m sure it’ll happen somewhere along the line, but that’ll be in a few years. I’m only getting going, I hope.” View the full article

The prospect of full brothers Time Warp and Glorious Forever trading blows at the front of the field in the Longines Hong Kong Cup on international day became very real with the latter’s blistering win at Sha Tin on Sunday. The dynamic four-year-old stormed to victory in the Class Two IWC Excellent Handicap (1,800m) with a front-running performance that surprised even trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen. “I thought he had a good chance but I didn’t think he would win like that,... View the full article

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano notched three wins, including his 5,000th victory in North America aboard Runaway Lute in the $150,000 Hudson Handicap, Oct. 20 at Belmont Park to steal the show on Empire Showcase Day, an all-New York-bred card. View the full article

Under smart handling from jockey Tyler Gaffalione, Shamrock Rose was able to overtake pacesetter Blamed midway down the lane to score a 2 1/2-length victory in the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. View the full article

Horses' body weights October 21 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings October 21 View the full article

Boss suspended for two days View the full article

Debt Collector reigns supreme in QEII Cup View the full article

Aramco hands Baertschiger his third Garden City Trophy View the full article

Two centuries fit for a King View the full article

Double helps Placais keep up with pace View the full article

Vorster wishes Collett speedy recovery after Sapphire win View the full article

The Irish came to Far Hills, N.J., they liked what they found in many ways, and they conquered. Sideways Syndicate’s Jury Duty (Ire) (Well Chosen {GB}), the heavily favored vanguard of an unprecedented Irish invasion, took command on the final turn of America’s richest steeplechase race and rolled clear to a 3 1/4-length victory Saturday. Owner/trainer Emmet Mullins’s Tornado Watch (Ire) (Selkirk) launched a big move on Far Hills’ final turn to finish second and complete an Irish exacta. Two American contenders, Buttonwood Farm’s All the Way Jose (Senor Swinger) and Harold A. “Sonny” Via’s Hinterland (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}) ran a distant third and fourth, respectively in a field of nine. Trained by Gordon Elliott, who has made American jump racing a profitable adjunct of his successful Irish stable, Jury Duty went off as the 13-to-10 favorite and ran the Grand National’s 2 5/8 miles in 5:14.80. The jury was out on the verdict for some time as the Far Hills stewards examined a late change of lanes by Jury Duty leaving the final turn. Tornado Watch’s jockey, David Mullins, claimed foul after tapping the brakes after Jury Duty came over in front of him, but the original order of finish was left unchanged. Robbie Power, who shipped in with a squad of overseas jockeys for the Far Hills card, gave Jury Duty a tactical ride, keeping the 7-year-old outside and quiet while in the second flight behind a pace set first by Elliott-trained Clarcam (Fr) (Califet {Fr}) and then by Bruton Street-US’s outsider Jaleo (Ger) (New Approach {Ire}), who shipped in from England for trainer Ben Pauling. Jury Duty and Power powered past the fading speed on the final turn as Tornado Watch, All the Way Jose, and Hinterland launched their bids. The American contenders failed to make a lasting impression, but Mullins switched Tornado Watch to the inside and was in striking range. Bending into the stretch, Jury Duty switched to the inside, and Mullins took up on Tornado Watch. Both riders continued to ride over the final fence and to the wire, with Jury Duty widening his advantage to the finish line. Jury Duty arrived in the U.S. with solid credentials, including a third behind Clarcam in the €250,000 thetote.com Galway Plate Steeplechase in early August. View the full article

The total handle for Saturday’s Jim McKay Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park was $5,704 million, a 30.3% increase from last year and the largest MD Million Day handle since 2007. Hall of Fame rider Edgar Prado became the winningest jockey in Maryland Million history with his victory aboard Saratoga Bob (Friesan Fire) in the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic, which was his 18th Maryland Million score. Other Maryland Million Day highlights include Crabcakes (Great Notion) successful title defense in the Million Distaff and My Sistersledge (Etched)’s repeat victory in the Million Ladies S. “We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Sal Sinatra, President and General Manager of the Maryland Jockey Club. “The weather was great, the racing was great, and field size was up. We want to thank all the fans and the Maryland breeders and owners and the horsemen for supporting such a great day. It was also great to see so many people enjoying the Clubhouse Festival throughout the day and evening, our new sportsbook, and all the renovations taking place at Laurel Park that are being led by The Stronach Group and Belinda Stronach.” View the full article

