Breeders’ Cup Workers at Santa Anita Sunday led by Explora, Straight No Chaser and Kopion

[Wandering Eyes]

Breeders' Cup pre-entrants Explora (Blame), Kopion (Omaha Beach), Straight No Chaser (Speightster), Goal Oriented (Not This Time) and Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) all had their final works Sunday at Santa Anita.

Kopion, trained by Richard Mandella, covered three furlongs in :33.20 with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard. The 4-year-old was pre-entered in both the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs and six-furlong GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, however, Mandella confirmed Kopion would be entered in the Sprint where she will be joined by Mandella-trained stablemate Big City Lights.

Kopion will attempt to become the fourth female to win the Sprint joining Desert Stormer (1995), Safely Kept (1990) and Very Subtle (1987).

Straight No Chaser worked four furlongs in :49.0 ahead of a title defense in the Sprint. Trained by Dan Blacker, Straight No Chaser most recently finished third in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 28. Last year, Straight No Chaser won the Sprint by a half-length to clinch the Eclipse Award as North America's outstanding sprinter. He'll attempt to join Elite Power (2022-23), Roy H (2017-18) and Midnight Lute (2007-08) as back-to-back winners of the Sprint.

“It was a good work,” Blacker confirmed. “His last two or three works have been really good. He has good enthusiasm, good energy. That's what I want to see. He did pick up some company today, which wasn't ideal, but my assistant, Juan [Landerso], did a great job.”

Explora and Goal Oriented–both TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard–worked for their trainer Bob Baffert. Explora, pre-entered in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, drilled five furlongs in 1:00.20. The filly most recently won the GII Oak Leaf on Oct. 4 at Santa Anita.

“She went nice,” said Bob Baffert. “She is a very classy filly, and she cruised around there by herself. I like the fact that she can go two turns. That is not going to be an issue for her, and she has speed if she wants to use it. She is not a one-dimensional horse.”

Goal Oriented, heading to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, worked four furlongs with company in :47.40. It was the fastest of 66 works at the distance. Goal Oriented most recently finished third in the GI Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20 at Parx.

“He always works well; he is a good work horse,” said Baffert. “He was within himself and did it the right way, he was just cruising around there. It was nothing for him.”

Motorious, who'll be making his third attempt at winning the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, worked five furlongs on the synthetic training track in 1:01.20. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Motorious most recently won the GIII Green Flash via disqualification at Del Mar on Aug. 30. The 7-year-old gelding was second in last year's Turf Sprint at Del Mar and fifth in the 2023 Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

“He worked really well,” said Antonio Fresu, aboard for the work. “It was nice and easy today, being six days out from the big race. It was an easy work on his own after what was his fast and heavy work last week. We were really happy with the way he went and today he looked beautiful

on the training track. I just kept him going easy. He's ready to go.”

Final entries for the 42nd Breeders' Cup will be taken Monday, Oct. 27. Post positions will be drawn in the Del Mar paddock starting at 4 p.m. PT.

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