Keeneland Breeders' Cup Works Include Top 2YO Fillies

Five contenders for the 35th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs Nov. 2-3 turned in their final preparations over a fast track the morning of Oct. 25 at Keeneland.

"Perfect," trainer Rusty Arnold said after his unbeaten Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) hopeful Concrete Rose worked a half-mile in :49 around 5:45 a.m. "We wanted her to go in :49, and she went in :49."

Concrete Rose worked in company with stablemate Macabre to her inside. She passed her workmate down the lane and finished two lengths in front.

Keeneland clockers caught Concrete Rose in fractions of :12 2/5, :24 2/5, and :36 3/5 en route to her final time.

Owned by Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing, Concrete Rose earned a berth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf by winning Keeneland's Oct. 10 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T) in her second start. The Twirling Candy  filly won her debut Aug. 20 sprinting at Saratoga Race Course. Arnold said Concrete Rose will head to Churchill Tuesday. 

Last year's JPMorgan Chase Jessamine winner, Rushing Fall, went on to win the 2017 Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Thursday's remaining Breeders' Cup works at Keeneland occurred after the morning renovation break.

Trainer Kenny McPeek sent Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) winner Restless Rider (Tito's Handmade Vodka Juvenile Fillies, G1) with JPMorgan Chase Jessamine fifth-place finisher Princesa Carolina for a half-mile work. 

"Rain is coming overnight, and I wanted to work them before this track got wet," McPeek said.

Restless Rider was a length in front of Princesa Carolina at the finish and was clocked in :48 2/5. Time for Princesa Carolina was :48 3/5.

The pair went in :11 4/5, :23 3/5, :36 and galloped out in 1:00 4/5.

"We just wanted to let (Restless Rider) stretch her legs again," McPeek said. "She was coming back six days off her last breeze (in which she worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5)." 

Princesa Carolina was pre-entered in the Juvenile Fillies Turf but was not selected into the field. McPeek said she might run in Sunday's Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill.

McPeek said the two fillies, as well as Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) runner-up Signalman (Sentient Jet Juvenile, G1), will leave for Churchill "maybe today, maybe tomorrow, I haven't set it yet." Signalman is to breeze at Churchill Saturday.

Restless Rider is owned by Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm. Three Chimneys owns Princesa Carolina. Signalman races for Tommie M. Lewis, David A. Bernsen, and Magdalena Racing.

Amerman Racing's Oscar Performance , who has trained at Keeneland this month for Brian Lynch, had his final serious work for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

Oscar Performance and jockey Jose Ortiz, on the outside of stablemate Silver Ride, completed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 after starting a length behind Silver Ride, who was clocked in 1:01 3/5. Oscar Performance, winner of the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) Sept. 15, went the final quarter in :24 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.

"It was the work we needed going into the race," Lynch said. "The gallop out and the whole work was a good work. He might have a little blowout at Churchill but nothing serious. This is what he needed, and Jose was thrilled with the work."

Oscar Performance is scheduled to ship to Churchill Sunday. 

Making their way to the track about 9 a.m. were the final Breeders' Cup contenders to work Thursday morning: John Oxley's Indian Summer Stakes winner Strike Silver (Juvenile Turf Sprint) and Gary Barber's Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3T) fourth-place finisher War of Will (Juvenile Turf, G1T). Both are trained by Mark Casse.

Working together, the pair covered four furlongs in :48 1/5. 

Clockers caught the pair in fractions of :12 2/5, :24, :35 4/5, and :48 1/5 and galloping out in 1:00 4/5.  

"Very happy with them," David Carroll, Casse's Keeneland assistant, said. "Great surface here and nice, quiet track. Hopefully, it'll be a winning breeze."

Carroll said Strike Silver and War of Will, along with Conrad Farms' Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) winner Shamrock Rose (Filly and Mare Sprint, G1), will leave for Churchill Sunday.