The early-morning activity at racetracks across the country was ablaze Saturday, with horses targeting next month's Breeders' Cup races dominating the scene. Well represented at Keeneland, trainer Chad Brown had the bulk of his championship team working on both the main track and the turf.
“Everything went really, really well this morning, considering everything that was going on,” Brown said, referring to the volume of horses that featured 190 works on the main track. “They all did very well and they will have another work next week, but these were serious works today.”
Highlighting his dirt workers was Jack Christopher (Munnings), who worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 in company with GI Champagne S. winner Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) (video), could head to the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint or the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Blazing Sevens is a candidate for the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
On the turf, three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) worked five furlongs in company with GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf candidate Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in 1:01.40 (video). Domestic Spending, who made his most recent start in August of 2021, did not return to the work tab until this past August.
“He worked very, very well this morning and galloped out well,” Brown said of Domestic Spending, who is under consideration for the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. “We'll see how he is in the morning and then have one more work.”
Other workers for Brown were: Search Results (Flatter) (Distaff), five furlongs in 1:02.60; Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (Filly and Mare Sprint), five furlongs in 1:00.40; In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (Filly and Mare Turf), four furlongs on the turf in :49.80; Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (Mile) and Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) (Filly and Mare Turf), four furlongs together on the turf in :49.20; Raging Sea (Curlin) (Juvenile Fillies) and I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing) (Juvenile Turf), four furlongs together on the main track in :48.20; and Oxymore (Astern {Aus}) (Juvenile Turf), who worked a half-mile on the main track in :48.80 in company with multiple graded stakes-placed Portfolio Company (Kitten's Joy).
Also working in Lexington Saturday, GI TVG.com Haskell S. winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 in company (video). It was the dark bay's second work since winning the GII Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs Oct. 1.
“It went great,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard for the work. “Everything was smooth. We sat a few lengths off our company. He was dragging me to go and catch them. Going into the stretch, I just kind of gave him his head and let him finish up. He was well within himself, and he pulled up very happy. Everything seems to be going good right now. He's a very exciting horse. His resume speaks for itself. I'm really looking forward to this opportunity.”
Runner up in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at 94-1, Hot Rod Charlie finished fourth in last year's Classic at Del Mar.
“Charlie is absolutely bouncing around the barn cooling out,” Doug O'Neill's assistant Stephanie Murray said. “You would never guess that he just went out and worked in a minute. He's just on his toes and has really good energy.”
Also working for O'Neill, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint candidate Sharp Aza Tack (Sharp Azteca) worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on the all-weather training track. The colt is coming off a second in the Sept. 8 Global Tote Juvenile Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs. On the main track for the West Coast-based trainer, Dirt Mile contender Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) worked in 1:00.40 for five furlongs in company; Filly and Mare Sprint candidate Awake at Midnyte (Nyquist) in a half-mile solo in :49.40; and Juvenile Fillies candidate Vegas Magic (Good Magic) in 1:00.20 for five furlongs.
“Everybody went super good,” Murray said. “Everything went according to plan. They will all work again next Saturday (Oct. 29).”
O'Neill is scheduled to arrive at Keeneland on Friday.
Also on Saturday's worktab at Keeneland: Simplification (Not This Time) worked five furlongs in 1:00 in preparation for an expected start in the Dirt Mile. Also working for trainer Antonio Sano was Laurel Futurity winner Congruent (Tapit), who breezed five furlongs on the firm turf in 1:02.40. He is a candidate for the Juvenile Turf or the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Trainer Jorge Delgado sent his two Breeders' Cup hopefuls out Saturday, with Sprint hopeful Willy Boi (Uncaptured) working a half-mile in :49.80 and Juvenile runner Awesome Strong (Awesome Slew) working a half-mile in :49.80. GI Frizette runner-up You're My Girl (Overanalyze) worked six panels in 1:13.60 with John Velazquez up for trainer John Terranova. She is a candidate for the Juvenile Fillies. Working on the turf, Private Creed (Jimmy Creed) covered three furlongs in :39.40 for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
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