Busy Work Tab in Kentucky In Advance of Breeders' Cup

A week before the Breeders' Cup World Championships  Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita Park, more than 30 workouts from potential Breeder's Cup starters took place across the country Oct. 25, including 17 in Kentucky alone.

Two of the fastest workouts came from Covfefe and Got Stormy at Churchill Downs. One of the favorites for the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), the Brad Cox-trained Covfefe breezed five furlongs on a fast track in :59 4/5, the quickest of 55 workouts at that distance Friday morning. The Mark Casse-trained Got Stormy sped a half-mile in :47 2/5 in preparation for the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T).

At Keeneland the early morning activity was just as furious, topped by Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner Maxfield outworking his company with a half-mile breeze on a fast dirt track in :47 4/5. Pre-entered in the Nov. 1 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), the son of Street Sense  leaves Saturday for Santa Anita.

"That was great," trainer Brendan Walsh said of Maxfield, who is a homebred for Godolphin. "He picked up really well, which is what we wanted. We wanted him to finish up the last quarter nice and sharp."

He is not Walsh's only Breeders' Cup hopeful. Another pre-entrant of his, Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel, and Bottle Rocket Stable's Vitalogy is also traveling to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf presented by Coolmore America (G1T) after breezing a half-mile in :51 1/5 on a firm turf course Friday at Keeneland.

Apogee Bloodstock and Mike Anderson Racing's Abscond, pre-entered in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), also breezed a half-mile Friday in :48 4/5 on dirt. 

"She worked super and is coming into the race perfectly," her trainer, Eddie Kenneally said. "We have been breezing her on the dirt at Keeneland, and she has been doing so well that we didn't want to change anything."

Winner of the Natalma Stakes (G1) at Woodbine, Abscond is scheduled to leave on an early-morning flight from Kentucky Oct. 26.

Rounding out the horses breezing toward the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland were three Rusty Arnold trainees: Leinster, Totally Boss, and Gear Jockey. Leinster covered a half-mile in :50 4/5, Totally Boss worked the same distance on dirt in :49 2/5, and Gear Jockey went five furlongs in 1:01, also on dirt. Leinster and Totally Boss run in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), while Gear Jockey goes in the Juvenile Turf.

The remaining Breeders' Cup workers Friday that took spins at Churchill were: Andesite (five furlongs, 1:00 3/5, Juvenile Turf); British Idiom (four furlongs, :48 2/5, Juvenile Fillies); Peace Achieved (four furlongs, :50 2/5, Juvenile Turf); Perfect Alibi (four furlongs, :50, Juvenile Fillies); Scabbard (four furlongs, :49 2/5, Juvenile); Serengeti Empress (four furlongs, :47 3/5, Distaff); and Whitmore (four furlongs, :49 4/5, Sprint).

Whitmore's trainer, Ron Moquett, has been taking a wait-and-see approach toward a Breeders' Cup commitment. He said in a text message Friday that Whitmore worked "great" but he still wanted to consult with the gelding's owners before making a decision on participation.

At Churchill Downs Trackside, the off-track training facility owned by Churchill Downs, a couple of Breeders' Cup horses recorded their final works Friday morning for trainer Mike Maker. Chimney Rock, pointed for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T), breezed a half in :50 and Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) pre-entry Zulu Alpha worked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5.