 It was a typically busy morning for the Todd Pletcher stable, as racing's all-time leading money-earner sent five Breeders' Cup hopefuls to the track at Keenelandthe morning of Oct. 22.
The workers, their respective times, and Breeders' Cup races in which they were pre-entered were:
- Liam's Map (Dirt Mile): five furlongs in 1:01 1/5
- Curalina, (Longines Distaff), in company with Race Day : four furlongs in :48 1/5, with splits of :12 3/5 and :25 2/5. Galloped out in 1:00 4/5 and 1:14.
- Azar (Juvenile Turf) and Thrilled (Juvenile Fillies Turf): worked together four furlongs in :48, with splits of :13 and :25 2/5, and gallop outs in 1:00 3/5, and 1:13 2/5.
- Got Lucky (Longines Distaff), in company with Zambian Dream: four furlongs in :48 2/5, splits of :12 and :23 4/5, and gallop outs to five furlongs in 1:01 2/5.
"Overall, we had a very productive morning—satisfying breezes," Pletcher said, offering the following analysis of each:
"For Curalina, it was a typical breeze for her. (She was) much on the bridle throughout. Good gallop out. Standard, excellent breeze we've come to expect from her. She continues to handle the track really well. She looks good. I think she actually has put on a couple of pounds since the Beldame (gr. I).
"Thrilled and Azar both went really well. For horses that have run only on the turf I thought they handle the dirt here really well. It was a good, energetic breeze for both of them. Finished up well, galloped out great, cooled out good.
"Liam's Map, I thought, was outstanding. He got into a steady rhythm. Was very relaxed and very comfortable. He lengthened his stride (and) galloped out extremely well.
"It was a standard Got Lucky type breeze. She's a filly who knows the difference between practice and game time. That was a typical :49 half work for her—a maintenance work. I thought her gallop out was good. I think she has done well since the Spinster (gr. I)."
The trainer gave a rundown of jockeys set to ride his Breeders' Cup contenders: Javier Castellano—Liam's Map, Red Rifle (Longines Turf-gr. IT) and Stopchargingmaria (Distaff); Frankie Dettori—Mshawish (Mile-gr. IT); Irad Ortiz Jr.—Got Lucky; Joel Rosario—Curalina; John Velazquez—Azar, Dame Dorothy (Filly & Mare Sprint), Thrilled and Rachel's Valentina (14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies-gr. I).
On Friday, Pletcher is to work his remaining Breeders' Cup contenders with the exception of Stopchargingmaria, who is to breeze Saturday.
"Traditionally, she's run well with her final breeze six days before the race, so we're going to stick to that plan," he said. |
