Dream Tree to Miss Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
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Photo: Zoe Metz
Dream Tree (inside) works with stablemate Lord Simba Oct. 26 at Santa Anita
Phoenix Thoroughbreds' undefeated Dream Tree will miss the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) because an epiglottic entrapment was discovered following her workout Oct. 26 at Santa Anita Park, trainer Bob Baffert said.
The 3-year-old Uncle Mo filly and three-time graded stakes winner worked a half-mile in :46 4/5 under jockey Drayden Van Dyke Friday, inside of 5-year-old stablemate and grade 3 winner Lord Simba, who was clocked in :46 3/5. Baffert also has Marley's Freedom pre-entered in the Filly & Mare Sprint, and she is expected to work Saturday.
"Timing is bad, but she will be fine in a couple weeks," Baffert said of Dream Tree.
Baffert had a busy morning of Breeders' Cup workers at Santa Anita Friday, a week ahead of the two-day event at Churchill Downs.
He began the morning drills with Distaff (G1) contenders Abel Tasman and Vale Dori, who worked in company during the 6:30 a.m. PT workout session. Abel Tasman was on the inside of her stablemate, and not much separated the pair through the half-mile work in :47 1/5, although Abel Tasman hit the wire about a head in front.
The two faced each other last time out in the Sept. 30 Zenyatta Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita, where Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum's Vale Dori won at odds of 11-1, while China Horse Club and Clearsky Farms' Abel Tasman finished fifth of six at 1-9.
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Next up on the work tab was Gary and Mary West's undefeated Game Winner during the 7:45 a.m. training session. The Candy Ride colt and likely favorite for the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) worked in company, on the inside of 3-year-old stakes winner Ax Man. Jockey Joe Talamo was in the irons on Game Winner, and both horses were timed for a half-mile in :47 flat. Game Winner enters the Juvenile off back-to-back grade 1 wins in the Sept. 3 Del Mar Futurity and the Sept. 29 American Pharoah Stakes.
The remaining Baffert horses expected to work Oct. 27 toward Breeders' Cup starts are McKinzie (Classic, G1), West Coast (Classic), and Much Better (Juvenile Turf, G1T).