Belmont hosted an 11-race all New York-bred card Saturday with eight stakes races worth a total of $1.75 million. While the Empire-breds certainly put on a show, it was Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano who stole the spotlight, winning three races and scoring his 5,000th win in the process aboard Runaway Lute (Midnight Lute) in the Hudson H. He also piloted Mohawk S. victor Offering Plan (Spring at Last) and Ticonderoga S. heroine Fifty Five (Get Stormy). “I’m thankful to all the owners and trainers who have helped me get to this point, as well as my wonderful wife. She supports me, as well as my kids, it’s not an easy job,” said Castellano. “I’ve had a successful career–four Eclipse Awards, being a Hall of Fame inductee–but I don’t feel that I’m toward the end. I still have goals, number one is to win the Kentucky Derby. I’m very proud to be in the company I am with 5,000 winners.” Favored Pat On the Back (Congrats) won the day’s feature race, the $300,000 Empire Classic H., by 1 1/2 lengths over a late rallying Can You Diggit (Tiznow). Four-time stakes winner Bonita Bianca (Curlin), victress of the Maid of the Mist S. on this card as a juvenile in 2016, romped in the female feature, the $250,000 Empire Distaff H., finishing six lengths clear of a late-rallying Split Time (Take Charge Indy). The Linda Rice-trained Surge of Pride (Kantharos) took to the dirt with aplomb, charging home to a 15-1 upset in the Maid of the Mist S. for 2-year-old fillies. Steve Asmussen pupil Bankit became the second stakes winner for his freshman sire Central Banker with a 5 3/4-length score in the juvenile colts race, the Sleepy Hollow S. Chester and Mary Broman’s four-time graded stakes victress Highway Star (Girolamo) rounded out the days stakes winners with a narrow success in a strong renewal of the Iroquois S. The Bromans are also the breeders and part owners of Surge of Pride. “When I go home tonight, I’ll be looking at the calendar for when this date is next year,” said Michael Dubb, part-owner of Bonita Bianca and Offering Plan. “It’s the greatest day. There’s probably more New York people here today than any other day. The track is busy. It’s one of the best betting cards. It’s really nice to see all of our New York brethren who work so hard come out and have the opportunity to compete.” View the full article

Although the jury was out for a while Oct. 20 as Far Hills' stewards examined the latter stages of the $450,000 Grand National (NSA-G1), Sideways Syndicate Stable's heavily favored Jury Duty emerged with a favorable verdict. View the full article

Katherine Ball's Limousine Liberal completed his major preparation for the Breeders' Cup World Championships in two weeks by working five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 under exercise rider Freddy Torres Oct. 20 at Keeneland. View the full article

Having produced her best form over synthetic surfaces, Conrad Farm’s SHAMROCK ROSE (f, 3, First Dude–Slew’s Quality, by Elusive Quality) showed she could reproduce those efforts over a conventional dirt surface with a handy victory in the GII Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland. Dismissed at odds of 18-1 despite daylight victories in her last two appearances in the Malvern Rose S. at Presque Isle Downs and in the La Lorgnette S. at Woodbine, the Pennsylvania-bred bay settled in midfield and about three paths off the inside as Blamed (Blame) galloped them along comfortably up front. Four deep around the turn, Shamrock Rose was into fourth position at the three-eighths and was poised to strike four wide into the lane. Roused sharply by the in-form Tyler Gaffalione, she managed to sustain her rally that carried her past the pacesetter inside the sixteenth pole and on to an ultimately comfortable victory. Blamed held for second, while Take Charge Paula (Take Charge Indy) ran a remarkable race to finish third. Racing in the second half of the field early, she appeared to check hard off the heels of Bronx Beauty (Liaison) at the five-furlong pole and dropped back several spots. But Florent Geroux never stopped riding and the duo rallied down the center of the track for an improbably Grade II-placing. Shamrock Rose is the fourth graded winner for Double Diamond’s First Dude and marks the 10th graded winner of the season and second of the meet for Gaffalione. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-1. O-Conrad Farms; B-Best A Luck Farm (PA); T-Mark Casse. View the full article

Sands of Mali was left to his own devices in front, with Paul Hanagan judging the pace beautifully and saving enough in reserve to hold the persistent challenge of the back-to-form Harry Angel in second. View the full article

