Three Pletcher Breeders' Cup Hopefuls Breeze

On a pleasant morning, Friday, Oct. 9, trainer Todd Pletcher sent out three of his hopefuls for the Breeders' Cup World Championships to the track at Keeneland Race Course for half-mile works.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' multiple grade I winner Curalina worked a half-mile in :47 1/5 as the 3-year-old daughter of Curlin   continued her preparations for the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) Oct. 30. Working in company with grade II winner Race Day, Curalina and her stablemate who is being pointed toward the Hagyard Fayette (gr. II) on the first day of the Breeders' Cup were clocked in fractions of :24 and :47 1/5 and galloped out in 1:00 and 1:14 1/5.

Working a half-mile in tandem in :47 4/5 were the Pletcher-trained 2-year-olds Azar and Thrilled, both being prepared for juvenile turf races on the Breeders' Cup card of Oct. 30.

Clockers caught the pair  in fractions of :24 and :47 4/5.

"They all went extremely well," Pletcher said. "The track was fairly lively after the break. They seemed to skip over it really well. I'm happy with all three."

Alto Stables' With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) winner Azar, a son of Scat Daddy  , is being pointed toward the Juvenile Turf (gr. IT).

Michael Tabor's Thrilled, a daughter of Uncle Mo   who finished second in both the Miss Grillo Stakes (gr. IIT) and P. G. Johnson Stakes, is being aimed at the Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT). The winner of the P. G. Johnson was Harmonize, who took the Oct. 7 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (gr. IIIT) and also is expected in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.