Dec 21, 2014 12:52:49 GMT -5
S u N f r O s T ~, Cruisey, and 1 more like this
Post by Ripley on Dec 21, 2014 12:52:49 GMT -5
From now until the day before the Breeders' Cup, I will be reporting on workouts of the horses going into this year's edition held at The Wire. This is the first year that Breeders' Cup has been held at The Wire since it has joined up as a sister track to Green Horse Fields. Mainstays at The Wire are brimming with excitement, as are the horses that call this track their home. Home field advantage has finally switched in favor of the horses that do not enjoy the big sweeping tracks of Green Horse Fields or the plush turf course.
Horses who enjoy the heavier surfaces may find the short springy turf and speedy dirt track not as much to their liking. It has been essential to get experience over both set of tracks and I will be able to see who appears to be coming into form in time for the most exciting set of races of the year.
December Week Three workouts 12/20-12/21:
Nature Blue, Witch Creek, and Firestone racing stables have so far set up their workouts for the Breeders' Cup. It is interesting that the horses with the most experience over the track have shown up first to play. Witch Creek horses have been galloping for a couple of days now, but a trio of Breeders' Cup destined horses put in their final workouts.
Spotlight Pride: worked four furlongs in company with the consistent Vagabond and Queen's Honesty. Witch Creek has shown its hand with this chestnut colt and for all intents and purposes, it looks as though they are trying to slow down his speed. His last workout at home was said to have been sensational versus Casualty of War and this workout was also quite good. The Deathflash's Pride fought at first before settling down and rallying between horses down the stretch. The colt has become quite battle tested and Witch Creek will be pulling all the stops to end up back in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner's circle.
Bella Luna: A major workout for Bella Luna over this track and she sure looked good. She has mainly raced at Green Horse Fields the last half of the season, but as was true as a three year old and four year old, she performed spectacularly over this turf track. Working five furlongs in company with Paranormal Hunter and In Front, Bella Luna seemed to have them well measured and galloped out well. All signs point to her continuing her dominating form of late.
Paranormal Hunter: She's not as great a work horse as she is a racehorse, but Paranormal Hunter looked good running down In Front and Bella Luna with very quick closing time of :11 3/5. She has a wow factor to her and if she has pace to run into in the Breeders' Cup Mile, she could prove to be very lethal. She has found the mile very much to her liking and has won the last two races, at nine and eight furlongs, since her break.
Passion Heart: The black mare for Grayson Meadows put on a demolition derby once the Witch Creek horses stepped off of the track. Her ten furlong workout in 1:59 3/5 was absolutely sensational, though one must wonder if she will be back in racing shape come next week. A workout of that magnitude can be tiring, but if any horse has the bottom for Breeders' Cup it is this one. We will have to keep a close eye on her in next couple of weeks to see if this workout has knocked her out any.
December Week Three Workouts - 12/22
GS Supercharged: He was the better half of the workout with Reflected In Water and is definitely coming into form at the right time. His hard trying attitude and closing kick may come in handy in the Breeders' Cup Classic where he will face more speed than he has the entire season. He closed impressively to beat Reflected In Water, signaling his readiness and his purpose. It wouldn't be surprising if the blaze faced stallion was flying down the stretch, picking off tiring horses come Breeders' Cup Classic day.
Reflected In Water: The filly has always been a bit of a surprise, but she has always been the consistent horse. She put in a solid workout versus Breeders' Cup Classic destined stable-mate GS Supercharged. She was caught at the wire and seemed a bit distracted by the stallion. She will be stepping out of her gender in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, but will find a familiar foe in Battle Wings. Perhaps she will be propelled forward against that nemesis, but it is a long way from this workout to the winner's circle. She strikes me as a filly who will do damage come Year Fifteen as an older horse.
Mastermind: It was expected to be an easy workout for Mastermind as he nears the end of his career, much like GS Supercharged, but what it ended up being was something intangibly great. The chestnut horse ripped through five furlongs like it was nothing, completing the panels in :58 1/5. Few would believe me if I said it was in hand, but, luckily for me, many were witness to the spectacle and came to the same conclusion. The Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is to be his last start and one of Ripley's final rides and I am definitely not going to miss it.
Supernatural: Of those who watched it, most of them said it was a fantastic workout for the Red Mile winner and Dirt Mile Series winner. She'll be stretching out to ten furlongs versus The Wire mainstay Italian Ice, but she looks to be well rested and coming into it very well. She has run well off the layoff and could be the second choice in the race. She completed the five furlongs in 1:00 2/5, which appears ordinary in comparison to Mastermind's time, but she was kept honest and fast by Lethal Dose, who looked pretty sensational herself coming to and leaving the track.
