Champion Stellar Wind (Curlin) breezed four furlongs in :48.40 (5/51) at Santa Anita Friday morning in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 4. With Jose Contreras in the irons, the chestnut was clocked in splits of :24.20 and :36.40 with a five-furlong gallop out in 1:02.40.
“It was nice and easy, just a maintenance work,” said trainer John Sadler.
Stellar Wind is set to face off with fellow Eclipse winners Beholder (Henny Hughes) and Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in the Breeders' Cup. The Hronis Racing colorbearer has face Beholder in all three of her starts this season, finishing second to her in the GI Vanity Mile S. and coming out on top in both the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. and GI Zenyatta S.
Beholder worked at Santa Anita Thursday, covering a half-mile in :49 flat (18/46).
“I didn't let her do too much [in her breeze Thursday],” Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella said. “She couldn't look better.”
Also on the Santa Anita worktab Thursday was undefeated “TDN Rising Star” Songbird, breezing a best-of-41 five furlongs in :58.60.
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