Don't Tell Sophia Heads BC Works at Keeneland

Three horses under consideration for the Breeders' Cup World Championships worked on the fast main track at Keeneland Oct. 18, led by Juddmonte Spinster (gr. I) winner Don't Tell Sophia. Grand Arch and Southern Honey were also on the tab.

Expected to make her next start in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), Don't Tell Sophia worked four furlongs on her own under jockey Joe Rocco Jr., covering the distance in :48 4/5 after the renovation break.

The Phil Sims trainee, co-owned by Sims and Jerry Namy, posted fractions of :12 3/5 and :25 1/5, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 1/5.

"Good and easy. I am just trying to get her there," Sims said of the move. "She will probably have a similar work next Saturday with a strong gallop during the week."

Don't Tell Sophia, scheduled to ship to Southern California Oct. 26, will represent the second Breeders' Cup starter for Sims. Hot Cha Cha finished fifth in the 2010 Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs.

Working at 7 a.m. before the break was Susan and Jim Hill's Grand Arch, who covered a half-mile in :52 1/5 on his own under jockey Julien Leparoux.

Runner-up to two-time reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) Oct. 4, Grand Arch is scheduled to work again next Saturday and leave for California Oct. 28, according to trainer Brian Lynch.

"That is the first time I've had him on the dirt, and I just wanted to let him stretch his legs," Lynch said. "He is not very aggressive on his own. He will do a little more next week, five-eighths, and tighten the screws a bit."

Lynch said John Velazquez will ride Grand Arch in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) Nov. 1. Velazquez has ridden 12 Breeders' Cup winners, two coming in the Mile.

Ashbrook Farm's Southern Honey also worked under Leparoux, going a half mile in :46 4/5 on her own.

Second in the Thoroughbred Club of America (gr. II) on Oct. 4, Southern Honey is under consideration for the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint (gr. I) Nov. 1.

"She went slightly quicker than I thought she would," trainer Rusty Arnold said of Southern Honey, who galloped out five furlongs in :58 4/5. "I am going to meet with the owners tomorrow morning and go over everything and we'll make a decision."

The deadline for Breeders' Cup pre-entries is Monday, Oct. 20. They will be announced Oct. 22.

"If we go, she would work again on the 26th and ship on the 28th," Arnold said.