December Week Three Workouts - 12/23
Call Me Crooked: The bay daughter of Crooked Fire and Royal Assault made an impression in the quiet early hours on Tuesday. She was a handful for her rider, but settled down once she started to work. She's been as good a work horse all year, if not more so currently. Her terrific form was further emphasized in her six furlong workout completed in 1:08. She's a fast filly normally, but it was more how she looked in the homestretch than anything else that caught the eye. She only seemed to be gaining steam and appeared well in hand doing it, suggesting that the best is yet to come.
A Royal Legacy: He was a bit of a surprise when nominated for the Breeders' Cup Marathon, as was his workmate Rules Of Passion when she was nominated to the Breeders' Cup Sprint. The bay son of Merry Bay King will likely be the longest shot on the board and will have the tall task of taking down both Anodyne and Limited Edition. His workout was good, but he was outworked by the upcoming Rules of Passion and would be a major shock if he takes down the win.
Rules Of Passion: She looked like she was playing the cat to A Royal Legacy's mouse. The bay filly, a half to scary good Passion Heart, reminded everyone of her relations as she strolled by the larger foe quite easily to nab a nose victor. She has a long striding movement and could be a rising star, however, she has the tall task of taking down Forbidden To Fly, the arch-nemesis of Mastermind. It is likely that when dropped in class this filly will see as meteoric of a rise as Passion Heart herself.
Tears Of Blood: The older colt has been continually flustered by the likes of Mastermind the last half of the season, as he has been nearly his whole career. After some stunted seasons, the stallion has found some consistency in the hands of Grayson Meadows and looks to be flourishing in their care. He worked with Allouette Divine in a head to head battle from the gate and managed to beat the bay filly. He looked to be trying slightly harder than she and is likely to pose the biggest threat to Forbidden To Fly.
Allouette Divine: The bay filly looked very good, but never could get by the chestnut stallion though there is a question of how hard she was really trying. She will face a tougher challenge in Ventura, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint defender, and older mare Dirty Diana, a grade one winner who has yet to lose a seven furlong race and is coming off a confidence builder. It will be a testament to Grayson Meadows training abilities if the bay filly shows up her elders and continues her ascent into the top sprinting ranks.
December Week Four Workouts - 12/24
Sun King: The nearly grade two colt flashed some speed in the Arizona Breeders' Futurity last out and looks to be the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Ripley ran the conservative route with the big colt and Saintly Touch and sent them four furlongs in : 48 3/5, just a couple seconds quicker than Ripley's plan. Anyone hoping for a stumble now is out of luck as the big colt completed an impressive gallop out and pulled up well.
Saintly Touch: The seal brown colt came back off of his break with a second place finish and looks to continue to improve to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He gave a good showing of himself in the workout, on the lead the whole way and looked full of it in the gallop out. He's definitely coming into form and may be good price behind Speak Easy and Impressionable come Breeders' Cup day.
In The Spotlight: The half sister to Spotlight Pride became the first horse of Stride of Perfection Stable to set foot on the track. She was impressive in a solo move that hinted her continuing her recent success. She put in a thrilling race versus older in the World Turf Cup and may be a danger to even money favorite Bella Luna. The Gorgeous George daughter ran a lightning quick time down the homestretch and galloped out strongly. She'll be on the lead come Breeders' Cup day, but is she capable of holding off the best horses this side of the pond? She is most certainly competitive enough to do damage.
Ultimate Revenge: The black Admiral's Revenge colt has been a bit of a late bloomer for Intrepid Racing Stable and is right on the cusp of grade three status. He was pulled from the Breeders' Cup late last night and will face Fleet Street and Casualty of War, among others in the Blue Mountain Stakes instead. His workout of :37 and change for three furlongs proves he is as in form as he can get. With a favorable pace scenario and more distance, the colt could be a winner. It is clear that Intrepid Racing is focusing on more than just the Breeders' Cup, a training philosophy that has worked well for several of their late blooming horses.
December Week Four Workouts - 12/25
Tears Of An Angel: The chestnut mare once was considered the top turf sprinter filly in the land, tough enough to spoil Innocent Passion and Cross My Hearts's expected victories. Now, it is a surprise to see the mare entered in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Sprint versus Innocent Passion and Silver Serendipity. But hey, if anyone is likely to pull an upset it is a past champion. She did defeat Loud and Clear recently over the dirt and turf has always been her friend. She looked great in her workout with two year old stablemate My Kingdom Come. She looked beaten by the precocious gray, but rallied up the rail to dominate by a length and a half. She's supposed to be staying in training and we can only hope the injury is behind her.
