Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/vhosts/dev.thoroughbreddailynews.com/wp-content/plugins/pmadv-insert-ads/pmadv-insert-ads.php on line 33
Two-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder (Henny Hughes) and Triple Crown champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) breezed five furlongs minutes apart Friday morning at Santa Anita as each remains on course for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Oct. 31.
Just after the 6:30 renovation break, Beholder jogged off from the chute at the top of the Santa Anita stretch and began her work at the half-mile marker. With regular exercise rider Janeen Painter in the irons, the 5-year-old mare completed her workout a furlong past the wire and was given a rare 'breezing' designation for the move, which was accomplished in an official time of 1:02 flat. Though the drill was faster than just six other horses at the distance (33/39), trainer Richard Mandella expressed his unconditional satisfaction.
“I'm very happy with how she looks,” said the Hall of Famer. “She went five eighths in 1:01 and change [on his watch] and couldn't look better. It is such an exciting challenge to run against [American Pharoah]. Usually I'm stressing about what to do, which I am, but the excitement of this is a little different. It's nice to be a part of it.”
While Mandella reported that the B. Wayne Hughes runner would depart for Kentucky Oct. 19, travel plans for American Pharoah are more fluid.
“I have a few dates in mind, but I haven't really zeroed in on it. The 27th is the last date, and there's the 25th. I'm watching the weather,” said trainer Bob Baffert after the Zayat homebred breezed his five furlongs in 1:01.20.
American Pharoah entered the track just after Beholder and stood for a time near the clubhouse turn. Like his female counterpart, the sophomore colt worked from the half-mile pole to the seven-eighths and was clocked in :48.40 for four furlongs before finishing up his final furlong in :12.80.
“I got him in 49 and 1:01,” said Baffert. “I didn't want to do a lot with him. He'll breeze two more times here. I change from day to day, but he'll breeze here next week.
Click here for video of both workouts.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.