Donegal Racing's Keen Ice (Curlin) and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Curalina (Curlin) headlined a group of seven Todd Pletcher-trained Breeders' Cup contenders on the Belmont worktab Sunday morning.
Keen Ice, who is possible for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 5, breezed six furlongs over the training track in 1:13.03 (1/2) under Javier Castellano, finishing on even terms with workmate Tommy Macho (Macho Uno). Pletcher caught Keen Ice galloping out seven-eighths in 1:26 and a mile in 1:39 4/5.
“I thought it was good. It seemed like the further he went the stronger he got,” said Pletcher. “Javier had to reach up and really pull him up at the end. I think we got what we were hoping to get out of it.”
Winner of last year's GI Travers S. and fourth in the Classic for previous trainer Dale Romans, Keen Ice was off the board in the GI Donn H., G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 and G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26 and was subsequently transferred to Pletcher. Injured shortly thereafter, the hulking bay returned to the races Oct. 7 at Belmont, finishing third to SW Wake Up in Malibu (Malibu Moon) in a one-mile optional claimer.
“My impression, talking to [owner] Jerry [Crawford], is that everyone is on board to pre-enter and take a look at it,” Pletcher said. “The real key for him is that he's proven that he wants a mile and a quarter and what he needs is a legitimate pace in front of him and it certainly looks like this race could offer that. Obviously, it's a very difficult race to win but the pace scenario and distance could suit him.”
Keen Ice's rider for the Classic is still unsure as Castellano is also the regular rider of fellow Classic contender & GI Woodward S. winner Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper).
Three-time Grade I winner Curalina breezed a best-of-15 five furlongs over the Belmont training track in :59.59 while working in company with “TDN Rising Star” and GII Fountain of Youth S. runner-up Zulu (Bernardini). The chestnut galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 and seven in 1:27, according to Pletcher.
“She's always been a good workhorse,” said Pletcher. “A lot of times, we don't work her in company because she does things pretty willingly on her own, but for today's work we wanted to make sure we got a good, solid work. This is her most significant breeze leading into it and we wanted to make sure she got a good one and she certainly did.”
Third in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, Curalina opened her 4-year-old account with a decisive score in the GI La Troienne S. May 6 and was fourth to the recently retired Cavorting (Bernardini) in the GI Ogden Phipps S. June 11. Victorious in the GIII Shuvee H., she finished second to Cavorting last time in the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga Aug. 27.
Curalina is currently under consideration for both the Nov. 4 Distaff, where she will face the likes of champions Beholder (Henny Hughes), Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) and Stellar Wind (Curlin), and the Nov. 5 GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint.
“[The work] gave me confidence that she's in excellent form, and it puts her in a position that we can feel comfortable that she's ready to go a mile and an eighth off a little bit of freshening and sharp enough that, if we decide to go seven-eighths, she could do that as well,” Pletcher said.
Pletcher's other Breeders' Cup contenders on the Belmont worktab Sunday were GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile contender Syndergaard (Majesticperfection), six furlongs in company in 1:13.03 (1/2); GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner Sweet Loretta (Tapit), five furlongs in 1:01.20 (5/15); GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf contenders Made You Look (Made You Look) and J.S. Choice (Congrats), a half-mile in company in :50.22 (36/40); and Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), possible for either the GI Breeders' Cup Mile and GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf, four furlongs in :49.23 (13/40).
GI Breeders' Cup Turf contender Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), who defeated Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Oct. 1, is scheduled to breeze Monday on the turf.
Breeders Cup Workers At Santa Anita…
– GI Del Mar Debutante S. heroine Union Strike (Union Rags) breezed seven furlongs in 1:27.80 (1/2) in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
– MGSW Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), who is possible for either the GI Breeders' Cup Classic or GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, worked five panels in 1:00.40 (8/96).
– Phil D'Amato's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint contender Hunt (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and GI Breeders' Cup Turf hopeful Metaboss (Street Boss) worked six furlongs in company over the training track with Hunt going in 1:15 (2/5) and Metaboss in 1:16.20 (5/5). Also on the worktab for D'Amato was MGISW Obviously (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), a possible runner for either the Turf Sprint of GI Breeders' Cup Mile, who covered a half-mile in :48.80 (2/7); and GI Breeder's Cup Juvenile Turf contender Bowies Hero (Artie Schiller), who worked a half-mile in :50.60 (5/7).
– MGSW Ashleyluvssugar (Game Plan) breezed five panels in 1:02.20 (61/96) in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf.
Keeneland BC Breezers…
– GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf runner Zipessa (City Zip) worked five furlongs on the grass in 1:04 (5/5) (Video).
– Turf Sprint contenders Undrafted (Purim) and Acapulco (Scat Daddy) breezed five furlongs on the turf in company Sunday with Undrafted covering the distance in 1:02 (1/5) and Acapulco stopping the clock in 1:02.4 (2/5) (Video). Trainer Wesley Ward also worked “TDN Rising Stars” Red Lodge (Midshipman) and Con Te Partiro (Scat Daddy), who are both possible for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. The duo also worked five furlongs in company on the turf, both going in 1:03 flat (3/5) (Video).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
