Life Is Good, Malathaat, Nest and Others
LEXINGTON, Ky.—A day after working many of his 2-year-olds expected for the Nov. 4 Future Stars Friday races during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland, trainer Todd Pletcher on Friday breezed his older horses – led by multiple Grade 1 winner Life Is Good, champion Malathaat and Grade 1 winner Nest – who are scheduled to compete in the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 5.
Shortly after the second renovation break ended at 9 a.m., CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) candidate Life Is Good breezed 5 furlongs on a fast track in 1:00.40 for his first work since scoring a victory in the Oct. 1 Woodward (G1) at Belmont at the Big A. Life Is Good won last year’s Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar.
Keeneland clockers caught Life Is Good in fractions of :25, :36.80, 1:00.40 and out in 1:13 and 1:26.40.
“Super,” Pletcher said of Life Is Good’s work. “Pretty much what we have come to expect from him. He just does everything so effortlessly. He doesn’t look like he is doing anything, but you look at your watch and he comes home in :23 and change.”
Shadwell Stable’s Malathaat and Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House’s Nest worked together after the first renovation break ended at 7:30 a.m. They covered a half-mile in :48.60, producing splits of :25.40, :48.60 and out in 1:01, 1:14.20 and 1:28.80.
“We were just looking for more of the same,” Pletcher said. “They are two terrific fillies – kind workhorses and straightforward. It was just a maintenance half-mile with both of them coming off races 12 days ago with a target 15 days from now. Looks like they are holding their form great. Both seem to love the track again this morning.”
Both fillies won Oct. 9 with Malathaat taking the Juddmonte Spinster (G1) at Keeneland by 5¼ lengths and Nest capturing the Beldame (G2) at Belmont at the Big A by 9¾ lengths. The two are both being pointed at the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
For Pletcher, Wertheimer and Frere’s Happy Saver, a possible starter in the Classic, covered a half-mile in :48.40 in company with Never Change.
“It was a workman-like breeze for him, which is his usual style,” Pletcher said. “I had him finishing up good and it looked like he was happy.”
Completing the morning activity for Pletcher were grass works turned in by Bass Racing’s Annapolis and Spendthrift Farm’s Major Dude .
Working in company, Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) winner Annapolis and Pilgrim (G2) winner Major Dude were clocked a half-mile in :47.80.
Pletcher was pleased with the works and indicated both would come back next week and work on the grass, Annapolis for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on Nov. 5 and Major Dude for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Nov. 4.
Keeneland Press Release
Photo: Photo: Nest in a work at Keeneland on Oct. 15 under exercise rider Amelia Green. Keeneland Photo
