Breeders' Cup
OCTOBER 31 & NOVEMBER 1, 2014
LOS ANGELES, CA
American Pharoah Sharpest on Busy Day
By Mike Welsch
ARCADIA, Calif. – Every trainer has his or her own style when it comes to preparing horses for major races, as was evident throughout Sunday’s training session, with an array of different workout styles on display among the two dozen or so Breeders’ Cup contenders to turn in their final major preps at Santa Anita.
As was the case the previous morning, the main track was fast and watered only during the third renovation break. The turf course is very firm, to the point that one could hear the horses hitting the ground as they approached the finish line four stories up on the press-box level. The weather was picture-perfect again, with the temperature at dawn about 10 degrees cooler than the previous morning.
Some of the daily chaos after the second break was alleviated Sunday with training restricted to Breeders’ Cup horses only for a 15-minute span after the tractors left the course – mirroring a policy implemented for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks runners during training hours at Churchill Downs several years ago.
WORK OF THE DAY
American Pharoah (five furlongs in 1:00.18) – The Juvenile favorite looked every bit the part this morning, just cruising through an easy five-furlong drill with his overmatched workmate. A bit keen to begin, American Pharaoh quickly came to hand and maintained about a half-length advantage working inside his partner through splits of 24.44 seconds and 36.14 for three-eighths before exerting his dominance and drawing well clear while remaining under wraps through a 24.08-second final quarter-mile. He then continued out with great energy into the turn, galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.82.
Untapable (four furlongs in 50.73 seconds) – The likely Distaff favorite has looked terrific all week and was on top of her game again this morning. Untapable was full of herself and a real handful once turning down the backstretch to begin a patented Steve Asmussen half-mile maintenance breeze five days out from the race. But regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas was able to get her to level off into a nice, relaxed stride upon leaving the pole. Untapable went evenly thereafter, completing her final quarter in 25.51 without exerting any effort whatsoever before galloping out five-eighths in 1:04.80.
Bayern (six furlongs in 1:11.64) – Like his mate American Pharoah, the speedy Bayern ultimately proved too much for his overmatched mate (American Pride), working six furlongs from the 5 1/2-furlong pole immediately after the second break. With Martin Garcia aboard, Bayern broke 2 1/2 lengths behind his target, edged alongside his partner while still restrained midway around the bend, then pulled about five to six lengths clear through a 24.01-second final quarter-mile while never asked to extend himself. Garcia gave the Haskell winner a little nudge into the clubhouse turn, and his mount responded with a solid gallop-out around the bend, completing seven-eighths in 1:25.40.
Majestic Harbor (four furlongs in 48.76) – In sharp contrast to fellow Classic contender Bayern, Majestic Harbor was in total maintenance mode, turning in an even half-mile in 24.41, 48.76, going easily throughout with Tyler Baze up, before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.94.
Angela Renee (four furlongs in 51.32) – Breezing just before dawn, this was little more than an easy maintenance half-mile for the Juvenile Fillies hopeful outside Saint Dermot, a 3-year-old from the barn of trainer Michael McCarthy. With Rafael Bejarano in the saddle, the team just walked through a 26.64 opening quarter before picking up the pace a bit down the lane, although Angela Renee appeared to be under slight urging to finish on even terms with her well-held mate. The duo then galloped out extremely well, covering another eighth into the turn in 12.09 before pulling up six furlongs in 1:16.
Lucky Player (four furlongs in 50.73) – Another Asmussen maintenance half-mile in 50.53, went easily throughout with Rosas aboard, for the Juvenile.
Fast Anna (five furlongs in 56.98) – I’ve seen Fast Anna put her ample speed on display on many occasions dating back to last winter at Gulfstream Park, and he did it again this morning, even with jockey Gary Stevens seemingly having him well under control throughout. Working in blinkers, Fast Anna blasted away from the five-eighths pole and never stopped, posting splits of 10.98, 22.13, and 33.06 for his opening three-eighths, with enough left in the tank to complete a final quarter in 23.92 without any encouragement from his Hall of Fame pilot. Fast Anna was given a bit of encouragement shortly after the wire, galloping out six furlongs in 1:10.06. Although Stevens was aboard for his last two works, it is John Velazquez who’ll have the mount on Fast Anna in the Sprint.
Living the Life (five furlongs in 1:01.28) – Broke off a couple of lengths behind her workmate at the half-mile pole, drafted right in behind her target into and through early stretch, taking plenty of dirt, then eased out to pull three lengths clear at the wire in 49.11. She then accelerated once given some encouragement into the turn, completing her work at the seven-furlong pole with a strong final eighth before continuing out six furlongs around the bend in a solid 1:13.80.
Sweet Swap (five furlongs in 1:00.99) – Turf horse working on the dirt, and it showed as he flashed good early speed, getting to the top of the stretch in 35.35, before really falling apart late, tiring badly to the line while a bit noisy at the end of an unappealing drill after the second break.
