Topped by a six-furlong breeze in 1:11 3/5 at Santa Anita Park from Zedan Racing Stables’ grade 1 winner Medina Spirit , workout action heated up across the country a week before the start of the two-day Breeders’ Cup Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar.
Working inside stablemate Ax Man , the Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit inched away from his older rival under late encouragement and maintained a slight advantage on his gallop out. Ax Man is a stakes-winning sprinter owned by Hal and Patti Earnhardt who was fourth in the Kona Gold Stakes (G3) in his last start April 18.
Private clocker and bloodstock agent Gary Young, who signed for Medina Spirit’s $35,000 purchase from the 2020 Ocala Breeders’ Sales’ July Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age, told TVG he was pleased with the Protonico colt’s final pre-Breeders’ Cup breeze. Medina Spirit is forecasted to abound 6-1 odds in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 6 behind the anticipated favorites, Knicks Go and Essential Quality .
Medina Spirit’s regular jockey, John Velazquez, will be aboard in the Classic.
“We think this horse is coming into this race the right way,” Young told TVG. “It will likely take his lifetime best effort to win this race, but we’re pretty confident.”
Clocker & Bloodstock Agent Gary Younger was very happy with this morning’s last work by Medina Spirit going 5F in 59:2 at Santa Anita Park in preparation for the @BreedersCup Basic.
Watch Breakfast on the Breeders’ Cup now on TVG! pic.twitter.com/9Jj4zM74mS
— TVG (@TVG) October 29, 2021
Zedan Racing Stables’ Medina Spirit gained the Superior Once more Stakes (G1) earlier this month at Santa Anita in his last prep for the 1 1/4-mile Basic. He additionally completed first within the Might 1 Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, although he’s prone to disqualification from the Derby after testing constructive for the prohibited race day presence of betamethasone. A stewards’ listening to has not but been held whereas specialised follow-up testing is accomplished.
He and different Baffert trainees are present process added screening and testing by the Breeders’ Cup as a situation for his or her participation within the two-day occasion.
Elsewhere, numerous horses breezed in New York between a break in inclement climate. A number of main Breeders’ Cup contenders skilled by Todd Pletcher sped round Belmont Park, led by China Horse Membership and WinStar Farm’s Life Is Good . He went five furlongs on a fast training track in :48.65 for his role as the likely favorite in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 6.
“He’s an exceptional workhorse and very talented,” Pletcher said. “He did what we’ve become accustomed to seeing him do, which was put in an impressive move. He did it very easily.”
Pletcher also worked Red Oak Stable homebred Mind Control (half-mile in :50.09) toward the Dirt Mile.
Shadwell Stables’ three-time grade 1-winner Malathaat breezed five-eighths in company with 3-year-old allowance winning colt Vindictive in her final breeze for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). She was timed in 1:01.23
“She’s outstanding. She looked great and seems to be in really good form,” Pletcher said.
Also breezing for Pletcher was Spendthrift Farm’s Vosburgh Stakes (G2) winner Following Sea (four furlongs in :48.99). A decision is still to come if he starts in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
“He did really well. He’s been training great. I’ll get with the Spendthrift guys and make a final decision, but the horse is doing well,” Pletcher said.
At Churchill Downs, where the main track was rated good, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) contender Got Stormy and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) prospect Juju’s Map headlined the morning workout action from Kentucky. Got Stormy, owned by My Racehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm, logged a half-mile breeze in :48 3/5, while Albaugh Family Stables’ Juju’s Map zipped five furlongs in :59 3/5.
Got Stormy breezes Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs
Got Stormy, a multiple grade 1-winning mare by Get Stormy , finished second in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in one of her career highlights.
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“We had some rain in the area but the track was really good so I decided to move her work up a day,” trainer Mark Casse’s assistant David Carroll said. “Sometimes you see with older mares that they may take a step back from their younger campaigns, but she has been doing great. I’m really excited the way she’s coming into the Breeders’ Cup. She’s a very special mare to all of us.”
Got Stormy, along with a large group of Kentucky-stabled horses, will fly from Indianapolis to California Nov. 1.
Juju’s Map, recent winner of the Darley Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland, breezed in firm with stakes-winning older horse Matera .
Juju’s Map (outside) works in company with Matera Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs
“‘Juju’ sat just off her and maybe broke about a length behind. She was well in hand throughout the work and it was exactly what we were looking for at this stage,” said trainer Brad Cox, who has six Breeders’ Cup hopefuls. “This filly seemed to improve a little bit since her win in the Alcibiades, which is what these horses need to do this time of year leading into the Breeders’ Cup.”
