BC Hopefuls Work at Keeneland, Belmont

While many of the horses pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup already are in Southern California, several also wrapped up their final serious works elsewhere Oct. 29, including grade I winner I'm a Chatterbox at Keeneland and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Keen Ice at Belmont Park.

Fletcher and Carolyn Gray's homebred I'm a Chatterbox, winner of the Oct. 9 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) at the Lexington track, breezed five furlongs in :59 on a fast track after the Saturday morning renovation break. The time was the fastest off 22 works at the distance as the 4-year-old daughter of Munnings   prepares for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.

Keeneland clockers caught I'm a Chatterbox, who had regular rider Florent Geroux aboard, in fractions of :12, :23, :35 3/5, :59 and out in 1:12 3/5.

"She went good," said trainer Larry Jones, who ponied I'm a Chatterbox to about the five-furlong pole before she broke off for the work. "And with it being the only work between the Spinster and (the Breeders' Cup), we needed to make sure it was a decent work. We're going into it the way I like to."

I'm a Chatterbox, who was eighth in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland, also won this year's Delaware Handicap (gr. I) in July. She has three wins in five starts this year. I'm a Chatterbox is leaving Monday for Santa Anita.

Three other Breeders' Cup pre-entrants also worked Saturday at Keeneland. Alice Clapham, assistant to trainer Graham Motion, was pleased after she worked St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds' Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) hopeful Ring Weekend five furlongs on dirt in 1:02 4/5.

"I was very happy with the way he felt," she said about Ring Weekend, who was seventh behind stablemate Miss Temple City in the Oct. 8 Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) after winning the Bernard Baruch (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course.

Clockers caught him in fractions of :12 2/5, :24 3/5, :37, 1:02 4/5 and out in 1:17 1/5.

Terry Finley and Erin Birkenhauer of West Point watched Ring Weekend's work and are looking forward to the gelding taking on some of the sport's finest turf milers.

"There are probably nine or 10 horses on paper that could jump up and win and you wouldn't be surprised," Finley said.

John Velazquez, who rode Ring Weekend to win the Bernard Baruch will be aboard him in the Breeders' Cup, Finley said. The gelding also is scheduled to go to California on Monday.

Wes Welker and Sol Kumin's group I winner Undrafted, scheduled to start in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) a third straight year, worked five furlongs on the firm turf in 1:01. It was the second work for the gelding since he was sixth in the Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select (gr. IIIT) Oct. 8 at Keeneland.

"It was a nice little cruiser, all by himself," Ward said about the work. "He did everything right. This is his home, so he feels very, very comfortable here. We're getting him on the last plane out on Nov. 1 to keep him right here at home until he's gotta go. We're all set."

Clockers caught Undrafted in fractions of :12 4/5, :24 2/5, :37 4/5, 1:01 and out in 1:15 1/5. 

Ward said Velazquez will ride Undrafted in the Breeders' Cup.

Empyrean Stables' Zipessa, pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), worked five furlongs on turf in 1:02 3/5 under trainer Mike Stidham's assistant, Hilary Pridham.

A close second in the Rodeo Drive (gr. IT) at Santa Anita on Oct. 1, Zipessa clocked fractions of :13 1/5, :25 2/5 and :38 4/5 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16 1/5. 

"She is fit and ready to go," Stidham said. "She always gallops out big. She did just what we were looking for."

Zipessa, who has worked three times at Keeneland this month, will be flown to Santa Anita on Monday. 

At Belmont Park, trainer Chad Brown sent out Wavell Avenue as the 5-year-old daughter of Harlington   prepares to defend her title in last year's Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I). Wavell Avenue breezed four furlongs in :47 on the fast main track, earning the bullet among 40 moves at the distance.

"It was one of her better breezes of the entire year, I thought," Brown said. "It was a normal maintenance work. She went a little quick, but I'll tell you, the way she did it was absolutely effortless. She was under a strong hold the whole way. She looks like she's coming into this race very well."

Brown took a different approach with undefeated Champagne Stakes (gr. I) winner Practical Joke, who breezed five furlongs in 1:01.44, seventh fastest of 12 moves at the distance in his final serious preparations for the Sentient Jet Juvenile (gr. I).

"He worked a very good, very steady five-eighths," Brown said. "It was a very good work and he galloped out extremely well. I'm looking forward to getting this horse around two turns."

Brown sent out Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) hopefuls Favorable Outcome and Ticonderoga in tandem and they each completed five furlongs on the good inner turf in 1:03.12 while Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) hopefuls New Money Honey and Rymska completed the distance in 1:02.15 working together.

Brown also sent out Turf Sprint hopeful A Lot, who breezed four furlongs on the main track in :49.55; and Filly & Mare Sprint pre-entry Irish Jasper, who breezed a half-mile in :49.09.

"He breezed well, it was just what I was looking for," Brown said of A Lot. "He worked a good half and galloped out a very strong five-eighths. He's coming into this race fresh. Coming down the hill is always a question mark for us. The horse hasn't done it before, but he's giving me the feeling that he's custom-made for it."

Brown noted that final work plans for the remainder of his Breeders' Cup contingent, including expected heavyweights Lady Eli (gr. IT Filly & Mare Turf) and Flintshire (gr. IT Longines Turf), are still to be decided.

Trainer Todd Pletcher watched Keen Ice clock five furlongs in 1:00.85 on the Belmont Park training track Saturday morning in his final work before the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). The 2015 Grade I Travers winner, Keen Ice finished third last out against allowance company at Belmont in his first North American start since finishing off the board in the Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (UAE-I) in March.

"It's what we've come to expect, the further he goes, the stronger he gets," Pletcher said. "I thought it was a good, solid work. We got what we were hoping for from a fitness standpoint. We'll go into it with a fresh, fit horse. Now, we need a good pace in the race and a good setup for him."

Curalina could be targeting the Distaff, said Pletcher, who added that he has been talking to Aron Wellman, the president of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, about the 4-year-old chestnut filly, who is also pre-entered for the Filly & Mare Sprint.

"We have not made a final decision yet," Pletcher said. "The conversations I've had with them leading up to today have been leaning towards the Distaff. As well as she worked this morning, I'd imagine we're still leaning that way. We haven't made a final decision yet."

On Saturday, Curalina breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 over the training track. She is scheduled to depart for California Sunday.

"She was very good again this morning, I thought it was an exceptional work," Pletcher said. "She seems to be in good form, she's happy and galloped out great."

Pletcher also worked Juvenile Turf hopefuls Made You Look and J. S. Choice in tandem at a half mile on the inner turf. Made You Look was credited with a time of :49.73 and J. S. Choice :49.78.

"They did it in hand easily and seemed to handle the turf course great, considering it had a big cut to it," Pletcher said. "It didn't seem to bother them."

Theory breezed four furlongs in :49.49 seconds in company with Ready Dancer on the training track, his last work before the Juvenile. The 2-year-old colt, for China Horse Club, WinStar Farm and SF Racing, is 2-for-2 in his career after winning the grade III Futurity Oct. 15 at Belmont.

"It's what we were hoping and expecting they would do," Pletcher said. 

Syndergaard, who is also set to run in the Juvenile, looked sharp breezing five furlongs solo on the training track in 1:00 4/5. Syndergaard won his first two career races at Saratoga before finishing just a nose behind Practical Joke in the Champagne on Oct. 8. 

"He started off easy, finished up strong and galloped out great," said Pletcher. "I thought it was an excellent work. We put him in company last week and he worked fine. But he's willing on his own, so I didn't think he needed company to get a solid work out of him. He did plenty on his own."

Sweet Loretta also worked by herself, registering a :48.88 half-mile breeze as she readies for the 14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). 

Pre-entered in both the Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) and the Mile, Photo Call worked four furlongs in :49.12 ahead of her expected start in the Mile.

Visiting the main track Oct. 27, China Horse Club's Frizette (gr. I) winner Yellow Agate continued her preparations toward the Juvenile Fillies under the watchful eye of trainer Christophe Clement. Undefeated in two career starts, the daughter of Gemologist   breezed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5.

"She came out of her work in good shape," said Clement. "She's due to leave (Sunday) morning. She has tactical speed so (jockey Manny) Franco can do anything he wants with her. If he has to use her early to get position or take her off the pace, it shouldn't be a problem. She's doing well so it's exciting."

Rounding out Clement's Breeders' Cup contingent is Lull, pre-entered for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Pure Sensation, taking aim at the Turf Sprint.

Working Oct. 26 on the main track, Lull completed five-furlongs in 1:02.48. The daughter of War Front   will look to rebound cutting back in distance following a second-place finish Oct. 12 at Keeneland in the Jessamine Stakes (gr. IIIT).

"The Jessamine was pushing it a little bit, but she's very fit and loves firm turf and going a mile," added Clement. "She's a beautiful mover. It's going to be exciting to see."

Lastly, 5-year-old gelding Pure Sensation will look to win his fourth consecutive race in the Turf Sprint. Scheduled to leave for California Tuesday morning, Clement was hopeful to keep his streak going despite facing new conditions out west.

"He's a nice horse," added Clement. "I'm not sure he's just been on a roll lately, but he's been winning so it's been good. He'll face some new challenges in California, going 6 1/2 furlongs down the hill, but he's doing well so we'll see."