Limited Edition: If anyone was waiting to see how Limited Edition came out of his Dubai World Cup, they got an emphatic answer this morning. Stride Of Perfection sent the Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner out in an 8 furlong move, consisting of six furlongs gallop and two furlongs blow out. He worked alongside returning two year old Fleet Street and always looked in control. He rounded up on the colt and continued down the lane in a dominating performance. No doubt everyone's eyes will be on Anodyne next to see if the Canadian Triple Crown winner will be ready to take on the in form Limited Edition.
Silver Serendipity & Princetta: While most horses are being put through their paces one week out from the Breeders' Cup, it appears Firestone Racing is taking the conservative route in their first Breeders' Cup appearance. Both fillies appeared to be wanting to do more than they were allowed to, putting in strong efforts over the turf. Both are coming off recent appearances and look to be dead fit. Silver Serendipity looked more than ready to go this morning and was a handful for her rider. If she doesn't make the lead in the Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, than the sky isn't blue. But she's shown to have the back class and really met few filly challengers. Princetta will be cruising into the Filly and Mare Turf where she will face a wide open field. She looks to have a great chance versus the others and has the maturity to taken down the younger group. Just last year, her relation Flawed Princess stole the win and Firestone will be wanting to continue family tradition.
Battle Wings: She executed a flawless workout for the Breeders' Cup Dirt mile beneath Krystal Yhate. The bay daughter of Akuma Battlecry hardly needed any encouragement to continue down the lane and it is likely the mile is her preferred distance. She has all the guts and talent necessary to win the race, but will she have the ability to run on the lead and face a fresh horse such as Mastermind down the lane? If she beats that one she will have to do it with her cunning nature and clever jockey tactics. The filly looks like she shall only continue to improve upon this workout.
Italian Ice: Well... Not sure what to make of this one. She looks beautiful and in good health, but the workout was just odd. Could it even be described as a workout? The black mare was hardly tested and looked to just be coasting. This one doesn't need to become familiar with the racetrack as this is where she has been most dominant in her career anyway. Will she be in shape enough off of the one furlong run she received at the end? Not quite sure, but she already has class on the field. If she's not in shape, well Supernatural, Maliah and Bellefire will be waiting to pounce. Let's just chalk this up to Stride of Perfection keeping the horse fresh...
Athena's Desires: This was the workout we were excited for because Call Me Crooked put on a dazzling display the other day and simply looked unbeateable. Now she could be beatable because there is no doubt who the fastest horse is right out of the gate and that is Athena's Desires. The black filly looked like a replica of her sire rocketing around the turf track today and clicked off fast enough fractions to lift eyebrows of the jaded railbirds. She looked great pulling up and has plenty of time to recover from the blazing workout. Stride Of Perfection sent a clear message that they are not out of the running in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint yet.
Flying Solo: The bay stallion has really come into his own at the mature age of six and has been undoubtedly the best older turf sprint horse this year. Firestone Racing did a remarkable job turning the horse around and he will enter his final race as one of the favorites for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. He was set up as a target for Refute in this one and appeared uncomfortable with the situation until the last furlong when he was released. He is not the type of come horse who likes to be on the lead and he'll have something to chase in the form of Cross My Heart and the preceder Manhattan Royalty. He won the workout over Refute despite being taken out of his game and will likely be more content to give chase and outfoot Demonic Desires.
Refute: The DW Flamekissed colt appears to be blooming in the second half of the year and continued to shine in this workout. Firestone successfully had the colt rate off of Flying Solo, such as he will have to do in the Juvenile Turf behind Spotlight Pride, Eavesdropper and Devil's Flair. With his temperament, he looks to be sitting mighty pretty and only lost barely in the workout. While everyone else in the race has the shine, perhaps this is the dark horse to watch out for?
Lilith Wind: The chestnut daughter of Speed Demon has some giant hoofsteps to follow in between Mastermind and Demonic Desires, but she sure is giving it her all. In a paired workout with Mainspring, the filly rolled through the quarter in :23 seconds, to finish only little behind Mainspring. She's running impressive times for a juvenile filly and could give the boys quite a scare in the Juvenile Sprint. Her older brothers both won the sprint races as juveniles and she's shown plenty of times she has enough talent in her own right. Look for a big showing from this one.
