Breeders’ Cup Notes: West Coast Hopefuls Work, Eastern Shippers Prep for Trip

[Wandering Eyes]

On both coasts, preparations for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic continued as leading contenders from the West took to the track, and hopefuls from the East began finalizing travel plans.

Scheduled to walk Saturday morning after the trio put in Friday works at Saratoga, Todd Pletcher-trainee Antiquarian (Preservationist) will ship to Del Mar Sunday in advance of the World Championships along with stablemates Fierceness (City of Light) and Mindframe (Constitution).

“I don't think [Antiquarian is] a particularly difficult horse to ride,” said Pletcher. “I think he needs a strong rider. He's tactical enough. He can use his speed to get a good position in the race and but he can be one that you kind of got to pedal on a little bit, too.

“If you saw his races in the Suburban and the Blame he was getting there. He just sort of ran out of time. It looked like in both of those races at the sixteenth pole that he was going to be beaten by several lengths, and then really accelerated the last 100 yards to almost get there. I think as he's physically matured and mentally matured, he's gotten better and better and perhaps a little easier to ride as well.”

Spotted working four furlongs over Saratoga's Oklahoma dirt training track, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) was clocked in :48.74 (16/49) with Flavien prat in the saddle for trainer Chad Brown.

“It was exceptional,” Brown said. “He's doing great and this work was as good or better than he's worked all year. He's coming into the race like last year–very well–and he's been working great over the past few weeks. I didn't think it was possible to build off the last two works, but he somehow managed to even work a touch better today. He's really in good form.”

Another headliner out at Saratoga was Sovereignty (Into Mischief) for Bill Mott and the titan Godolphin operation. The 3-year-old galloped 1 1/2-miles with exercise rider Jimmy Quispe in the irons, and is scheduled to either gallop or work in the coming days.

“He is good,” said Mott. “He was a little anxious the first day or two [after arriving from Saratoga Springs], wanting to get to the track. They get a little anxious early in the morning, wanting to go. Other than that, he is fine and he's doing good around the barn. He will work Sunday or Monday. He was a little stronger today. He was pretty strong the second time by. He probably needed one of those.”

Out west, Baeza (McKinzie) rolled through five furlongs at Santa Anita Park in 1:01.60 (31/48) for trainer John Shirreffs while Journalism (Curlin) galloped a mile under Luis Cacares. Trainer Michael McCarthy said Saturday that a breeze with new rider Jose Ortiz was on the books, but timing would be fluid.

“It seems like he's training as well as we could be asking for,” said McCarthy. “Plenty of spacing between the Pacific Classic and the Breeders' Cup Classic. Thought he had a very good summer here at Del Mar. Seems to be enjoying his time down here.”

Bob Baffert's Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) looks to continue his rise through the ranks with his anticipated tilt at the Classic, and was out Saturday breezing six panels in 1:12.20 (3/6) at Santa Anita Park. He is scheduled to ship to Del Mar Sunday or Monday.

“He went nice, he is not a great work horse, but he went well,” Baffert said. “He has never run against this kind of competition, but I have always been very high on him. I don't think the distance is going to be a problem for him.”

The Japanese hopeful Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) took a one-and-a-half-lap canter around Del Mar having cleared quarantine. and has been given a positive prognosis for both physical and mental condition.

“He has recovered well from his travel to Del Mar,” said Yukihiko Araki, stable representative for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. “He is in good form both mentally and physically. We appreciate all the support we are getting here as Yahagi Stable.”

Distaff Fillies and Mares in Fine Form Ahead of Big Weekend

Several of the top contenders for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff put in their penultimate moves on the East Coast ahead of anticipated travel in the coming days while others are already en route to California.

Likely one of the favorites, Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) is officially on the way to Del Mar after her Friday work at Churchill Downs. With all major preps behind her, trainer Mark Casse says his stable star will arrive at Del Mar with no heavy works on the books.

“Her work yesterday (4f in 48 4/5 at Churchill) was very good,” said Casse. “She's usually not much of a work horse. I gave her a little company yesterday and she worked great. I'm very happy with her.”

“She flies today [Saturday'. She won't do too much

when she gets to Del Mar. She'll just enjoy the scenery and do some light work. Her major work is behind her.”

At Churchill Downs, trainer Brendan Walsh sent Gin Gin (Hightail) and Clicquot (Quality Road) to the track for their final preparations in advance of shipping to California on Monday. The former just had an easy gallop two days after her final Distaff breeze and continues to impress the conditioner.

“She had a great work,” said Walsh. “Luis [Saez] worked her and he loved her. He thought she went great. She's in good shape, too. She and Clicquot have earned their way into the Distaff and they're both doing well. We look forward to it and hopefully one of them will come good and maybe get the job done.”

The aforementioned stablemate cruised four panels in :48 flat (5/177) and has shown all the right signs.

“She worked great. It was a nice work, but she's a good worker and she's doing it easy enough. I couldn't be happier, so hopefully everything goes well between now and Saturday. [They] will ship early on Monday morning [along with fellow Walsh-trained Imaginationthelady], so she will arrive around 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon there, I think.”

Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) worked Saturday at Belmont Park, posting five furlongs in 1:01 flat (2/23) for trainer Jorge Abreu while Bob Baffert's Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo) also breezed five in :59.20 (3/48) at Santa Anita Park. The latter is expected to ship to Del Mar Sunday or Monday. Other anticipated shippers to Del Mar for Sunday include Gun Song (Gun Runner) for trainer Mark Hening from Belmont Park and Majestic Oops (Majestic Harbor) for trainer Dan Ward from Monmouth Park.

The post Breeders’ Cup Notes: West Coast Hopefuls Work, Eastern Shippers Prep for Trip appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article