Juju’s Map (outside) 5F :59.60. #BC21 pic.twitter.com/cuWeNq3UvX
— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) October 29, 2021
There are at the very least six Breeders’ Cup contenders slated to work Oct. 30 at Churchill Downs: Essential Quality (Classic), Knicks Go (Classic), Shedaresthedevil (Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, G1), Rattle N Roll (TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, G1), Ready to Purrform (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America, G1T), and Turnerloose (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, G1T).
Pre-entered Breeders’ Cup horses with Friday workouts across North America appear in the table below.
| Horse | Track | Distance | Time | Division |
| Blowout | Keeneland | 4F (Main Track-Fast) | :49 4/5 | Mile |
| Bubble Rock | Belmont Park | 4F (Turf-Good) | :49.09 | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| Channel Cat | Keeneland | 4F (Main Track-Fast) | :50 | Turf |
| Coinage | Santa Anita Park | 4F (Main Track-Fast) | :48 1/5 | Juvenile Turf |
| Consumer Spending | Belmont Park | 5F (Turf-Good) | 1:02.87 | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| Dakota Gold | Saratoga | 4F (Turf-Yielding) | :50.36 | Juvenile Turf |
| Domestic Spending | Belmont Park | 5F (Turf-Good) | 1:01.56 | Turf |
| Dunbar Road | Keeneland | 5F (Main Track-Fast) | 1:00 2/5 | Distaff |
| Estilo Talentoso | Delaware Park | 5F (Main Track-Fast) | 1:00 4/5 | Filly & Mare Sprint |
| Fast Boat | Keeneland | 3F (Main Track-Fast) | :37 | Turf Sprint |
| Firenze Fire | Belmont Park | 3F (Training Track Fast) | :35:33 | Sprint |
| Following Sea | Belmont Park | 4F (Training Track-Fast) | :48.99 | Sprint |
| Got Stormy | Churchill Downs | 4F (Main Track-Good) | :48 3/5 | Mile |
| Gufo | Belmont Park | 4F (Turf-Good) | :53.44 | Turf |
| Haughty | Keeneland | 4F (Main Track-Fast) | :47 3/5 | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| Hollywood Talent | Parx Racing | 4F (Main Track-Fast) | :51.43 | Turf Sprint |
| Jack Christopher | Belmont Park | 5F (Main Track-Fast) | 1:00.82 | Juvenile |
| Juju’s Map | Churchill Downs | 5F (Main Track-Good) | :59 3/5 | Juvenile Fillies |
| Koala Princess | Fair Hill Training Center | 4F (Tapeta-Fast) | :49 3/5 | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| Lexitonian | Keeneland | 4F (Main Track-Fast) | :48 2/5 | Sprint |
| Lieutenant Dan | Santa Anita Park | 4F (Main Track-Fast) | :48 4/5 | Turf Sprint |
| Life Is Good | Belmont Park | 4F (Training Track-Fast) | :48.65 | Dirt Mile |
| Loves Only You | Del Mar | 5F (Main Track-Fast) | 1:03 4/5 | Filly & Mare Turf |
| Malathaat | Belmont Park | 5F (Training Track-Fast) | 1:01.23 | Distaff |
| Marche Lorraine | Del Mar | 5F (Main Track-Fast) | 1:05 3/5 | Distaff |
| Medina Spirit | Santa Anita Park | 6F (Main Track-Fast) | 1:11 3/5 | Classic |
| Mind Control | Belmont Park | 4F (Training Track-Fast) | :50.09 | Dirt Mile |
| My Sister Nat | Belmont Park | 5F (Turf-Good) | 1:01.95 | Filly & Mare Turf |
| Pappacap | Santa Anita Park | 4F (Main Track-Fast) | :47 4/5 | Juvenile |
| Pizza Bianca | Belmont Park | 4F (Turf-Good) | :54.55 | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| Pocket Square | Belmont Park | 5F (Turf-Good) | 1:01.95 | Filly & Mare Turf |
| Portfolio Company | Belmont Park | 5F (Turf-Good) | 1:02.96 | Juvenile Turf |
| Raging Bull | Belmont Park | 4F (Turf-Good) | :49.88 | Mile |
| Rockemperor | Belmont Park | 4F (Turf-Good) | :50.98 | Turf |
| Royal Flag | Belmont Park | 5F (Main Track-Fast) | 1:01.55 | Distaff |
| Sail By | Belmont Park | 3F (Turf-Good) | :38.09 | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| Slipstream | Belmont Park | 4F (Turf-Good) | :50.54 | Juvenile Turf |
| Tribhuvan | Belmont Park | 5F (Turf-Good) | 1:01.96 | Turf |
| Verbal | Belmont Park | 4F (Main Track-Fast) | :50.19 | Juvenile Turf |
