Del Mar preparations for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic intensified this week as top contenders completed crucial workouts on both coasts, with several scheduled to ship to California in the coming days.
Todd Pletcher-trained Antiquarian (Preservationist) will travel to Del Mar Sunday alongside stablemates Fierceness (City of Light) and Mindframe (Constitution) following their Friday workouts at Saratoga.
“I don’t think [Antiquarian is] a particularly difficult horse to ride,” Pletcher said. “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.”
Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) delivered an impressive four-furlong workout over Saratoga’s Oklahoma dirt training track, clocking :48.74 (16/49) with Flavien Prat aboard 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.”
Godolphin‘s Sovereignty (Into Mischief), trained by Bill Mott, galloped 1 1/2-miles at Saratoga with exercise rider Jimmy Quispe. The 3-year-old is scheduled for either a gallop or workout in the coming days.
“He is good,” Mott said. “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.”
At Santa Anita Park, Baeza (McKinzie) completed five furlongs in 1:01.60 (31/48) for trainer John Shirreffs, while Journalism (Curlin) galloped a mile under Luis Cacares. Trainer Michael McCarthy indicated a breeze with new rider Jose Ortiz was planned, though timing remains flexible.
“It seems like he’s training as well as we could be asking for,” McCarthy said. “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) breezed six furlongs in 1:12.20 (3/6) at Santa Anita Park on Saturday. The rising star 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.”
Japanese hopeful Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) has cleared quarantine and completed a one-and-a-half-lap canter around Del Mar.
“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
Top contenders for the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff completed key workouts on the East Coast as shipping dates approach, while some have already begun their journey to California.
Nitrogen (Medaglia d’Oro), expected to be among the favorites, is en route to Del Mar following her Friday workout at Churchill Downs. Trainer Mark Casse confirmed no major works remain for his stable star.
“Her work yesterday (4f in 48 4/5 at Churchill) was very good,” Casse said. “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.”
Trainer Brendan Walsh sent Gin Gin (Hightail) and Clicquot (Quality Road) to the track at Churchill Downs for final preparations before their Monday departure to California. Gin Gin completed an easy gallop two days after her final Distaff breeze.
“She had a great work,” Walsh said. “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.”
Clicquot breezed four furlongs in :48 flat (5/177), impressing her connections.
“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. Bob Baffert’s Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo) breezed five furlongs in :59.20 (3/48) at Santa Anita Park and is expected to ship to Del Mar Sunday or Monday.
Additional Sunday shippers to Del Mar include Gun Song (Gun Runner) for trainer Mark Hennig from Belmont Park and Majestic Oops (Majestic Harbor) for trainer Dan Ward from Monmouth Park.
