Serengeti Empress Sharp in Final Breeders' Cup Work

Working a set apart just after 6 a.m. ET Oct. 25, Breeders' Cup hopefuls Lone Sailor and Serengeti Empress went to the main track at Churchill Downs for their final breezes before next weekend's World Championships.

Exercise rider Gilbert Concha was aboard both Tom Amoss trainees, and each recorded half-mile works of :48 1/5, tied for eighth-fastest of 37 at the distance over a fast track.

G M B Racing's Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner Lone Sailor worked first, posting splits of :12 1/5, :24 1/5, :48 1/5 with gallop-out times of 1:01 and 1:14 3/5 for five and six furlongs.

"He had been running all year, and today's work nine days out from the race was by design for maintenance mentally and physically," Amoss said. "He had done a lot of work previously."

Lone Sailor was pre-entered in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), with first preference being the Classic. Based on points, he is ensured of a spot in the Classic, if the connections ultimately choose their first preference.

"We won't hold anybody up," Amoss said. "We will make a decision by (Friday on which race he will enter)."

Joel Politi's brilliant Pocahontas Stakes (G2) winner Serengeti Empress produced fractions of :12 3/5, :24 1/5, :36 2/5, and :48 1/5 with gallop-out times of 1:01 and 1:14 1/5 for five and six furlongs as she readies for the $2 million Tito's Handmade Vodka Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

"Her work was similar to his, just an easy half," Amoss said. "Her preparation has been different from his. She worked in company last week and has done a lot more than Lone Sailor has.

"The takeaway from this morning was she rated kindly like she did last week in company. I know it is not a full field (of 14), but I think post position will be important. With Bellafina, Jaywalk, Restless Rider and us, something has to give, and I want to know that she can rate."

Trainer Mark Casse also had some of his expected Breeders' Cup runners in action at Churchill Thursday, with Dirt Mile (G1) contender Awesome Slew and Longines Distaff (G1) hopeful Wonder Gadot both going a half-mile.

Awesome Slew was clocked in :48 flat going in company with stablemate Determinant, posting splits of :12 1/5 and :24 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:01. Wonder Gadot registered a bullet move in :47, with opening fractions of :11 3/4 and :22 4/5 before a five-furlong gallop out in 1:01.

"Both horses worked great this morning," said Casse as he personally walked Wonder Gadot around his Barn 36 shedrow. "We're ready to go. It's interesting with Wonder Gadot's pedigree how well she takes to this track. I've always said horses with a little Polytrack or turf pedigree tend to do better over this dirt track than others. I think she absolutely loves this surface."

Grade 1 winner Finley'sluckycharm completed her major preparation for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) by working a half-mile in :47 4/5 over a fast track Thursday morning, the second-fastest of 37 horses at the distance.

With jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard, Finley'sluckycharm reeled off fractions of :12, :24, and :36, galloping out five-eighths in 1:00 2/5.

"That was her last work before the Breeders' Cup," said trainer Bret Calhoun, who won the 2010 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with Dubai Majesty. "I am happy to get that behind us."

Thursday's work was her fifth in Louisville since finishing seventh in the Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 25.

"I feel better coming into this year's Breeders' Cup," Calhoun said of Finley'sluckycharm, who finished ninth in last year's running at Del Mar. "She had a long campaign last year and had lost some weight. This year, we have spaced her races out more, and she has actually gained weight."

The Breeders' Cup works began at 5:30 a.m. Thursday with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas sending out graded stakes winner Bravazo for five furlongs in :59 4/5. The son of Awesome Again  was pre-entered in both the Dirt Mile and Classic but has first preference in the Dirt Mile.

"This horse has done nothing but improve following the Derby," Lukas said. "The last race wasn't too much, but this colt has danced in every dance and shows up each time. There's not much more you can ask of him, but I wish we could've gotten a little luckier in a couple of his starts."

Bravazo worked in company with Spire through splits of :11 3/5, :23, :35, and :47 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:15 3/5.