GI Cigar Mile victor Sharp Azteca (Freud–So Sharp, by Saint Liam) will take up stud duty at Three Chimneys Farm for a 2019 fee of $10,000 LFSN. The 5-year-old’s retirement was announced in September, concluding his career with a record of 17-8-5-1 and earnings of $2,406,740. “Sharp Azteca was brilliantly fast, and when you watch his races, you will see speed, toughness and tenacity, all three of which are elements we like in a stallion prospect,” said Three Chimneys Chairman Goncalo Torrealba. “We believe that Sharp Azteca can be another offshoot branch of the Storm Cat line through Giant Causeway’s full-brother Freud, similar to what Harlan, Harlan’s Holiday and Into Mischief did.” Scoring his first black-type victory in the 2016 GIII Pat Day Mile, Sharp Azteca finished second to Mind Your Biscuits (Posse) in that year’s GI Malibu S. Kicking off 2017 with a win in the GII Gulfstream Park H., he was second in last year’s GI Met Mile and won both the GII Monmouth Cup S. and GII Kelso H. before just missing to Battle of Midway (Smart Strike) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. The dark bay would not be deterred and ran back in the Cigar Mile, where he finally secured the Grade I win he had come so close too on three previous occasions. “When you see Sharp Azteca, he’s absolutely striking,” said Three Chimneys’ Doug Cauthen. “He is big and powerful and is a true conformation stallion. He was a top class miler who ran superbly in every jurisdiction he competed at Churchill, Belmont, in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, and in Dubai [finishing third in the 2017 G2 Godolphin Mile], it didn’t matter. He was simply a runner and offers breeders a great value opportunity. Sharp Azteca is the kind that can get them a great looking sales horse and a proper racehorse down the road.” View the full article

The Longines Ladies Award was presented to Her Majesty The Queen during a private ceremony at QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday. Now in its sixth year and judged by Ingmar De Vos, President of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), Louis Romanet, Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and Nathalie Belinguier, Former President of the International Federation of Gentleman and Lady Riders (FEGENTRI), the Longines Ladies Awards celebrate women who have consistently performed at the highest level and made significant contribution to the equestrian industry through their work. As the patron of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and a prominent owner/breeder, The Queen has a keen and highly knowledgeable interest in the equestrian world, and she frequently attends equestrian events, among them the G1 Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot. Twice a champion owner in Britain, The Queen’s horses have carried the royal colours to victory in over 1,600 races, with her filly Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) winning both the G1 Gold Cup and the G3 Longines Sagaro S. In 2018, Call To Mind (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) captured the GII Belmont Cup Invitational S. at Belmont Park Stateside. “In the light of a long list of remarkable achievements, it is a great honour for Longines to present the 2018 Longines Ladies Award to Her Majesty The Queen, as a celebration of Her Majesty’s passion for horses and exceptional commitment to the equine cause,” said Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President and Head of International Marketing of Longines. “This strong dedication to equestrian sports runs in the family, as we were delighted to bestow the same award on The Queen’s daughter, HRH The Princess Royal, in 2016.” View the full article

Keeneland will recognize all military, both active duty and veterans, and all first responders and their families Sunday at Heroes Day. Military and first responders will receive free admission and reserved grandstand seating. The Family Zone will also offer free food from City Barbeque, children’s activities and more. A flag unfurling will take place following the third race with Henry Clay High School’s JROTC. The bugler will play “America the Beautiful” during the unfurling ceremony and Dr. Everett McCorvey of the UK Opera will sing “God Bless America.” View the full article

GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff contender Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) breezed a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.20 (3/44) at Churchill Downs with regular rider Florent Geroux in the irons. Working in company with Dazzling Gem (Misremembered) (1:01.40), the leading sophomore filly clicked off splits of :12.80, :24.60, :36.40 and :48.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40. “It was a fantastic breeze,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We got a little bit of rain overnight so the track was a little slow but she worked fantastic over it. She started a few lengths behind the work mate and finished up strong in front of him and galloped out well. We’ll probably come back next week to work a half-mile prior to the Distaff.” Cox also worked GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint contender Golden Mischief (Into Mischief), who went a half-mile in :50.60 (56/70), and GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint possible Will Call (Country Day), who covered the same distance in :49.80 (38/70). With owner Robert Baron in from New York for the work, GI H. Allen Jerkens S. victor Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) took to the track following Churchill’s second renovation break at 9 a.m. and covered a half-mile in :48 flat (4/70). The sophomore, who bested his elders last time in the GII Phoenix S., went in splits of :11.60 and :35.60 with a five-panel gallop out in 1:00.60. “It was a great work after his last start,” conditioner Dale Romans said. “We’re going to pre-enter both the [GI Breeders’ Cup] Sprint and [the GI Breeders’ Cup] Dirt Mile, but I’d lean to run him in the Sprint. We still have a shot to be sprint champion with this horse and, even if we won the Dirt Mile, we may not be champion.” Promises Fulfilled was not originally nominated to the Breeders’ Cup, but Baron will pay the supplemental fee to make the colt eligible. Stablemate and Dirt Mile contender Seven Trumpets (Morning Line) was next up, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.20 (3/44). GII Woodford S. victor Bucchero (Kantharos) continued his preparations for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Saturday morning, working a half-mile in :48.60 (12/70) at Churchill under jockey Fernando De La Cruz. “I was very pleased with how he worked this morning,” said trainer Tim Glyshaw, who will be celebrating his 50th birthday on Breeders’ Cup Saturday Nov. 3.. “It’ll be exciting running him out of his own backyard on Breeders’ Cup Day. We may gallop him over the turf once or twice when it opens Breeders’ Cup week but he trains well over the dirt so it doesn’t really have too much of an impact one way or another.” ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mia Mischief (Into Mischief) was also on the Churchill worktab, prepping for a possible tilt in the GI BC F/M Sprint with a five-furlong move in 1:00.80 (6/44). Limousine Liberal (Successful Appeal) breezed five panels in 1:00.40 (7/30), covering the final quarter in :22.40, at Keeneland Saturday morning under exercise rider Freddy Torres. “It got a little messed up at the start [with two other horses in front of him], but he finished good,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “It’s fine.” This will be the gelding’s third trip the World Championships, having finished 11th in the 2015 GI BC Sprint and fourth in the 2016 renewal of that event. He will be pre-entered in both the Sprint and the Dirt Mile. The Ken McPeek-trained duo of GI Breeders’ Futurity S. runner-up Signalman (General Quarters) (GI BC Juvenile) and GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. third-place finisher Salvator Mundi (Artie Schiller) (GI BC Juvenile Turf) worked in company at Keeneland Saturday following the renovation break. The juvenile colts covered five furlongs in 1:00.20 (2/30) and galloped out in 1:13.40 (video). “This was another maintenance breeze,” said McPeek, who added he would ship his crew to Churchill Oct. 29 or 30. “At this point, [my Breeders’ Cup horses] will have their final works here. They’ll either work Friday or Saturday next week, depending on the weather.” GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf contender Mom’s On Strike (First Dude) worked a half-mile in :49.60 (43/60) under trainer Joe Sharp at Keeneland Saturday (video). On the West Coast, likely GI Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite Accelerate (Lookin at Lucky) put in his penultimate work for the World Championships, covering five panels in :59.80 (8/40) at Santa Anita under assistant trainer Juan Levya (video). “He went very well,” trainer John Sadler. “I had him in a minute flat, but we’re splitting hairs there. He had another nice gallop out. I had him out [seven furlongs] in [1:00.26].” He added, “[Bob] Baffert clocked him, too. He was standing right next to me and he said, ‘I don’t like it,’ so I felt good. Accelerate will have one more work here, either Friday or Saturday next week, and he ships Sunday [Oct. 28].” GI BC F/M Sprint runner Skye Diamonds (First Dude) was also on the Santa Anita worktab, going a half-mile in :48.20 (3/8) on the training track Saturday (video). “She came out of her victory in the [GIII] LA Woman S. very, very well,” said trainer Bill Spawr. “She’ll work again next Saturday, then ship Tuesday to Kentucky.” Rounding out the Santa Anita Breeders’ Cup workers were City of Light (Quality Road) (Classic/Dirt Mile), a best-of-40 five furlongs in :59 flat (video) in company with The Lieutenant (Street Sense) (:59.60); Liam the Charmer (Smart Strike) (Turf) and Paved (Quality Road), five panels in company 1:01.40 (21/40) (video); Vibrance (Violence) (Juvenile Fillies), five panels in 1:00.40 (11/40); and Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate), a best-of-11 six furlongs in 1:13.40 (video). A pair of Grade I-winning colts prepped for the BC Juvenile Saturday with GI Champagne S. victor Complexity (Maclean’s Music) working at Belmont and GI Hopeful S. upsetter Mind Control (Stay Thirst) breezing at his Monmouth Park base. Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Complexity covered a half-mile in :49.32 (16/49) over the Elmont main track for trainer Chad Brown (video). Conditioned by Greg Sacco, Mind Control went six furlongs in 1:13.80 (2/3) over the Oceanport oval. Also on the Belmont worktab were BC Distaff-bound Wow Cat (Chi) (Lookin at Lucky), who worked a half-mile in company with Pacific Wind (Curlin) in :49.32 (16/49) (video); and world-record setting turf sprinter Disco Partner (Disco Rico) (BC Turf Sprint), who went four furlongs in :51.55 on the dirt (49/49) (video). View the full article