By Gary Yunt and Liane Crossley
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Trainer Bill Mott has four of his six Breeders’ Cup pre-entrants at Keeneland, and he put that quartet through works on a breezy Sunday morning over a fast track.
First at 6:30 a.m. was Frank Fletcher Racing Operations’ Frank’s Rockette going the half in :49 under Neil Poznansky. Next working together were Juddmonte Farms’ Tacitus and Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Channel Maker with Tacitus going 5 furlongs in 1:00 and Channel Maker a half in :47.40. Finally, There’s A Chance Stable, Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms and David Staudacher’s Horologist worked in a half in :47.40 under Poznansky.
Frank’s Rockette is pre-entered in both the Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at 7 furlongs and the Sprint (G1) against males going 6 furlongs.
“She went nice and easy,” Mott said of the work. “She went smooth and was really relaxed. I was very happy. She was very typical of when she works by herself.
“I will speak with the connections later today, but I am leaning toward the Sprint. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. The Sprint will be a tough race, but we know she is good at 6 furlongs. The Sprint probably will have a full field, probably 14 horses, whereas the Filly and Mare Sprint will probably have no more than 10. That does come into the equation. The seven-eighths of mile in the Filly and Mare Sprint comes into the equation as well.”
Tacitus (Classic) worked with Felipe Castro aboard while Poznansky was aboard Channel Maker (Turf).
“Tactitus and Channel Maker went very good,” Mott said. “Tacitus was tracking Channel Maker. We went just a half-mile with Channel Maker. He was nice and sharp and doing it the right way. Tacitus tracked him a couple of lengths back and joined him in the stretch. We had Tacitus go out another furlong afterward and then gallop out.”
On Friday and Saturday, Keeneland will host the 37th Breeders’ Cup World Championships. For more information about the event, visit breederscup.com.
On Monday, the Rood & Riddle Breeders’ Cup Virtual Post Position Draw is 5-6:30 p.m. ET. The event will be livestreamed on breederscup.com and shown on TVG.
Press Release
Photo: Tacitus/ Courtney Snow