Tapiture (four furlongs in 50.72) – Another Asmussen maintenance half but a strong one, as he walked away from the pole in 14.22, then came home in 36.50 while doing it all on his own under Rosas. Eased up five furlongs in 1:04.12, and like all his Breeders’ Cup-bound stablemates, appears to be coming into the big event in good form.
Seeking the Sheriff (four furlongs in 47.37 from the gate) – Broke alertly inside his stablemate, quickly opened a two-length advantage, then went easily throughout, completing his final quarter in 23.22 before pulling up a length in front of his well-held partner, concluding the easy gate move at the quarter pole.
TURF WORKS
Miss Serendipity (six furlongs in 1:12.01) – The first of the grass workers to go, she broke off at the six-furlong pole, went easily through a 48.57 opening half, switched leads a bit late but responded very nicely when asked from the eighth pole home, covering her final quarter in 23.50 with a solid gallop-out into the turn.
Rusty Slipper (five furlongs in 1:02.44) – She broke off a half-length behind and outside her workmate, was well held through a 38.47 three-eighths to the top of the stretch while on even terms exiting the turn, then shaded 24 for her final quarter while never asked, finishing about a head better than her slightly urged partner before galloping out very willingly around the bend. A more impressive move than the final time might indicate.
Toms Tribute (five furlongs in 1:00.87) – Had his favorite rider, Mike Smith, up, went easily to the top of the stretch in 36.94, was nudged several times to finish from the three-sixteenth pole home and on the gallop-out, responding willingly to the wire and into the bend.
Reneesgotzip (four furlongs in 48.72) – Was never asked for her best during a very easy 48.72 half-mile maintenance breeze, striding out nicely over her favorite course while completing a final quarter in 23.85, although she shut down a little sooner than expected on the gallop-out.
Papacoolpapacool (five furlongs in 1:00.80, according to track clockers) – Relaxed nicely to the top of the stretch under Joe Talamo, then quickened some on cue when nudged slightly once settling into the lane.
Silentio (five furlongs in 1:01.03) – Sharp work featured an extremely strong gallop-out in arguably the best of the grass moves this morning. Cruised early under Smith to the top of the stretch in 37.26, had plenty left down the lane while doing it all on his own and looked especially sharp continuing out into the turn.
Rainha Da Bateria (quarter-mile in 24.80) – The final worker of the long morning, this was little more than an easy blowout on grass. After galloping once around, she lengthened her stride once settling into the second turn, shading 25 seconds down the lane while under wraps with a good gallop-out around the clubhouse bend.
BREEDERS CUP 2014 SANTA ANITA
OCTOBER 31 & NOVEMBER 1, 2014
LOS ANGELES, CA
Bayern, Others Work at Santa Anita Park
One day after nearly two dozen Breeders' Cup World Championships pre-entrants worked at Santa Anita Park, the Oct. 26 work tab was much smaller, with a handful of horses going through their final preps.
Among the most prominent workers was Kaleem Shah's Bayern, who worked five furlongs in 1:00 in preparation for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). The 3-year-old colt by Offlee Wild trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 3/5. Bayern is coming off a 5 3/4-length triumph in the Sept. 20 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) at Parx Racing that improved his record to 5-1-1 in nine starts and increased his bankroll to $1,639,600.
Fast Anna lived up to his name as the Medaglia d'Oro colt worked five furlongs in :57, fastest time of the day at the distance. The 3-year-old will be making his fifth career start in the Expressbet Sprint (gr. I).
Oct. 26 main track works over a fast track were:
—American Pharoah (Sentient Jet Juvenile), 5 furlongs, 1:00
—Angela Renee (14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies), 4 furlongs, :51 1/5
—Bayern (Classic), 5 furlongs, 1:00
—Fast Anna (Expressbet Sprint), 5 furlongs, :57
—Little Alexis (DraftKings Filly & Mare Sprint), 4 furlongs, :45 2/5
—Lucky Player (Sentient Jet Juvenile), 4 furlongs, :50 2/5
—Majestic Harbor (Classic), 4 furlongs, :48 3/5
—Sweet Swap (Turf Sprint), 6 furlongs, 1:12 4/5
—Tapiture (Dirt Mile). 4 furlongs, :50 2/5
—Untapable (Longines Distaff), 4 furlongs, :50 3/5
Oct. 26 turf works over firm course were:
—Flying Tapit (Juvenile Fillies Turf), 3 furlongs, :35 3/5
—Rainha Da Bateria, Juvenile Fillies Turf, 3 furlongs, :38 2/5
—Reneesgotzip (Sprint, Turf Sprint), 4 furlongs, :48 2/5
—Rusty Slipper (Filly & Mare Turf), 5 furlongs, 1:02 2/5
—Silentio (Mile, Turf Sprint), 5 furlongs, 1:00 4/5
—Tom's Tribute (Mile), 5 furlongs, 1:00 4/5
—Miss Serendipity (Filly & Mare Turf), 6 furlongs, 1:12
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