Trainer Chad Brown sent out his two Keeneland-based pre-entrants in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile–'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Chili Flag (Fr) (Cityscape {GB})–together for a half-mile breeze over the grass in :50.40 (1/3) Saturday morning.
According to Keeneland clockers, their final quarter mile went in :22.80.
“I thought it was a great work, very straightforward,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Carl Spackler to a win in Keeneland's GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes Oct. 5. “He's really feeling good out there. He's a very forward horse, even in the afternoons. He's just wanting to do it.”
“He's shown us a lot,” Gaffalione added. “He's shown us everything we need to see this year. He's coming into the race with great form, so we have a ton of confidence. He's been putting himself in the game a bit more. We probably won't change anything up, but we'll let him get out there, run his race and see if we're good enough.”
CARL SPACKLER working on the turf course at @keenelandracing for the @BreedersCup Mile. He has won two straight Grade 1 races.@FanDuelTVSimon, @ChristinaFDTV, and @FanDuelTVMike analyze the work. pic.twitter.com/H0sedzuDPS
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 26, 2024
Chili Flag was second in Keeneland's GI First Lady Stakes Oct. 5.
Seven others pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup recorded their final works for the event over the dirt Saturday morning at Keeneland.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux's five Breeders' Cup pre-entrants–Cagliostro (Upstart) (Dirt Mile), More Than Looks (More Than Ready) (Mile), Pipeline (Speightstown) (Dirt Mile), Pyrenees (Into Mischief) (Classic) and Vahva (Gun Runner) (Filly and Mare Sprint)–turned in half-mile maintenance works on the dirt track labeled fast.
“This morning, we were just working, looking for maintenance moves out here,” DeVaux said. “There's nothing going to be too flashy, just trying to make sure they're on task and doing as well as they can be. All of them looked great. This week, not looking for too much out of them is the objective.”
Cagliostro, third as the favorite in the GIII Ack Ack Stakes Sept. 28, went in company with GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes runner-up Pyrenees and were clocked in :49.00 (27/86).
“If you take them solo, they'll have a tendency to be a bit lazy,” DeVaux said. “You just want to make sure they keep to task. They're easy enough to ride (so) they're not going to do too much out there.”
CAGLIOSTRO (inside), Dirt Mile, and PYRENEES (outside), Classic, worked today at @ChurchillDowns. Both horses are in the @reredevaux barn. What do you think of their chances in their @BreedersCup races? pic.twitter.com/Z8ctmIEaYu
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 26, 2024
More Than Looks turned in a solo work in :49.60 (56/86). He was second in Keeneland's Coolmore Turf Mile.
Pipeline, a last-out optional claiming winner at Churchill Downs Sept. 19, breezed the distance in :48.20 (3/86). Vahva, third as the favorite in the GI Ballerina Handicap Aug. 24, worked by herself in :48.00 (2/86).
Also working on the Keeneland dirt:
For trainer Gustavo Delgado, GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Ferocious (Flatter) (Juvenile): five furlongs in 1:01.80 (8/18) with a final quarter-mile in :23.20.
For trainer Wesley Ward, last out GII Phoenix Stakes runner-up Nakatomi (Firing Line) (Sprint) went five furlongs in company with Grade I winner Chi Town Lady (Verrazano) in 1:01 (3/18).
CHURCHILL-BASED BREEDERS' CUP CONTENDERS LOG FINAL WORKS
Several Breeders' Cup contenders are set to ship out early Monday morning to Del Mar following their final works Saturday at Churchill Downs. Among those completing their final preparations were Federal Judge (Army Mule) (Sprint) (four furlongs in :48.40 27/157); Highland Falls (Curlin) (Classic) (five furlongs in 1:00.20 6/39); Rattle N Roll (Connect) (Classic) (five furlongs in :59.60 (1/39); Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) (Dirt Mile) (five furlongs in 1:00 3/39) and Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) (Dirt Mile) (four furlongs in :49.20 74/157).
Saudi Crown galloping at Churchill Downs earlier this week | Sara Gordon
Trainer Brad Cox worked 15 horses Saturday morning with last-out Phoenix winner Federal Judge and last-out R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes winner Saudi Crown leading off his group at 5:30 a.m. working by themselves.
“Saudi Crown had a great work this morning,” jockey Florent Geroux said. “He's been off a little bit, so we wanted to make sure he got a lot out of his training. He showed that today and last week. He worked in company last week, which went well, and I thought today was even better–a good sign going into a race.”
A few minutes later, Federal Judge, worked under exercise rider Joel Osorio. At 7:15 a.m., Cox's final Breeders' Cup contender of the morning Highland Falls, worked with jockey Luis Saez on board, breezing outside stablemate Liberal Arts (Arrogate).
“He worked well this morning and is coming into the race in great form,” Saez said. “I think he's improving even more at the mile-and-a-quarter distance. He ran huge last time in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at that distance.”
Royally-bred Jockey Club Gold Cup winner HIGHLAND FALLS works outside company at @ChurchillDowns. The @bradcoxracing-trainee is pointing for the @BreedersCup Classic.
Watch workouts from four racetracks this morning on Breakfast at the Breeders' Cup on @FanDuelTV! pic.twitter.com/mqYfXX7f5a
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 26, 2024
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