White Abarrio breezing at Santa Anita. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
• Lure Favorite Astromoner To Scratch, Await Breeders’ Cup
• Breeders’ Cup Post-Position Draw Is Monday
Santa Anita Stable Notes By Victor Ryan
ARCADIA, Calif.—White Abarrio, a leading contender for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 4 at Santa Anita, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds Friday at Santa Anita. According to private clocker Gary Young, the 4-year-old Race Day colt went the final quarter mile in 22.80 seconds.
Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., White Abarrio was originally slated to work Monday but that drill was postponed. Connections attributed the delay to an issue with White Abarrio’s shoes. Noted blacksmith Ian McKinlay flew in Monday and re-shod White Abarrio. He galloped Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday prior to Friday’s drill.
Dutrow was in from New York to observe the work, which came under jockey Emily Ellingwood. Dutrow left Santa Anita shortly after the move and was not available for comment. Assistant Chip Dutrow, Rick Dutrow’s brother, said they were pleased with the drill.
“He worked great. He cooled out great. We’re thrilled,” Chip Dutrow said.
White Abarrio has made two starts for Dutrow after being transferred from trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. He was third in the GI Metropolitan Handicap going a mile at Belmont Park June 10, then won the GI Whitney Stakes Aug. 5 at Saratoga. The Whitney is the same 1 ¼-mile distance as the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Dutrow previously won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2005 with Saint Liam.
Other Notable Breeders’ Cup Works Friday Morning
Working for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies was Chatalas for trainer Mark Glatt. Winner of the GII Chandelier here Oct. 7, the Gun Runner filly worked five furlongs 1:01.00.
Trainer Peter Eurton worked a trio of 2-year-old Breeders’ Cup contenders: Flattery, Stay Hot and Dark Vintage. Flattery, pre-entered in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, worked four furlongs on the training track in 48.00 seconds. The Flatter filly won the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar Sept. 9 and most recently was third in the GIII Surfer Girl at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Stay Hot was originally on the also-eligible list for the $1 million Juvenile Turf but is now in the race following the Friday withdrawals of pre-entrants Johannes Brahms for trainer Aidan O’Brien and Legend of Time for trainer Charlie Appleby. Stay Hot, a Summer Front ridgling, earned his diploma going a mile on turf here Oct. 7. He worked four furlongs on the training track in a bullet 47.40 seconds.
Dark Vintage is on the also-eligible list for the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint. Runner-up in the Speakeasy Stakes at five furlongs on turf here Oct. 8, the Dark Angel colt bred in Ireland worked four furlongs on the main track in 47.40 seconds.
Trainer John Sadler worked the Speakeasy winner, Slider, for the Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Jimmy Creed colt went five furlongs in 59.80 seconds.
Also working towards the Juvenile Turf was Endlessly for trainer Michael McCarthy. The Oscar Performance colt drilled four furlongs in 47.80 seconds. Unbeaten in three starts, Endlessly’s wins include the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf and most recently the GIII Zuma Beach here Oct. 8.
Rounding out Friday’s workers were Elm Drive and Where’s My Ring, who is on the also-eligible list for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Elm Drive, pre-entered in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint, worked five furlongs on the training track in 1:03.20 for trainer Phil D’Amato. The 4-year-old daughter of Moyahmen was most recently fourth in the GIII Chillingworth here Sept. 29.
Where’s My Ring, trained by Val Brinkerhoff, drilled four furlongs in 47.80 seconds. Winless in three starts, the Twirling Candy filly was most recently fourth in the Surfer Girl.
Lure Favorite Astronomer To Scratch, Await Breeders’ Cup Mile
Trainer Simon Callaghan said Astronomer will be scratched from Saturday’s Lure Stakes at Santa Anita and await a potential run in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile here a week later
Astronomer is listed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the restricted Lure going a mile on turf, which goes as the ninth and final race on Saturday’s card
When pre-entries were announced Wednesday for the Mile, which is restricted to 14 starters, Astronomer was ranked 18th and sitting on the outside. However, there has since been two withdrawals from the main body of the field. According to the Breeders’ Cup web site, European invaders Paddington and Sauterne are both now out.
Additionally, both Up to the Mark and In Italian, who are ranked ahead of Astronomer in the Mile, have first preference in alternate races. Both are securely in the field for those races as well.
“We’re pretty confident we’ll get to run,” Callaghan said of Astronomer.
A 4-year-old gelding by Air Force Blue, Astronomer missed his entire 3-year-old season before finally returning in July at Del Mar. He won his second start on the comeback trail, a one-mile turf allowance at Del Mar on Aug. 19, then came back to be second by a neck to Hong Kong Harry in the GII City of Hope Mile here Sept. 30.
“We think he can be competitive,” Callaghan said of the Breeders’ Cup.
Astronomer is owned by breeder Alice Bamford and Michael B. Tabor. He has a record of 3-1-0 in seven starts with earnings of $200,800.
Breeders’ Cup Post-Position Draw Is Set For Monday
Next weekend, Santa Anita hosts the two-day Breeders’ Cup for a record 11th time. The post-position draw for the 40th Breeders’ Cup will be held Monday starting at 4:45 Pacific at the nearby Pasadena Civic Center.
On Friday Nov. 3, five Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds highlight a 10-race card starting at 11:30 a.m. Pacific. The first Breeders’ Cup race on “Future Stars Friday” will be the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint at 2 p.m.
On Saturday, Nov. 4, nine Breeders’ Cup races will be part of a 12-race card. First post Saturday is 10:10 a.m. The first Breeders’ Cup race will be the $1 million Dirt Mile at 11:30 a.m. The $6 million Classic is scheduled for 3:40 p.m.
For the first time in the 40-year history of the Breeders’ Cup, the Classic will not go as the final Breeders’ Cup race. This year it will be followed by the $1 million Turf Sprint at 4:25 and the $2 million Sprint at 5 p.m.
Monday’s post-position draw will be televised on FanDuel TV and streamed at Breederscup.com.
FINISH LINES_____________________
There were a combined 116 timed workouts on the main track and training track Friday…
International superstar Frankie Dettori returns to Santa Anita this weekend. He’s booked to ride four races both Saturday and Sunday, including Saturday’s featured Lure Stakes aboard eastern invader Easter for trainer Graham Motion…
Jordyn Egan has been named new executive director of the California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation. Egan, wife of Santa Anita Director of Racing Jason Egan, replaces Cliff Goodrich, who is retiring after eight years in the position…
Horseplayer and equine scout Larry Zap will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m. Pacific…
Santa Anita will host a special Thursday card next week ahead of the Breeders’ Cup. On-track fans will receive free parking and admission. First post is 1 p.m.
