A host of juveniles from the Todd Pletcher barn gearing up for engagements on Friday of Breeders' Cup championship weekend worked at Keeneland Thursday.
Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte (Violence) and Harrell Ventures' Lost Ark (Violence), the respective winner and sixth-place finisher in the Oct. 8 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, breezed a half-mile together in :49.20 immediately after the track's second renovation break at 9 a.m. Both are candidates for the $2-million GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Keeneland clockers caught the two in fractions of :13.40, :25, and out in 1:02, 1:15.80 and 1:30.20. (Click here for a video of the work).
“That was a pretty standard breeze from them,” Pletcher said. “They're both solid work horses and are always willing. We were just hoping to see more of what they normally do.”
Pletcher was happy with the colts' performances in the Breeders' Futurity.
“We felt like [Forte] handled the added distance [of 1 1/16 miles] and the two turns; he certainly looked like he relished it,” Pletcher said. “Lost Ark had a rough trip into the first turn and that kind of took him completely out of position. He finished up with some interest, so that was encouraging.”
Also working Thursday, GI Frizette S. winner Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) worked in company with Florida Sire My Dear Girl S. winner Atomically (Girvin) following the first renovation at 7:30 a.m. Pointing towards the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the pair clocked the half-mile in :49 flat (11/26).
Fractions for the work, according to Keeneland clockers, were :13.20, :25.20, and out in 1:01.80, 1:15.20 and 1:30.
“I thought it was perfect,” Pletcher said. “Went off nicely, finished up well, good strong gallop out. Both got over the track [as if] they like it. It was a well-executed breeze.”
Thursday's work tab at Keeneland also included GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint contender Slammed (Marking), who worked three furlongs in :36.80 (6/9) for trainer Todd Fincher.
“That was a good way to start the day. She was very happy out there,” said jockey Florent Geroux, who was aboard for the work.
Slammed earned a berth in the F/M Sprint with her victory in the GII Thoroughbred Club of America S. at Keeneland Oct. 8.
Also Thursday, two Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” victors owned by Susan Moulton and trained by Wayne Catalano–Manny Wah (Will Take Charge) and Andthewinneris (Oscar Performance)–returned to the work tab following their victories during Fall Stars Weekend.
Manny Wah, winner of the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Oct. 7, worked a half-mile in :47.40 for the second-fastest move of 26 at the distance. Manny Wah is headed for the $2-million GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint, a race in which he finished fifth in at Keeneland in 2020.
The GII Castle & Key Bourbon winner Andthewinneris worked a half-mile in :48.60 (8/26) with splits of :12.40 and :24.40. Andthewinneris is a candidate for the $1-million GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf that will close Future Stars Friday Nov. 4.
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