Conquest Daddyo Pleases in BC Work

Conquest Stables' Conquest Daddyo turned in a solid work Oct. 21 at Keeneland, gearing up for a run in the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT). 

With jockey Joe Bravo in the irons just after the renovation break, the Summer Stakes (Can-IIT) winner went five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 in company with fellow Mark Casse trainee Sky Fire. He broke off a few lengths behind his target and tracked that one all the way around the turn, then rolled past him mid-stretch to finish about three-quarters of a length ahead. Keeneland clockers caught the duo in :37 early on, with a gallop out in 1:14 4/5.

NOVAK: Bravo Lands Summer Stakes Win on Conquest Daddyo

"He was just delighted," trainer Mark Casse said of Bravo's response to the move. "He said 'This is the horse I rode in the Summer.' The deal with him and the key to him is that if you grab him a little bit early and get him into the bit, he'll come on.

"The way he worked, (assistant trainer) Jamie (Begg) and I looked at each other after the work and said 'Well, maybe he could run on the dirt, too!' He went the last three-eighths in :35 1/5, just like it was nothing. Today's work, I would say on a scale of 1-10, was a 9 1/2. It was big."

By Scat Daddy  , 2-year-old Conquest Daddyo earned an automatic berth to the Juvenile Turf through the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" program when he won the Summer Stakes (Can-II) at Woodbine Sept. 12. He has turned in two other breezes at Keeneland; five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 in company with Sky Fire Oct. 14, and five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 when breezing in company with Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) contender Catch a Glimpse Oct. 6.

NOVAK: Catch a Glimpse, 'Daddyo' Head Keeneland Tab

"A horse that runs the way he does, they don't train as big," Casse said. "I think horses that like a little give to the track usually like Keeneland, and when he won the Summer there was some good give to the racetrack.

"I think he's got as good a shot as anybody."