Credit Eclipse Sportswire / Breeders’ Cup Photos ©
Breeders’ Cup Press
With the Breeders’ Cup World Championships just one week away, the morning activity at Keeneland Race Course shifted into high gear Saturday as contenders for several of the championship races turned in important workouts over the Lexington oval.
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) contender Magnitude led the parade of workers, covering five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 for trainer Steve Asmussen.
With exercise rider Luigi Ortiz aboard, Magnitude was among the first horses on the track when it reopened following the 7:30 a.m. renovation break. The work marked his third over the Keeneland surface, and Asmussen was pleased with what he saw from the Classic hopeful.
“There’s every indication that he handles the racetrack extremely well,” Asmussen said. “The horse has settled in here beautifully. You know, third work over the racetrack, and every one of them looked very good. Love how he came out of it. Love how he came back. He’s a fast horse, traveling really well right now.”
Magnitude was not the only Classic contender making an early appearance. The Puma also took advantage of the freshly renovated racing surface, breezing five furlongs in 1:00 2/5.
Assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. was pleased with the effort, even if the official clocking was faster than he expected.
“To me, his time, visually, looked slower than the official time,” Delgado said. “I thought it looked like he might have gone 1:02. But it doesn’t matter. He looked really good out there and that’s what we wanted.”
The busy morning also featured a pair of prominent Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) contenders putting in their final preparations for the $2 million race.
Chad Brown-trained Fully Subscribed covered five furlongs in 1:00 2/5, while Immersive, representing the Brad Cox barn, breezed a half-mile in :48.
Speed was on display among the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) contenders as Hymn delivered one of the morning’s sharpest performances, firing a bullet half-mile in :46 3/5, the fastest work of 63 at the distance.
“We went the very first thing to try to get the best track and keep it as quiet as possible,” trainer Ron Moquett. “I liked the way he did it, and more importantly, I liked the way he came home after it.”
BBN Racing LLC and Rick Howard’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) contender Kilwin breezed 4f in :484/5.
FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) contender Coach Pope was also on the Saturday work tab, covering five furlongs in company with Real Goodbar in 1:02 1/5.
“Just amazing,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “I mean, there’s nothing complicated. We gave them instructions to go 12s, almost eyeball to eyeball. (Real Goodbar) and Coach Pope are good matches, and they’ve been workmates for a while, so we’re keeping them together. Nothing complicated. Very simple, basic breeze for us.”
Over at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Further Ado, whose connections have a big decision to make in the next 48 hours, turned in his final breeze. The chestnut colt, owned by Spendthrift Farm and trained by Brad Cox, worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5.
Which race Further Ado will take on in Lexington remains officially undecided, as of early Saturday. The colt is pre-entered in both the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Final entries for all Breeders’ Cup races will be taken Monday morning.
Following Saturday morning’s breeze, Ned Toffey, general manager for Spendthrift, said the owners are “learning toward the Classic, but the Dirt Mile is definitely still an option.”
Upcoming News & Features
Following soon will be daily notes and features. Today’s Features are on Forever Young, Golden Tempo and Evanescence. Please follow at https://www.breederscup.com/notes
Media Portal, Newsfeed, PhotoShelter, & Notes
Media covering the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships have access to the newsfeed through the Breeders’ Cup Media Portal. To register to gain access, visit https://breederscup.hammondcg.com
Once you arrive at the landing page, look below the “Sign In” button and click on “Register for Access.” Users will then need to provide their first and last names, along with their e-mail address. When finished filling out the requested information, click “Submit.” You will receive your login credentials via e-mail after registration information has been reviewed and approved. Newsfeed uploads will continue through Saturday, Oct. 31.
Photographs, including morning workouts, of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships are available for media use at https://breederscup.photoshelter.com/index. Racing photos, winner’s circle images, special events, scene setting, and pageantry will be updated on the PhotoShelter site on Oct. 30-Oct. 31. Please credit all images to Eclipse Sportswire / Breeders’ Cup Photos ©
Content from the Breeders’ Cup Notes Team is available at https://www.breederscup.com/notes, featuring coverage of key news, quotes from connections, updates on contenders, and features.