Mainspring: Continued his spectacular second half of the season with a terrific workout this morning. He's up against Mastermind and Battle Wings, but his confidence couldn't be any higher and he did look quite handsome out there. He's creating his own legacy and Intrepid has continually had to put off buyers for the bay colt. Now we know why because this colt is becoming scary good, especially with his :21.71 final time. It'll take more than sheer talent to knock the king off of his pedestal, but this one seems a worthy prince to say the least.
Bellefire: While Italian Ice threw in an odd workout, Bellefire drew attention to the Intrepid Racing crew. The bay mare flew through a stunning four furlongs in :44.76 and looked as though she was up for more. She's been making a steady climb up the ranks and has nearly the same amount of experience at The Wire. Anyone looking to beat Italian Ice may be interested in this one, for she has beaten Italian Ice on two occasions, one a win and another a place. Definitely going to be an interesting Breeders' Cup Distaff and a very quick one. All of the competitors seem to be capable of getting the classic distance and making it a show.
Meritorious: She's coming off of a loss to miler type filly Honorary, but Intrepid made it clear that this is not just a long distance filly. She went nearly as fast as her elder in :44.89 for the four furlongs and is developing into quite the dirt horse herself. She has plenty of experience over this turf and has the right mindset to get it done in the Juvenile Fillies. With her twin sister taking on the boys in the Juvenile, Meritorious will find herself representing the sire line in a field of quick fillies. She's an intense filly and it would be no surprise to find the bald-faced horse in the winner's circle.
December Week Four Workouts - 12/26
Devil's Flair & Pandora: The Stride of Perfection representatives worked an easy six furlongs after having raced last week. It was a solid effort from the pair, but they didn't really have to do much to assert themselves as favorites in their respective Breeders Cup races. Both horses have performed excellently over the turf and are in form now, giving SOPS a strong hand for a dominant return to the turf after a couple years of good turf horses. Perhaps, SOPS will see a re-emergence of the good old days.
Fleet Majesty: After a frustrating season, the gray mare is finally a grade one horse and just in the nick of time too. She'll enter the biggest race of her career in the Filly and Mare Turf and will have the chance to step out of some shadows in the process. The gray mare put in a good showing of herself in a well executed mile move where she was allowed to run the final two furlongs. She has a smooth way of going and has proven herself to like The Wire track with two wins in the Beverly D. Handicap. Anything can happen and while most think of her as the underdog, Stride of Perfection have held her in high esteem. She'll have a chance to prove her heart and courage when she faces Passion Heart and Princetta.
Nirvana & Dirty Diana: Witch Creek sent out the accomplished fillies for a solid workout in 1:01 and change workout this morning. The pair looked really good as they went through the five furlongs and likely could have done more. Both fillies are fresh for their efforts in the Juvenile Fillies and the Filly & Mare Sprint though they are not exactly the type to flash the speed. The workout was good, but everyone knows that the fillies are better than just a solid workout. Like Witch Creek's other closer Paranormal Hunter, the bay and gray fillies are closers who make the greatest impression down the homestretch. There will be plenty of speed to run into and run down for both in their respective races.
Taboo: It is hard to believe that this five time winner will be going in the longshot into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, but that shows just how tough these two year olds are this year. She looked great in her workout despite being overmatched by the older workmates she was paired with. Despite the trials she had to endure, she completed her Breeders Cup workout in :48 3/5, sensational time for a filly looking to stretch out to nine furlongs. She has yet to win at the distance, but she is related to marathon distance horses and has the very patient Reese Balling Jones in her quarter. Could be an upset, but far from a surprise.
Cross My Heart: The great black mare did exactly what was asked of her and went the four furlongs in :46 4/5. She was hand galloped throughout and barely asked for her best. It is clear that Witch Creek wants to keep the mare fresh for her race versus the colts in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. It was an impressive move for the incredible horse and we expect her to be as deadly as she was last year.
The Devil's Hourglass: She was given quite a different workout regimen than Cross My Heart and Taboo. Instead of working four, the filly worked seven and sure as heck made an impression. She has been known to come to hand in her biggest races, particularly this year in the Belmont Turf Classic and Universal Cup. It looks as though she is back to top form, particular with this scintillating move in 1:23 2/5. She has a week to recoup, but she only seemed to get better in the spring during the rigorous turf triple crown campaign. It will be interesting to see if the bay horse returns to her earlier brilliance.
