By Steve Sherack
ARCADIA, CA – With Omaha Beach (War Front) (Dirt Mile) putting on a show late in the morning blowing out three furlongs–more on him in a bit–there was no shortage of action during training hours at the Great Race Place Tuesday ahead of this weekend's Breeders' Cup.
Claim-to-fame Eddie Haskell (Square Eddie) was among the first to catch the eye at daybreak on another crisp morning as the mercury touched 52 degrees. Although second in his last two trips to the post, his record of 14-9-3-2 at the shortened Turf Sprint distance of five furlongs certainly makes him a major player Saturday.
'TDN Rising Star' Comical (Into Mischief) (Juvenile Fillies), sporting a Doug O'Neill red shadowroll, was escorted to and from the track by none other than the legendary Lava Man. He really still looks terrific at the age of 18.
Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) stood out among the Euros out for training as he heads to the BC Turf with a very live chance.
Trainer Todd Pletcher kept a close eye on Vino Rosso (Curlin) (Classic) and 'TDN Rising Star' Coal Front (Stay Thirsty) (Dirt Mile) as the white-bridled pair circled by the absolutely packed gap as the track was being harrowed at 7:45 a.m.
Amidst the chaos, 'TDN Rising Star' Eight Rings (Empire Maker) wasn't one you were exactly going to miss, though, as he gears up for his highly anticipated showdown with 'TDN Rising Star' Dennis' Moment (Tiznow) in the Juvenile.
'TDN Rising Star' Elate (Medaglia d'Oro), always an eye-catcher during training hours, glided over the track with powerful strides ahead of her tilt versus the boys in the Classic. Flashy blaze-faced chestnut K P Dreamin (Union Rags) (Juvenile Fillies) was another who was easy on the eyes.
Chad Brown was on hand as his loaded contingent-including defending F/M Turf heroine Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) (F/M Turf), Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) (Turf) and Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) (Mile)–all made a very favorable impression. No surprises there.
If there was any concern how Omaha Beach would bounce back from his throwdown off the bench in the GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship S., the handsome dark bay put those worries to bed Tuesday, rolling through three furlongs while moving beautifully in a :36.20 (2/4) clocking.
The ultra-talented Mitole (Eskendereya), the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Sprint, looked absolutely dynamite as well, sitting on go the entire time through a visually impressive three-furlong blowout of his own in :37.40 (3/4).
Other Tuesday Breeders' Cup workers at Santa Anita included: Blue Chipper (Tiznow) (Dirt Mile), three furlongs in :34.80 (1/4); United (Giant's Causeway) (Turf), four furlongs in :48 (1/2); and Wrecking Crew (Sky Kingdom) (Juvenile), three furlongs in :38.80 (4/4).
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