Tonalist Sharp in BC Classic Breeze
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Tonalist at Belmont Park.
With the sun just beginning its ascent on a very chilly morning at Belmont Park Oct. 24, Robert S. Evans' Tonalist put in his final major breeze for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
With jockey John Velazquez in the irons, the Christophe Clement trainee worked in company with New York-bred Bluegrass Flash shortly before 7 a.m. EDT over Belmont's main track, which was labeled fast.
Working five-eighths from the half-mile pole, Tonalist was timed by New York Racing Association clockers in 1:01.16. The 4-year-old son of Tapit 's gallop-out time for six furlongs was 1:13.81. Tonalist's splits were :24.24 for the first quarter-mile and :48.24 for the half.
Velazquez placed Tonalist two lengths off of Bluegrass Flash for the start of the work. Tonalist made up ground while ranging up to the outside off his stablemate at the three-sixteenth pole to place himself a neck in front at the wire.
"Today's work was a nudge faster than some of his works, but that is fine," Clement said moments after the work. "I don't think (Velazquez) was overly aggressive with him. He is training as well as he did last year for the Classic; the difference is he is more mature now than he was last year."
Clement added that he has largely ruled out re-adding blinkers to his star pupil, which Tonalist hasn't raced with since June.
"Johnny thinks he was very comfortable without blinkers," he said. "I don't think we want to change too much, he just won a grade I without the blinkers. Unless Johnny or the owner comes to me with a great idea, I think we'll pass on them."
Tonalist did not wear blinkers in the work, but has worn the equipment in the past, including twice this season in mile races, the Westchester Stakes (gr. III), which he won, and the NYRA.com Metropolitan Mile Handicap (gr. I) when he finished second to Classic rival Honor Code. When he won his most recent start, the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) for the second year in a row, he was not equipped with blinkers. When he finished fifth in last year's Classic it was sans blinkers.
The reason to put blinkers on Tonalist would be to have the colt, who lacks early speed, closer to the pace in the Oct. 31 Classic. Back at the barn after the work, Velazquez said he didn't think that Tonalist needed blinkers.
"(Clement) has him where he wants him to be," Velazquez said. "The horse is on the bridle, so I don't think he needs them.
"He worked really good, actually," Velazquez added. "He was especially (eager) going to the pole; I told (the exercise rider) on the other horse, 'You got to go, man.' Once (Tonalist) dropped behind the other horse he relaxed. When I took him outside at the three-sixteenths pole and showed him the whip he got right to the other horse."
Clement said he would evaluate how Tonalist comes out the work before making any decisions regarding blinkers or a blow-out at Keeneland.
"I want to see how he comes out of his work; if he is sharp," Clement said. "I just need to think about it. I don't have the knowledge now (to make a decision). My gut feeling is no blinkers because he is so willing and why would we make him sharper than he already is. But I want Mr. Evans to be involved in the conversation as well."
At the barn after the work, Tonalist looked the part of a good-feeling horse. As is Clement's custom with his horses, Tonalist was brought to the round pen in the stable's courtyard for a roll, shortly after the work.
"That's what great about Tonalist—he just worked, but he acts like it's just another day," Clement said. "He has such a good mind."
Tonalist is scheduled to fly to Kentucky on the afternoon of Oct. 26. Clement said, depending upon the colt's energy level, he would either jog or gallop on his first day at Keeneland.
Also on the worktab for Clement Oct. 24 was Hard Not to Like, turning in her ultimate breeze for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) with Velazquez in the irons. The 6-year-old daughter of Hard Spun worked a dogs-up half-mile on the inner turf in :49.55 in company.
"The important thing was to settle her, because the Breeders' Cup is 1 3/16 miles," Clement said. "She looked well. Johnny said he had no problem keeping her settled. She was strong, but manageable. They finished very well. The last quarter was very nice. She came back well."
Rounding out Clement's Breeders' Cup contingent are Las Vegas Dirt Mile (gr. I) candidate Red Vine, who breezed Friday in 1:01.12, and Turf Monster (gr. IIIT) winner Pure Sensation for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT), who completed his final preparations with a half-mile dirt work in :48.34 last Wednesday.
"Pure Sensation is doing very well. He worked on Wednesday and came out of it in good shape," said Clement. "With sprinters, I don't like to work them too close to the race."