Life Is Good Tops Keeneland Work Tab

A day after working many of his 2-year-olds expected for the Nov. 4 Future Stars Friday races during the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland, trainer Todd Pletcher breezed his star older horses, led by multiple grade 1 winner and Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) contender Life Is Good   on the morning of Oct. 21 at the Lexington oval. The trainer also sent out the two likely favorites for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) in champion Malathaat  and top 3-year-old filly Nest  to breeze Friday morning.

Shortly after the second renovation break ended at 9 a.m., CHC and WinStar Farm's $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic candidate Life Is Good breezed five furlongs on a fast track in 1:00 2/5 for his first work since capturing the Oct. 1 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

"Super," Pletcher said of Life Is Good's work. "Pretty much what we have come to expect from him. He just does everything so effortlessly. He doesn't look like he is doing anything, but you look at your watch and he comes home in :23 and change."

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat and Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House's Nest worked in company after the first renovation break ended at 7:30 a.m. They covered a half-mile in :48 3/5.

"We were just looking for more of the same," Pletcher said. "They are two terrific fillies—kind workhorses and straightforward. It was just a maintenance half-mile with both of them coming off races 12 days ago with a target 15 days from now. Looks like they are holding their form great. Both seem to love the track again this morning."

Malathaat and Nest were returning to the work tab after each scoring resounding victories in Keeneland's Oct. 9 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) (Malathaat) and the Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont at the Big A (Nest).

For Pletcher, Wertheimer and Frere's Happy Saver  , a possible starter in the Classic, covered a half-mile in :48 2/5 in company with Never Change .

"It was a workman-like breeze for him, which is his usual style," Pletcher said. "I had him finishing up good and it looked like he was happy."

Completing the morning activity for Pletcher were grass works turned in by Bass Racing's Annapolis , the recent victor of the Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland, and Spendthrift Farm's Major Dude , winner of the Oct. 2 Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) at Belmont at the Big A in his last outing.

Working from the rail on Keeneland's turf course, clockers caught the pair in :47 4/5 for the half-mile.

Pletcher was pleased with the works and indicated both would come back next week and work on the grass again. Annapolis is targeting the  Nov. 5 $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) while Major Dude is expected to start in the Nov. 4 $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).

Campanelle Tunes Up on the Turf for Breeders' Cup Return

Stonestreet Stables' Campanelle  continued working toward an expected start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) on Nov. 5 by working five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 on her own over a firm course Friday morning.

"That was a good work," trainer Wesley Ward said of Campanelle, who was fourth in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Keeneland in her previous start in the World Championships.

The multiple group 1-winning Campanelle worked for the third time since taking the Mint Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10.

Also working on the turf was Augustin Stable's Delight  for trainer Jonathan Thomas.

An impressive winner of the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T) over this course Oct. 7, Delight breezed a half-mile in company in :50 2/5 as she prepared for an expected start in the Nov. 4  $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

"That was a good piece of work," Thomas said. "The filly that worked inside of her (stakes winner Born Dapper) is no slouch. I was very pleased with it. We'll take it."

Wonder Wheel Drills Bullet Half-Mile

Trainer Mark Casse sent out two Breeders' Cup hopefuls to breeze Friday morning. The first, D. J. Stable's Wonder Wheel , worked a bullet half-mile on the main track in :47 3/5, the fastest of 34 at that distance. A game captress of the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Oct. 7, the Into Mischief   filly galloped out the five furlongs after the wire in a swift :59 4/5. Wonder Wheel is preparing for an engagement in the Nov. 4 $2 million NetJets Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Working later for D. J. Stable and Casse was Nownownow Stakes winner Webslinger , a candidate for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, who covered a half-mile in :48 3/5 on the turf course. 

The attached chart lists potential Breeders' Cup starters and their Friday workouts.