Extended Breeze at Gulfstream Park West for Gunnevera

Margoth's Gunnevera breezed six furlongs in 1:15 1/5 the morning of Oct. 26 at Gulfstream Park West in preparation for a planned start in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs Nov. 3.

The Antonio Sano-trained 4-year-old worked by himself under exercise rider Raul Velasquez.

"It was a nice work. We gave him a nice, easy work," said Sano, whose stretch-running son of Dialed In  previously turned in three strong five-furlong breezes in company.

Gunnevera, who ranks second on the list of alternates for the Classic, is a probable to make the field Monday, as Bravazo and City of Light  are expected to enter the $1 million Dirt Mile (G1), listed as the first-preference for both horses in the pre-entries for the 35th Breeders' Cup.

"It was a surprise to me. Never in my life did I think he wouldn't be selected (into the main field)," Sano said.

Gunnevera, who finished in a dead heat for fifth with Arrogate  in last year's Classic at Del Mar, started his 2018 campaign with a third-place finish behind Gun Runner  and West Coast  in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January. Two months later, he finished eighth in the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1), in which he sustained a nasty hoof injury that sent him to the sideline for five months.

Gunnevera has returned to action as good as ever, capturing an Aug. 10 optional-claiming allowance race at Gulfstream by 6 1/2 lengths before finishing second behind Yoshida in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Saratoga Race Course in his most recent start Sept. 1, closing from 11th with a six-wide rally.

"My horse is doing good. He has a chance to win. The mile and a quarter is good for him," Sano said.

Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to ride Gunnevera for the first time in the Classic. Gunnevera was scheduled to leave for Churchill by van at 7 p.m. ET Friday.

The Kathleen O'Connell-trained Well Defined, an easy winner of the $400,000 In Reality division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes last time out, and Stormy Embrace, winner of the "Win and You're In" Princess Rooney Stakes (G2) on the June 30 Summit of Speed card, arrived at Churchill Friday morning for scheduled starts in the $2 million Sentient Jet Juvenile (G1) Nov. 2 and the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 3, respectively.

"They just arrived this morning. Everything seems to be good," said O'Connell, who will join her Breeders' Cup candidates at Churchill Sunday.

The Stanley Gold-trained Cookie Dough, winner of the $400,000 My Dear Girl division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes last time out, was scheduled to leave for Churchill Friday for a scheduled start in the $2 million Tito's Handmade Vodka Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 2. The Georgina Baxter-trained Pay Any Price, the first alternate for the $1 million Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 3, also was slated to depart Gulfstream Friday. 

The David Fawkes-trained Louder Than Bombs, who captured the Armed Forces Stakes over the Gulfstream turf course last time out, breezed a half-mile in :47.02 at Gulfstream Friday morning. The 2-year-old son of Violence , who posted the fastest of 31 works recorded at the distance, is the second alternate for the $1 million Juvenile Turf (G1T) Nov. 2.