With the Breeders’ Cup World Championships just one week away, the morning activity at Keeneland Race Course shifted into high gear Saturday as contenders for several of the championship races turned in important workouts over the Lexington oval.
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) contender Magnitude led the parade of workers, covering five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 for trainer Steve Asmussen.
With exercise rider Luigi Ortiz aboard, Magnitude was among the first horses on the track when it reopened following the 7:30 a.m. renovation break. The work marked his third over the Keeneland surface, and Asmussen was pleased with what he saw from the Classic hopeful.
“There’s every indication that he handles the racetrack extremely well,” Asmussen said. “The horse has settled in here beautifully. You know, third work over the racetrack, and every one of them looked very good. Love how he came out of it. Love how he came back. He’s a fast horse, traveling really well right now.”
Magnitude was not the only Classic contender making an early appearance. The Puma also took advantage of the freshly renovated racing surface, breezing five furlongs in 1:00 2/5.
Assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. was pleased with the effort, even if the official clocking was faster than he expected.
“To me, his time, visually, looked slower than the official time,” Delgado said. “I thought it looked like he might have gone 1:02. But it doesn’t matter. He looked really good out there and that’s what we wanted.”
The busy morning also featured a pair of prominent Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) contenders putting in their final preparations for the $2 million race.
Chad Brown-trained Fully Subscribed covered five furlongs in 1:00 2/5, while Immersive, representing the Brad Cox barn, breezed a half-mile in :48.
Speed was on display among the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) contenders as Hymn delivered one of the morning’s sharpest performances, firing a bullet half-mile in :46 3/5, the fastest work of 63 at the distance.
“We went the very first thing to try to get the best track and keep it as quiet as possible,” trainer Ron Moquett. “I liked the way he did it, and more importantly, I liked the way he came home after it.”
BBN Racing LLC and Rick Howard’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) contender Kilwin breezed 4f in :484/5.
FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) contender Coach Pope was also on the Saturday work tab, covering five furlongs in company with Real Goodbar in 1:02 1/5.
“Just amazing,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “I mean, there’s nothing complicated. We gave them instructions to go 12s, almost eyeball to eyeball. (Real Goodbar) and Coach Pope are good matches, and they’ve been workmates for a while, so we’re keeping them together. Nothing complicated. Very simple, basic breeze for us.”
Over at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Further Ado, whose connections have a big decision to make in the next 48 hours, turned in his final breeze. The chestnut colt, owned by Spendthrift Farm and trained by Brad Cox, worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5.
Which race Further Ado will take on in Lexington remains officially undecided, as of early Saturday. The colt is pre-entered in both the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Final entries for all Breeders’ Cup races will be taken Monday morning.
Following Saturday morning’s breeze, Ned Toffey, general manager for Spendthrift, said the owners are “learning toward the Classic, but the Dirt Mile is definitely still an option.”
Upcoming News & Features
Following soon will be daily notes and features. Today’s Features are on Forever Young, Golden Tempo and Evanescence. Please follow at https://www.breederscup.com/notes
Media Portal, Newsfeed, PhotoShelter, & Notes
Media covering the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships have access to the newsfeed through the Breeders’ Cup Media Portal. To register to gain access, visit https://breederscup.hammondcg.com
Once you arrive at the landing page, look below the “Sign In” button and click on “Register for Access.” Users will then need to provide their first and last names, along with their e-mail address. When finished filling out the requested information, click “Submit.” You will receive your login credentials via e-mail after registration information has been reviewed and approved. Newsfeed uploads will continue through Saturday, Oct. 31.
Photographs, including morning workouts, of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships are available for media use at https://breederscup.photoshelter.com/index. Racing photos, winner’s circle images, special events, scene setting, and pageantry will be updated on the PhotoShelter site on Oct. 30-Oct. 31. Please credit all images to Eclipse Sportswire / Breeders’ Cup Photos ©
Content from the Breeders’ Cup Notes Team is available at https://www.breederscup.com/notes, featuring coverage of key news, quotes from connections, updates on contenders, and features.
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