Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish, Corms Racing Stable and trainer Jorge Abreu's Grade I-winner Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) worked Sunday at Belmont Park in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
The 2-year-old filly was among the first to breeze after the training track reopened at 7:30 a.m., and was guided through her exercise by jockey Jose Lezcano, who piloted her to victory last out to the graduate in the GI Frizette Stakes Oct. 5.
Scottish Lassie worked outside of Jody's Pride (American Pharoah), runner-up in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, and was about one length behind as they came to the wire to complete a half-mile in :49.50 seconds, according to NYRA clockers. Scottish Lassie ranged up to sweep past her workmate into the track's first turn and galloped out strongly in front.
Abreu said he wanted an easier work for Scottish Lassie in her first effort since winning the Frizette.
“Lezcano said they went pretty well and in the gallop out, she was full of herself,” said Abreu. “I told Lezcano I didn't want her to get head-and-head right away. I was just trying to get her to relax. First breeze back, I didn't want her going in :47 or anything like that.”
Scottish Lassie is the first graded stakes-winner for Abreu, who was a longtime assistant for Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito and for four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Chad Brown before going out on his own in 2016.
The veteran horseman said it has been a special experience to prepare a horse of Scottish Lassie's stature for an event like the Breeders' Cup.
“It's nerve-wracking day by day. But she's doing everything right. She's feeling good and she came out of her race in pretty good shape. She's got a pretty good head on her and has always been that way since Day One.”
Abreu added Scottish Lassie will work once more at Belmont on either Friday or Saturday before shipping to Del Mar.
Parkland Thoroughbreds and Sportsmen Stable's sophomore filly Jody's Pride was entered in the six-furlong Glen Cove Stakes that was originally slated for October 11, but did not re-enter when the race was rescheduled for the 18th.
Abreu said Jody's Pride will instead target the GIII Pebbles Stakes Nov. 8.
“I didn't want to go three-quarters against the filly for Brad Cox,” explained Abreu. “She's been great. She's ready to run a good race. I could have re-entered in the race, but the more I thought about it, I said, 'we've been running her long, why do we want to cut her back to three-quarters?'”
G1 Frizette winner SCOTTISH LASSIE works a half-mile in 49 and 2/5 seconds to the outside of G1-placed JODY'S PRIDE. Jody was a bit ahead of Lassie through the wire, but Lassie galloped out past her with relative ease through the turn. pic.twitter.com/x6yRCIg95V
— Mary Eddy🏇🏼 (@singmysongbird) October 20, 2024
At Saratoga, trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. provided an update on Breeders' Cup-bound Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) who is under consideration for both the GI Breeders' Cup Classic or the GI Dirt Mile.
“He's doing good. He is going to work back again this week – one more work before the Breeders' Cup,” said Joseph, Jr. “We haven't decided yet, I would say right now we are probably leaning towards maybe the Mile, but no decision just yet. We are going to pre-enter both tomorrow. Most likely we are going to the Mile.”
Joseph, Jr. said the two-turn mile configuration at Del Mar could be to Skippylongstocking's benefit.
“If the mile was one-turn, we definitely would not go. The two-turn mile, that definitely plays into the decision,” said Joseph, Jr. “It is not decided yet, but we are definitely leaning towards the mile right now.”
Out west, a busy Sunday morning at Santa Anita included more than a dozen prospects for the Breeders' Cup registering timed workouts.
Trainer Bob Baffert worked Newgate (Into Mischief) (Classic), Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) (Juvenile), Gaming (Game Winner) (Juvenile), Fort Bragg (Tapit) (Sprint or Dirt Mile), Muth (Good Magic) (Dirt Mile) and Non Compliant (Tiz the Law) (Juvenile Fillies).
Newgate, most recently a narrow third in the GI California Crown, earned a bullet when drilling five furlongs in :59.20 (1/51). Citizen Bull, winner of the GI American Pharoah, went five furlongs in :59.80 (4/51). Gaming, the GI Del Mar Futurity winner, worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:12.40 (2/6).
Fort Bragg, most recently fourth in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship, worked five furlongs from the gate in :59.80 (4/51). Muth, who was last in the California Crown, also went five furlongs in :59.40 (3/51). Non Compliant, the GII Oak Leaf winner, completed her five-furlong drill also in :59.80 (4/51).
Trainer Phil D'Amato worked Gold Phoenix (Belardo {Ire}) (Turf), Hang the Moon (Uncle Mo) (Filly & Mare Turf) and Motorious (Muhaarar {GB}) (Turf Sprint), all on the synthetic training track. Grade I winner Gold Phoenix, most recently fifth in the GII John Henry, worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 (5/13). Hang the Moon, upset winner of the GII Rodeo Drive, clocked four furlongs in :49.40 (24/31). Motorious, winner of the GIII Green Flash at Del Mar on Aug. 31, fired a bullet when going five furlongs in :59 flat (1/13).
Trainer Doug O'Neill worked Mixto (Good Magic) (Classic), Katonah (Klimt) (Dirt Mile) and Pali Kitten (Vino Rosso) (Juvenile Turf Sprint). Mixto, winner of the GI Pacific Classic, worked five furlongs from the gate in 1:01.20 (24/51). Katonah, fourth in the California Crown, went five furlongs from the gate in 1:01.40 (26/51). Pali Kitten, winner of the Speakeasy Oct. 5 at Santa Anita, worked three furlongs in :39 flat (25/26).
Trainer John Sadler worked Dirt Mile prospect Full Serrano (Full Mast). Runner-up in the Pacific Classic, the South American import earned a bullet when completing six furlongs in 1:11.80 (1/6).
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