Trainer Todd Pletcher looked on Oct. 31 as FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) contender Halladay and Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) runner Valiance breezed on the Belmont Park training track in preparation for the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland.
Meanwhile in Maryland, trainer Graham Motion sent his Breeders' Cup trio through their final works, including Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) contender Mean Mary.
Harrell Ventures' Halladay, winner of the Aug. 22 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, worked solo through a half-mile in :49.21 on track rated good.
"I was happy we were able to get it in today. The track dried out pretty nicely considering all of the rain we've had," Pletcher said. "Halladay was a touch keen early on. He went off a little quick but then he relaxed, settled quickly, finished up strong, and galloped out well. I was happy with that."
Saturday's work was the third breeze back for the 4-year-old War Front gray after he was scratched from the Oct. 3 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) at Keeneland with a hind leg infection.
"He's had a couple of extra days in between works," Pletcher said. "We haven't been able to do a whole lot here with all of the rain and sloppy conditions. He was just feeling good, which is an indication that he's sharp and ready."
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin Schwartz, and China Horse Club's Valiance enjoyed success at the highest level last out Oct. 4 in the nine-furlong Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. The victory marked the first graded stakes win for the 4-year-old Tapit gray, who registered a solo half-mile breeze in :49 Saturday.
"Valiance maintains form really well. Not only was her work good, but she galloped out well. She seems to be doing as well as she can at the moment," Pletcher said.
"When you go into races like this, they're going to be one of many grade 1 winners in their respective races," Pletcher said. "Both horses are in good form and doing well, we just need everything to go smoothly between now and then and have some racing luck."
Luis Saez will pilot both Halladay and Valiance in their respective Breeders' Cup races.
Pletcher pre-entered five horses for next weekend's Breeders' Cup, with TVG Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) contender Likeable, Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1T) contender Mutasaabeq, and Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) hopeful Union Gables, who has the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) as her second preference, posting their final works on Thursday at Belmont.
At Fair Hill Training Center, Motion saw Mean Mary work six furlongs on the Tapeta in 1:12 3/5, while his Juvenile Fillies Turf contenders Alda (six furlongs in 1:13 3/5) and Invincible Gal (five furlongs in 1:00 4/5) also worked on the Tapeta.
"Everybody did it very comfortably; I couldn't have asked for them to go better," Motion said. "I thought everything went as good as I could have hoped for.
"With Mean Mary, we were able to get a work on the turf course last week, which was great. I felt like she needed a good, swift breeze, and felt like she got that going up the hill. That made this week's breeze a little easier; I felt like I didn't need to do as much with her today, which is ideal coming up to the race, really."
The Link LonkNovember 01, 2020 at 04:46AM
https://ift.tt/3oNfUyc
Pletcher, Motion Work Breeders' Cup Contenders - BloodHorse.com
https://ift.tt/2VuKK1x
Work
No comments:
Post a Comment