Trainer Chad Brown sent out a quartet of Breeders' Cup aspirants to work over Belmont Park's dirt training track, led by GI Toyota Bluegrass Stakes winner Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who covered a half-mile in :48.67.
Runner up in the GI Kentucky Derby and third in the GI Belmont earlier this spring, the $2.3 million yearling purchase races for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing and Brant.
“He looks super, and the horse is really training well,” Brown said of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender. “He's continuing to improve in his works and he's very professional,” Brown said. “I'm very happy with him.”
Most recently, Sierra Leone finished runner-up in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes in July before coming home third in the GI DraftKings Travers at Saratoga Aug. 24.
Also working for Brown, GI Dirt Mile contender in Klaravich Stables' Domestic Product (Practical Joke), who was last seen capturing the seven-furlong GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial in August at the Spa. The dark bay worked a half-mile in :48.50 in a move Brown described as “excellent.”
“He's been doing great and is going into the Breeders' Cup the right way,” Brown said.
Like his Brown-trained sire, Domestic Product's campaign includes wins in the GIII Dwyer and the Jerkens.
Klaravich will also be represented at Del Mar by Ways and Means (Practical Joke), who is targeting the GI Filly and Mare Sprint. The bay filly won the GI Test Stakes in August at the Spa and was a last-out winner of the GII Gallant Bloom on Sept. 29 at the Big A.
Ways and Means posted her first work back from the Gallant Bloom with a half-mile in :48.70.
“[It was] a little maintenance work. She's not a real flashy work horse when you work her by herself,” Brown said. “It was her first work back and she looks good. I'll do something a little more serious next week.”
Rounding out the set of Breeders' Cup workers was Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael Caruso's dual graded stakes-winner Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), who had his first work back since winning the GII Pilgrim Stakes on Sept. 28 at the Big A. The bay worked a half-mile in :49.50 in company with Pilgrim third-place finisher Early Adopter.
“He's doing great, and I've been really impressed with his development,” Brown said. “He's only two and is well-traveled. He's impressive, that horse.”
Zulu Kingdom, whose perfect three-for-three record includes a debut win in France for trainer Andre Fabre and a successful American debut in the GIII With Anticipation Stakes in August at the Spa, earned a berth into the GI Juvenile Turf for his Pilgrim victory as part of the “Win and You're In” Challenge Series.
Brown also noted that Klaravich's Idea Generation (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who earned a berth into the GI Filly and Mare Turf with a win in the GII Flower Bowl Stakes in August at the Spa, will not be making a trip to the Breeders' Cup this year. The daughter of Dubawi was last seen finishing last-of-six in the GIII Waya Stakes at the Big A Oct. 4.
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