Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a total of 12 horses, all of whom are pre-entered in next weekend's Breeders' Cup races, for half-mile works at Keeneland Friday morning in advance of their Saturday departure to Santa Anita.
GII Pilgrim S. winner Agate Road (Quality Road) (Juvenile Turf) worked in company with Haul (Army Mule) in :49 flat (32/63). GI Darley Alcibiades winner Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) (NetJets Juvenile Filles) went in company with GII Chandelier runner-up Scalable (Speightstown) (Juvenile Fillies) in :49.20 (37/63).
About Candied, Pletcher said, “She worked very well. She worked on the inside of Scalable. Finished up nicely, galloped out good. She was a little late on her lead change, which has kind of been a thing with her. But she did get it the second time when Luis (Saez) asked for it. And once she did, she leveled off nicely, finished up strong and galloped out great.”
As for Pletcher's older horses, GII Suburban S. winner Charge It (Tapit) (Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile) worked in :48.60 (17/63) while GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Bright Future (Curlin) (Classic or Dirt Mile) worked in company with Dreamlike (Gun Runner) (Dirt Mile or Classic) in :48.40 (9/63).
'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) (FanDuel Juvenile) went in company with Noted (Cairo Prince) (Juvenile) in :48.60 (17/63).
Two @BreedersCup horses from the Todd Pletcher barn, NOTED and FIERCENESS working out this morning at Keeneland. pic.twitter.com/7pLNLDmTHl
— TVG (@TVG) October 27, 2023
Life Talk (Gun Runner) (Juvenile Fillies) was in company with GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner Locked (Gun Runner) (Juvenile) in :48 flat (6/63).
“Locked just does everything so easily and effortlessly,” Pletcher said. “He's a colt that we had high expectations for when he came in. He's a very quiet, laid-back colt. Unassuming, until we got serious with him, and then it was like, wow, this is a really nice colt. I thought his debut was sneaky impressive. I thought his mile maiden win at Saratoga was the most impressive 2-year-old performance of the meet. Then to come here and win (the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity) from an outside draw and a wide trip the entire way, I thought that was a very determined effort on his part. He's done everything well since then. We've been blessed with some very good 2-year-olds, and I think that he's right there with them.”
Life's an Audible (Audible) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) ran in company with Appellate (Constitution) in :48.80 (25/63).
GI Coolmore Turf Mile winner Up to the Mark (Not This Time) (Turf or Mile) breezed in company with Be You (Curlin) in :48.80 (25/63).
“Up to the Mark has had two good breezes now since his win in the (Coolmore) Turf Mile,” said Pletcher. “I thought we got what we wanted in terms of some good conditioning. Strong gallop out, seems to be doing well. We're going to continue to lean towards going in the Turf.”
At Santa Anita Friday, White Abarrio (Race Day) worked five furlongs in :59.80 (3/39). According to private clocker Gary Young, the 4-year-old went the final quarter mile in :22.80.
WHITE ABARRIO worked for the @BreedersCup Classic earlier this morning. 5 furlongs in :59.4 for the G1 Whitney winner. pic.twitter.com/pPKFhZefTD
— TVG (@TVG) October 27, 2023
Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., White Abarrio was originally slated to work this past Monday but that drill was postponed. Connections attributed the delay to an issue with White Abarrio's shoes. Noted blacksmith Ian McKinlay flew in Monday and re-shod White Abarrio. He galloped Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday prior to Friday's drill.
“He worked great. He cooled out great. We're thrilled,” Chip Dutrow said.
Working for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies was Chatalas (Gun Runner) for trainer Mark Glatt. Winner of the GII Chandelier S. Oct. 7, the filly worked five furlongs 1:01.00 (15/39).
Trainer Peter Eurton worked a trio of 2-year-old Breeders' Cup contenders: Flattery (Flatter), Stay Hot (Summer Front) and Dark Vintage (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Flattery worked four furlongs on the training track in :48 flat (2/12). Stay Hot worked four furlongs on the training track in a bullet :47.40 (1/12). Dark Vintage worked four furlongs on the main track in :47.40 seconds (2/37).
Trainer John Sadler worked the Speakeasy winner, Slider (Jimmy Creed), who went five furlongs in :59.80 (3/39).
Working towards the Juvenile Turf was Endlessly (Oscar Performance) for trainer Michael McCarthy. He drilled four furlongs in :47.80 (8/37).
Rounding out Friday's Breeders' Cup workers were Elm Drive (Mohaymen) and Where's My Ring (Twirling Candy), who is on the also-eligible list for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Elm Drive, pre-entered in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint, worked five furlongs on the training track in 1:03.20 (5/6) for trainer Phil D'Amato.
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