Tonalist, Wise Dan Turn in Solid Breezes
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Multiple grade I winners Tonalist and Wise Dan turned in solid breezes July 24, respectively working at Saratoga Race Course and at Keeneland.
In company with 3-year-old maiden Arbitrator, Robert S. Evans' Tonalist went five furlongs on the Oklahoma training track in 1:01.33 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, third-fastest of 11 horses at the distance Friday morning. Arbitrator covered the distance in 1:01.87.
Meanwhile, on the turf course Keeneland, Morton Fink's two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan went four furlongs in :51 flat under exercise rider Jenn Patterson, his second breeze back for trainer Charlie LoPresti since being sidelined last October with a non-displaced fracture of his fetlock at the bottom of his right front cannon bone. His first work back in more than eight months was July 17, when he went the same distance in a sharp :48 1/5.
NOVAK: Wise Dan Back in Keeneland Breeze
Tonalist's work was also his first back—since finishing second by a head to Effinex in the July 4 Suburban Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park. Trainer Christophe Clement is pointing the 4-year-old Tapit colt to the $1.25 million Whitney Invitational (gr. I) on August 8.
"It was a nice work," Clement said. "I worked him in company and he looked good and came out of it in good shape so far, so life is good."
Winner of the 2014 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) and Peter Pan (gr. II), Tonalist opened 2015 with a victory in the May 2 Westchester (gr. III). He followed up by finishing second in the June 6 Met Mile (gr. I) prior to the Suburban.
"I'm very happy. The horse looks great. He's never looked so powerful," Clement said. "His flesh is good, his coat is good, his color is good. I'm very happy with everything; it's just going to be a very tough race. It's like the Breeders' Cup before the Breeders' Cup, but that's OK. We'll be there."
Among the horses pointing to the 1 1/8-mile Whitney are 2014 Travers (gr. I) winner V. E. Day; Noble Bird, who captured the June 13 Stephen Foster (gr. I) at Churchill Downs; and Met Mile winner Honor Code.
Also on July 24 at Saratoga, trainer Jimmy Jerkens sent out V. E. Day to work a half-mile by himself over the Oklahoma training track in :49.98 in his preparation for the Whitney.
"Good," was the way Jerkens characterized the move, the English Channel colt's first at Saratoga this season and fifth since finishing second, beaten a neck, in the 1 1/2-mile Brooklyn Invitational (gr. II) on Belmont Stakes Day.
Last year, V. E. Day capped a four-race win streak and upped his record at the Spa to 2-for-2 with his nose victory over fellow Jerkens trainee Wicked Strong in the Midsummer Derby. Prior to that, he won the Curlin Stakes.
Another of interest on the Saratoga tab was Mossarosa's Frammento, who breezed a bullet four furlongs in :48.33, fastest of 36 at the distance on the Oklahoma track. Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito has returned the Midshipman colt to training with a steady series of four works since his fifth in the June 6 Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has also built up a good work pattern with TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Frosted, runner-up to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Belmont. The son of Tapit will have his fourth breeze since the Belmont over the weekend for his next anticipated start in the Aug. 1 Jim Dandy (gr. II) at the upstate New York oval.
"He's been working weekly and doing well. He'll work Saturday or Sunday; we'll see how the weather is," McLaughlin said. "He ran great in the Belmont; he was just second-best to a star. Hopefully, he can be the star next time."