Three Rules Puts in Final Juvenile Work
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Lauren King
Three Rules is undefeated in five starts, all in Florida
Undefeated Three Rules worked five furlongs in a sharp :57.64 at Gulfstream Park the morning of Oct. 28 in preparation for a scheduled start in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Nov. 5 at Santa Anita Park. It was the fastest of 21 workouts recorded at the five-furlong distance.
Exercise rider Patrick Harris was aboard the 2-year-old son of Gone Astray for his second timed workout since pulling off a sweep of the 2016 Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Oct. 1. Three Rules worked in steady 20 mile-per-hour winds over a fast main track that produced several very fast clockings.
"It was a little fast but there was a very strong breeze," said trainer Jose Pinchin, whose multiple-stakes-winning star breezed five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.10 a week ago. "Everything has been going good. I couldn't be happier."
Three Rules is scheduled to ship to Kentucky the morning of Oct. 30 before completing his journey on a flight to Southern California Oct. 31.
"My confidence is high, even though I really don't know my opposition. He has been doing everything I want him to do," Pinchin said. "The only thing I'm concerned about is the shipping. He's got to van to Kentucky—that's 24 hours in a van—and then fly out there. That's a disadvantage right there."
Shade Tree Thoroughbreds' homebred has won all five of his races by a combined total of 31 lengths, all at Gulfstream. After winning his June 10 debut by 3 1/2 lengths and prevailing by five lengths in the July 2 Birdonthewire Stakes, Three Rules cruised to dominating victories in the $200,000 Dr. Fager, the $300,000 Affirmed, and the $500,000 In Reality. He captured the 1 1/16-mile Florida Sire Stakes finale by 10 lengths in his first race around two turns.
Cornelio Velasquez, who was aboard for all five victories, recently ventured to Saudi Arabia for a four-month riding stint but is scheduled to return to the U.S. to ride Three Rules in the Juvenile.
Pinchin has made one previous visit to Santa Anita, where he saddled multiple-stakes winner Saffronista for an off-the-board finish in the 2008 Sunshine Millions Distaff.