• Woodford Winner Arzak Makes Trip Worthwhile For Trombetta
• Breeders’ Cup Work Tab
Keeneland Press Release
Brightwork winning the Spinaway Sept 29. (Adam Coglianese)
LEXINGTON, Ky.—With owner William Simon looking on and trainer John Ortiz in the saddle, Brightwork on Saturday began her major preparations for an expected run in the $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) run at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.
Working with 4 G Racing’s Crown Imperial, a candidate for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) also on Nov. 3, Brightwork finished in front of her stablemate while completing 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 and galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:14. Crown Imperial received a time of 1:02.20 for 5 furlongs.
“She did it very easy,” Ortiz said of Brightwork, who sustained her first defeat in the Oct. 6 Darley Alcibiades (G1) run at 1 1/16 miles after opening her career with four victories. “She’s a filly that likes to take direction and she understood that today I wanted to give her confidence to go two turns.”
Ortiz plans to breeze Brightwork here next Saturday, Oct. 28 with a scheduled Oct. 30 departure date to Southern California. She and Crown Imperial would mark the first starters for Ortiz at Santa Anita.
“Never saddled one on my own,” Ortiz said. “I was out there before as an assistant to Kellyn Gorder.”
The deadline to pre-enter for the Breeders’ Cup is Monday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. ET. Pre-entries will be announced Oct. 25 at noon ET.
Arzak arrived at Keeneland Friday from his main base in Maryland
Sonata Stable’s Arzak, winner of the Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel on Oct. 7, turned in a half-mile breeze in :51.20 over a Keeneland turf course rated as good Saturday morning to the delight of trainer Mike Trombetta.
“With all the rain yesterday, I was surprised we got on the grass,” said Trombetta, who arrived at Keeneland Friday from his main base in Maryland. “It looked like he got over it good. There was a little cut in the ground from the rain.”
Luis Saez was aboard for the work, one of two Trombetta has planned here before Arzak heads to California on Oct. 30 for an expected start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 4. Trombetta said Saez, who rode Arzak to victory at Saratoga the one time he was aboard the 5-year-old, would have the Breeders’ Cup mount.
The deadline to pre-enter for the Breeders’ Cup is Monday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. ET. Pre-entries will be announced Oct. 25 at noon ET.
Breeders’ Cup Work Tab
Trainer Cherie DeVaux worked her three Breeders’ Cup hopefuls on the main track Saturday morning.
First was John Gunther’s Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1) candidate Stage Raider, who worked 5 furlongs in 1:01. Following the morning’s track renovation session, Lael Stable’s She Feels Pretty worked a half-mile in :48.40 for the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and Victory Racing Partners’ More Than Looks worked a half-mile in :48.60 for the FanDuel Mile (G1) on turf.
Other Breeders’ Cup possible candidates working on the dirt were Juddmonte Spinster (G1) runner-up Le Da Vida (CHI) (half-mile in :47.60, best of 79 at the distance) for trainer Ignacio Correas IV in preparation for the Distaff (G1) and Hidden Class (half-mile in :49.40) for Joe Sharp for a possible run in the Juvenile Fillies Turf or Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).
Working on the grass with designs on the Breeders’ Cup were Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) runner-up Master of The Seas (IRE) (half-mile in :52.20).
First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare runner-up In Italian (GB) (half-mile in :51.80).
The deadline to pre-enter for the Breeders’ Cup is Monday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. ET. Pre-entries will be announced Oct. 25 at noon ET.
