Pletcher Breezes Quartet At Spa With Eye On Breeders’ Cup Classic For All

[Wandering Eyes]

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a quartet of workers over the Oklahoma dirt at Saratoga on Friday who are all intended for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. The group of workers included Antiquarian (Preservationist) and 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard, Fierceness (City of Light), Mindframe (Constitution) and Locked (Gun Runner).

Mindframe breezed to the inside of Locked shortly after the first renovation break and the pair covered five furlongs in 1:01.49, according to NYRA clockers. Mindframe edged clear of the Sept. 27 GII Woodward-winner Locked just before the wire, galloping out in front and strongly through the turn.

“I thought Mindframe went super,” Pletcher said. “He had a really strong gallop out. Locked, since he's run more recently, we weren't looking for quite as much on the gallop out from him, but I thought they both went well.”

Repole Stable and St. Elias's Mindframe was 3-for-3 this year with a pair of Grade I wins entering his last race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga Aug. 31. The 4-year-old dark bay was on the receiving end of a chain reaction of bumping caused by Phileas Fogg (Astern {Aus}) and lost jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. shortly into the 10-furlong race.

“I don't know how to quantify exactly what he got out of the Jockey Club from a fitness perspective and an actual true race,” Pletcher said. “We felt like we needed a little more from him [in training]. We've gotten some good works and good gallop outs, so I think we have accomplished what we were hoping to from a fitness perspective.”

Pletcher confirmed Locked, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, is currently targeting the Classic rather than the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Antiquarian outside of Fierceness | Sarah Andrew

Champion Fierceness, who was last seen taking the GI Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 30, breezed to the inside of Antiquarian following the second renovation break and the pair were on even terms as they covered five furlongs in 1:00.56, according to NYRA clockers.

“Just another 'typical of what we've seen from him [Fierceness].' Every breeze, he just does things very effortlessly,” said Pletcher. “He looked good coming to the wire, stayed on, galloped out nicely. We wanted to match him up with a little stronger mate today, to get a good solid work.

“I thought [Antiquarian] responded well. He stayed on course and galloped out nicely, a good work from both of them,” Pletcher added.

Centennial Farms's Antiquarian broke through at the top-level and earned a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure in the Gold Cup, inching close to millionaire status with $944,100 banked through a 9-4-3-0 record.

“We felt like with all four horses, today was the sternest work we were going to look for. They are going to ship next week, we won't look to do quite as much next week,” Pletcher said, confirming that the four Breeders' Cup Classic contenders will work again at the Spa next week before shipping.”

Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier's Fierceness was a 1 1/2-length second in last year's Classic to champion Sierra Leone (Gun Runner).

“It is always comforting to know that he appears to like the surface out there, two good races, there gives you optimism,” Pletcher said.

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