Breeders’ Cup Worktab

by Ed Meyer

posted on October 22, 2008 in Breeders Cup, Handicapping, News | No Comments >>

Horstradamus is going to be heading out to the Breeders’ Cup in person this week. I believe this will be a weekend to remember. The two-day event will be the testing ground of greatness. I am going to pre-handicap each race before the draw to give you food for thought.  After the draw, I would make sure you dial up WinningPonies.com, to ensure that you have in your hands a sure fire plan that will maximize your winning. Until then, here are some of the final works of some runners.

Grade 1 winner FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike), most recently second in his attempt to repeat in the Vosburgh S. (G1), drilled five furlongs in :59 1/5 over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride main track on Sunday in preparation for the Sprint (G1).

Kentucky Cup Sprint (G3) winner FATAL BULLET (Red Bullet) was timed in 1:01 2/5 in advance of the Sprint.

Multiple Grade 1 winner PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus), second in the First Lady S. (G1) most recently, was clocked in 1:01 for the Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Norfolk S. (G1) victor STREET HERO (Street Cry [Ire]), prepping for the Juvenile (G1), finished in 1:02 3/5.

Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled’s Song), runner-up in the Norfolk S. (G1) last time, completed six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 for the Juvenile.

Multiple Grade 2 winner OUT OF CONTROL (Brz) (Vettori), runner-up by a head in the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship (G1) last month, covered five furlongs in 1:01 in preparation for the Turf (G1).

Grade 2 winner GET FUNKY (Straight Man), runner-up in the Morvich H. (G3) last time, sped six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 in preparation for the Turf Sprint.

Juvenile candidate MUNNINGS (Speightstown), runner-up in the Champagne S. (G1) last time, completed five panels in :59 3/5.

Frizette S. (G1) and Matron S. (G2) runner-up PERSISTENTLY (Smoke Glacken) worked toward the Juvenile Fillies (G1) with a four-furlong move in :50 3/5.

SKIPADATE (Skip Away), second in the Summer S. (Can-G3) and With Anticipation S., worked five-eighths in 1:01 1/5 in advance of the Juvenile Turf.

Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) winner FAIRBANKS (Giant’s Causeway) was timed in 1:00 in preparation for the Classic (G1) or Marathon.

Sapling S. (G3) winner SILENT VALOR (Lion Heart), fifth in the Norfolk in his latest, sped the same distance in :59 3/5 in advance of the Juvenile.

Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) winner MAST TRACK (Mizzen Mast), eighth in the Goodwood S. (G1) last time, worked toward the Classic in 1:00.

Forego S. (G1) winner FIRST DEFENCE (Unbridled’s Song), aiming for the Sprint despite an unplaced effort in the Vosburgh, smoked five-eighths in :57 4/5, swiftest of 69 works at the distance.

GALLANT SON (Malabar Gold), a three-time stakes winner at Emerald Downs this year, including the Gottstein Futurity last time, sped six furlongs in a bullet 1:12.  He is an also-eligible for the Juvenile and Juvenile Turf.

Pine Tree Lane S. winner TIZZY’S TUNE (Tiznow), a longshot for the Filly & Mare Sprint, went five furlongs in 1:00 4/5.

Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1) queen DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer), a close runner-up in the Diana S. (G1) in late July, breezed four furlongs in :49 2/5 over Belmont Park’s fast main dirt. The Bill Mott-trained five-year-old, who has finished off-the-board only twice from her 11 career starts, is preparing for the Filly & Mare Turf.

RED ROCKS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]), hero of the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf and this season’s Man o’ War S. (G1), covered seven furlongs on Belmont’s firm turf in 1:27 2/5 in advance of another shot at the Turf.

Multiple Grade 1 winner INTANGAROO (Orientate), last-out victress of the Ballerina S. (G1), drilled four furlongs in :46 4/5 over Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track in advance of Friday’s Filly & Mare Sprint.

Over Santa Anita’s firm turf, Grade 1 winner DANCING FOREVER (Rahy) went five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 in advance of the Turf. The Phipps Stable home-bred was a distant seventh in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) last time.

Multiple Grade 3 winner DESERT CODE (E Dubai), who should draw into the Turf Sprint field from the also-eligible list, completed seven furlongs in 1:12 3/5, the fastest of seven works at the distance.  He was most recently seventh in the Morvich.

BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]), runner-up in the Cradle S. most recently, was timed in 1:16 in preparation for the Juvenile Turf, for which he is an also-eligible.

Undefeated BITTEL ROAD (Stormy Atlantic), victor of the Bourbon S. (G3) and With Anticipation S. in his last two, breezed four furlongs in :49 over Keeneland’s Polytrack. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the dark bay is preparing for the Juvenile Turf.

Multiple stakes victor WAR MONGER (War Chant), runner-up in the Bernard Baruch H. (G2) and third in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) in his past two, traveled five furlongs in 1:01 4/5. The Mott-trained four-year-old is gearing up for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

Breeders’ Futurity (G1) third-placer PIONEER OF THE NILE (Empire Maker), posted a time of 1:00 2/5 for breezing five furlongs in company for Mott in advance of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“They did what we wanted, and hopefully what we needed,” the conditioner said. “They were useful works; both horses have recent races. It was a good solid effort and hopefully it was just enough and not too much.”

Last-out maiden winner ORTHODOX (Pulpit) logged five-eighths in :59 3/5. The John Glenney charge is currently sixth in line on the also-eligible list to draw into the Juvenile Turf.

Grade 2 winner DELIGHTFUL KISS (Kissin Kris), winner of the Turfway Park Fall Championship (G3) and All American S. (G3) in his last two, prepped for the Marathon with a bullet six furlongs in 1:12 over the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields.