Flintshire, Lady Eli Put in Final BC Works

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Flintshire put in his final workout in advance of the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) when he breezed five furlongs in 1:02.85 in company with stablemate Money Multiplier over the inner turf at Belmont Park Oct. 30.

The likely morning-line favorite for the Turf, Flintshire has finished first or second in his last eight starts, including a runner-up in the Oct. 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Belmont. The 6-year-old son of Dansili (GB) went through his final workout with regular rider Javier Castellano in the irons, as he attempts to avenge his runner-up finish to champion Main Sequence in the 2014 Turf.

"They looked really good. It was just maintenance for them, but they worked fine," trainer Chad Brown said of his charges. 

Prior to his loss in the Turf Classic, in which he caught soft ground, Flintshire reeled off victories in the June 11 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes (gr. IT), July 30 Bowling Green Stakes (gr. IIT), and Aug. 27 Longines Sword Dancer Stakes (gr. IT) this season. 

Money Multiplier is seeking his first stakes victory after 14 starts, but has finished second six times, with five of those coming in graded stakes. He is also entered in the Turf.

Sea Calisi and Lady Eli, who are both expected for the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) going 1 1/4 miles, breezed five furlongs in 1:03.03 in company Sunday over the inner turf. Regular jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. rode Lady Eli.

Lady Eli, winner of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. IT), made a triumphant return from a potential life-threatening battle with laminitis last year. The 4-year-old daughter of  Divine Park came in second in her comeback race, the Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa (gr. IIT) Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course, and followed that effort with an impressive victory in the Oct. 8 Flower Bowl Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont.

NOVAK: Lady Eli Ruthless in Flower Bowl

"They worked together last week well, so I did the same thing this week," Brown said. "Both horses look very, very strong."

Sea Calisi captured the Aug. 13 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington International Racecourse and most recently ran third in the Flower Bowl.

Brown said eight of his Breeders' Cup contingent shipped to California Sunday, with Flintshire and Lady Eli departing Nov. 1. 

"As long as they come out of the works OK—knock on wood—everything looks good," Brown said. "All the breezing went well."

Other Breeders' Cup contenders on the Sunday worktab at Belmont included Al Shaqab Racing and Gerard Augustin Normand's Ectot, who pulled off the upset in the Turf Classic.

MITCHELL: Ectot Stuns Flintshire in Hirsch Turf Classic

The 5-year-old Todd Pletcher-trainee breezed a half-mile in :49.95 on the inner turf labeled "good." Making his fourth start for Pletcher since arriving in North America earlier this year, the son of Hurricane Run (IRE) is set for a rematch with Flintshire, whom he beat by five lengths in the Turf Classic.

"He breezed well and appears to be in great form at the moment," Pletcher said. "He's got a great action, he breezed great, and galloped out strongly. He's done everything you would hope after the Turf Classic win. He's come back and trained super.

"It's a deep race. It's going to be a new surface for him, and a little bit of a different dynamic, but I think he can show what he did in the Turf Classic."

Ectot is set to depart for Santa Anita Park Nov. 1, along with Keen Ice (Classic), Photo Call (Mile), Sweet Loretta (Juvenile Fillies), Syndergaard, and Theory (both for the Juvenile). 

Multiple grade I winner Curalina, likely for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), and Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) hopefuls Made You Look and J. S. Choice, left for California Sunday morning.

 

Stuart S. Janney III's hombred Ironicus put in his final work Sunday morning before heading out to California for the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), covering four furlongs in :47.88 over the Belmont main track. The 5-year-old son of Distorted Humor   is coming off back-to-back runner-up performances, finishing a head behind Miss Temple City in the Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) Oct. 8 at Keeneland and 1 3/4-lengths behind Flintshire in the Manhattan at Belmont.

"We're disappointed we lost the summer, but all his races have been good," said trainer Shug McGaughey. "Maybe this weekend it'll be his turn. We feel good about our position. He's done well since his last race here. We'll get him shipped out there. It shouldn't be a problem. We're looking forward to the opportunity."