Coglianese Photos/Adam Mooshian
Time to catch up on a few pre-Breeders’ Cup workouts! On the morning of October 25th, several major Breeders’ Cup contenders turned in workouts at Santa Anita, including four from the barn of Bob Baffert. Here’s my take on how the horses looked…
Arrogate: In what was undoubtedly the most eye-catching workout of the morning, record-breaking Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner Arrogate worked six furlongs in company with grade I winner Mor Spirit and turned in a great time while looking powerful in the homestretch and on the gallop-out. After out-breaking Mor Spirit at the start of the work, Arrogate settled back as Mor Spirit advanced up the inside to take a one-length lead. However, as the team moved around the far turn, Arrogate moved up under slight urging to confront Mor Spirit at the top of the stretch, and while he had his ears back in the homestretch, he seemed to be loping along pretty easily and found another gear when urged by his rider approaching the finish line. Arrogate quickly surged past Mor Spirit and left him far behind on the gallop-out, pulling clear under steady urging. His official time was 1:11.20, and he galloped-out a mile in approximately 1:37 3/5. Coming off a layoff, he needed some stiff workouts to have him ready for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and from all appearances, he is fit and ready for a huge run. If any horse can upset California Chrome, Arrogate might be the one.
Dortmund: Worked five furlongs in company with Bollywood and looked great doing so. He started off with fractions of :12 1/5, :23 4/5, and :35 1/5 per my watch, then cruised alongside his workmate and flew down the homestretch to clock an official time of :58 4/5 (I had :59 1/5) before galloping-out six furlongs in 1:12 1/5, seven furlongs in 1:25 3/5, and a mile in 1:41 3/5. Visually, Dortmund looked great, coming down the homestretch on his own power before being asked to keep going around the far turn, with his rider even using the whip once to encourage him to maintain a strong gallop-out. From all appearances, Dortmund is coming up to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in great form and should be ready for a big race.
Holy Lute: Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint contender worked an easy five furlongs on the main track and couldn’t have looked much better. Started off easily and seemed to be well within himself throughout the work while never significantly urged by his rider. Even still, his final time was a respectable 1:00.20, and he kept on galloping at a decent pace past the wire, around the far turn, and down the backstretch. I really liked how he looked and get the feeling he’s doing well heading into the Breeders’ Cup.
Klimt: There are a couple of ways to view Klimt’s workout. He breezed six furlongs in company with stablemate Big Gray Rocket, a very good workhorse, and clocked the distance in a solid 1:11.80 with a strong finish and gallop-out. Just looking at the riders, Big Gray Rocket was under less urging and appeared to have Klimt measured, but Klimt’s ears were pricked for much of the work and gallop-out, and from this perspective, he might have been traveling easier than a first glance might suggest.
Noted and Quoted: The possible favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies might have made herself a heavier favorite thanks to an impressive five-furlong workout in company. Starting off less than a length behind her rival, Noted and Quoted moved up without urging to take the lead on the turn, then pulled away in the homestretch with her ears flopping around and her rider almost motionless, receiving a time of :59 flat. She was then urged a bit to gallop-out seven furlongs in 1:26 3/5 per my watch, but looked good throughout and seems to be training very well heading into the Breeders’ Cup.
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