Vino Rosso Puts in Final Breeders' Cup Classic Work

With one week remaining until the 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park, conditioner Todd Pletcher oversaw final major preparations of his trainees Oct. 25 at the Belmont Park training track before the contingent travels west Oct. 27. Elsewhere, East Coast contenders worked at Fair Hill Training Center and Palm Meadows for other trainers. 

Putting in breezes at Belmont Friday morning were Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Vino Rosso , who heads to the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1); Calumet Farm's Channel Cat, pointing to the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T); and Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners' Coal Front, who is headed to the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Vino Rosso completed his third breeze since being disqualified from first to second in the Sept. 28 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). The 4-year-old Curlin  colt, working in company with Noble Indy, completed four furlongs in :48.40 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.

"I thought he breezed terrific," Pletcher said. "It was a well-executed good strong breeze. He finished up strongly in hand and galloped out the way we hoped. Everything seemed to go according to plan. Last week was our real major work towards the Classic with him. This week he seemed to maintain form and seems to be thriving so far."

Channel Cat, a 4-year-old graded stakes-winning son of English Channel , breezed four furlongs in :49.44 in company with Lemonist.

"I thought he breezed strongly for a turf horse going over the dirt," Pletcher said. "He seemed to handle it well and finished up with good energy galloping out strongly."

Multiple graded-stakes winner Coal Front also worked four furlongs in :50.95.

"It probably wasn't the best executed breeze we had this morning," Pletcher said. "He kind of eased off at the five-eighths pole. Before that, he got into good rhythm and was settled and relaxed. He ended up galloping out good. He seems to be happy with himself."

Set for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), Pletcher reported Robert and Lawana Low's Sweet Melania has continued to progress since her Oct. 9 score in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland.

"She's doing well," Pletcher said. "We let her pick her gallop a little bit yesterday, it seems like she's moving very well and she came out of her race in good order so she's set to fly early tomorrow morning."

Pletcher also reported New York-bred Freewheeler, pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) but currently in 16th place on the oversubscribed list, continues to train well and will make his next start in the $100,000 Atlantic Beach for 2-year-olds Nov. 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack if he does not draw into the race.

In Maryland, trainer Graham Motion also had his 2-year-old filly Sharing out at Fair Hill Training Center, prepping for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) with a six-furlong breeze over the all-weather track in 1:13 1/5. The Maryland-bred Speightstown  filly, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Antony Beck's Gainesway Stable, has won two of her three starts, including the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park.

In preparation for a start in either the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) or the Dirt Mile, Diamond Oops breezed seven furlongs on turf Friday morning at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training center.

The Patrick Biancone-trained son of Lookin At Lucky  was clocked in 1:22.45 with Luca Panici up.

"He worked very, very well. He's in perfect form," Biancone said. "We look forward to next Saturday."

Biancone said a decision has yet to be made whether Diamond Oops will run in the six-furlong Sprint, which was listed as a first preference when pre-entries were taken early this week, or the Dirt Mile.

"We are going to keep our options open right now. We'll decide Sunday afternoon," said Biancone, who owns the 4-year-old gelding with Diamond 100 Racing Club, D P Racing, and Amy Dunne.

Julien Leparoux has the Breeders' Cup mount aboard Diamond Oops, who has been breezing exclusively on turf this year.

"He had an injury and surgery last year and since then we have worked him on turf. We have a really good turf course here," Biancone said. "It's worked for us up to now."

Diamond Oops is scheduled to ship to Santa Anita Tuesday.