By Steve Sherack
DEL MAR, CA – With the rising sun attempting to make its way out of a dense cloud cover, contenders for Saturday's $7-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic were out in force during about a 30-minute window following the renovation break at Del Mar Tuesday morning.
'TDN Rising Star' Newgate and Pyrenees, a pair of blaze-faced, 4-year-old sons of the all-conquering Into Mischief, both entered on their toes and filled the frame nicely while training with good energy.
Newgate, listed at a very generous 20-1 on the morning-line, adds blinkers for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert following a fantastic third with a wide trip off the bench in the inaugural $1-million GI California Crown Stakes at Santa Anita. The Cherie DeVaux-trained Pyrenees was last seen finishing second behind Highland Falls (Curlin) in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Into Mischief has been represented by seven Breeders' Cup winners, led by 2020 Classic hero Authentic.
Newgate making a very nice impression this morning. Live at a price in the Classic. pic.twitter.com/kv0nZZwsxt
— Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 29, 2024
Mike Repole's homebred full-brothers 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) and Mentee (City of Light) (Juvenile Turf)–more on the Todd Pletcher-trained duo in a feature in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Preview Edition–hit the track together sporting their white bridles just before 8:00 a.m. The heart-stopping GI Travers Stakes winner seeks to become the first GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner to double up in the Classic. It is yet to happen from eight previous attempts.
Speaking of white bridles, the aforementioned Highland Falls made a nice impression in his first local spin over the surface after arriving from Brad Cox's Churchill Downs base Monday. Fellow chestnut Rattle N Roll (Connect), the lone Classic entrant stuck on the also-eligible list, was under a snug hold by Danny Ramsey while galloping down the stretch.
You didn't need need to wait to see their yellow Classic saddle towels to help identify stunning grays Arthur's Ride (Tapit) and Next (Not This Time) during their morning exercise. The runaway GI Whitney Stakes winner looks to bounce back after a disappointing fifth as the favorite in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The streaking marathon man will put his well-documented, seven-race winning streak on the line while cutting back to the 1 1/4-mile Classic distance.
'TDN Rising Star' and $2.3-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling topper Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), along for third in the Travers, was reaching out very nicely during his easy gallop for Chad Brown. Tacked up with no shortage of red-and-white equipment for Yoshito Yahagi, Sierra Leone's closely related, rail-drawn rival Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) wasn't far behind while breezing five furlongs in 1:04 (5/8). The two finished just noses apart in second and third after racing shoulder to shoulder in the GI Kentucky Derby.
Up close with Classic contender Forever Young pic.twitter.com/Woduz1ilSj
— Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 29, 2024
Yahagi put on a show winning two Breeders' Cup races with Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Distaff) and Loves Only You (Jpn) (Filly & Mare Turf) the last time the Championships were held at Del Mar in 2021.
And how about this to close out the morning?
Classic morning-line favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' City of Troy (Justify) left the quarantine area and followed his GI Breeders' Cup Turf-bound stablemate Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) as part of an 11-deep brigade from trainer Aidan O'Brien, who was on hand to watch. Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) (Mile), trained by Aidan's son Donnacha, capped the group to make it a dozen.
The team walked and jogged one clockwise lap before having an easy gallop of the same mile circuit. The G1 Epsom Derby winner did get a bit warm, but not at all uncommon for O'Brien's runners, especially during their first morning of trackwork.
Classic ML favorite City of Troy and the Aidan Army pic.twitter.com/5Imq0x5vdR
— Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 29, 2024
Editor's Note: Last year's Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) worked a bullet five furlongs in :59.40 (1/8) over the main track at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. He is listed at 20-1 on the morning-line for Saturday's renewal.
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