December Week Four Workouts - 12/27
Dragonheart & Eavesdropper: Nature Blue Stables will be represented by a couple of long shots in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with Dragonheart and Eavesdropper. Dragonheart has been slow to mature, but he was recently crowned grade four with a victory and is riding on an upswing. Eavesdropper has been continually frustrated on the season, but the black colt was precocious enough to notch a victory in the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Turf earlier this season. He has the talent, but lacks the confidence necessary to rack up a win in the biggest race of his young career Both are very talented and both worked very well for Nature Blue with Eavesdropper "beating out" his gray counterpart. Look forward to them continuing on the upswing come Year Fifteen.
Wish Upon A Star: Dragonheart was not the only Everyday Hero baby out on the turf today. The bay miss represented Stride of the Perfection Stables in a workout for the Breeders' Cup Turf Marathon. She worked the longest out of all contenders today, galloping a mile and then working a half. She looked very good and very graceful and has shown she really relishes the turf with wins in the Pegasus Stakes and Flower Bowl. The bay mare will likely continue on her newfound love come Year Fifteen, but she has a good chance to get the victory in the Turf Marathon versus former stablemate Infinite Warcry.
December Week Four: 12/28
Take Flight: Tagged the favorite for the Turf Triple Crown next year, Take Flight will be attempting to live up to his newfound status in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He has a ton to do to get to the big three races next year, but he looked good enough to get the job done in his workout with stablemate Dare To Impress. If the pace is as hot as it looks to be on paper, this may be the one horse who will benefit from a meltdown. He has the ability to get the job done, but has only won a single Horse of the Year race to date. Is he done being a groomsman on the big day or will the other connections' plan to slow down the pace bring down Grayson Meadows' chance of a big victory?
Dare To Impress: The black filly lit up the nation earlier this season with the idea of another Turf Triple Crown winner in consecutive back to back years. Alas it was not to be as she was denied by The Devil's Hourglass and Call Of The Wild in the Belmont Turf Classic. It has been a tale of two fillies and with her two enemies removed, Dare To Impress will stake a claim for her biggest victory to date in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She looked wonderful in her workout today, getting a head victory over the talented Take Flight, and is definitely coming back to her sensational early form. She has her biggest test versus veterans and will be out to prove that she is not just an early season sensation.
Siren Call: Once again, Firestone Racing put their conservative ways behind them in a workout between juveniles. Siren Call and Speak Easy put on a fascinating show of speed on the maintrack this morning, covering two furlong in :20 seconds and change. The daughter of Shiver Me Timbers and Blood Of The Angel, put up one hell of a fight versus her male counterpart and finished on stride with the larger colt. She will have a tough task in facing the likes of Sun King, Silent Snap and Lilith Wind, but she have won several Horse of the Year races to date versus males. She'll be the last one moving in this speedy group and is classy enough to pull an upset.
Speak Easy: The black colt has really come to hand well for Firestone Racing and is one of the favorites currently with his consistent success. He is a quick footed horse, but he has a less intense attitude than most of the thoroughbreds he will be facing. The fact that Firestone Racing got a 20 second workout out of him means several things: 1) His mind is on racing, 2) He is very much in form and 3) He will be sitting the perfect spot in the race. Could he be the obvious horse everyone will be using in their bets?
December Week Four - 12/29
Stiletto Allure & Lissome: Workouts have steadily dropped off since the weekend when most of the big names got theirs in. We did have a pair from Intrepid in the form of Stiletto Allure and Lissome. Nick Landing gave them a target in Night Goddess, who has recently found her expected star form. It was quite a challenge for Stiletto Allure and Lissome, but they reeled the older mare in and the workout should set them up for their respective races in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and Juvenile Fillies Turf. The workout was time in :40 and change so they're as fast as ever. Stiletto Allure and Lissome could both pose mild upsets and would make a nice bet for those looking to stay away from the chalky favorites of Call Me Crooked, Pandora and Impress The Moonlight.
December Week Four - 12/30
Ventura: With her partner Amber Black in tow, the bay daughter of Impressario and Rising Fury put on a clinic on a relatively light day of training. For the first half of the mile workout, Ventura was content to stalk the slick Sweet Inferno. She remained two lengths back while Sweet Inferno clipped off :47 and change for the four furlongs. However, around the final turn Ventura was given her cue to roll and she ended up beating out her stablemate by an easy two lengths. All signs point to the mare being more than ready to defend her title. She will be given some class relief when stepping back into her own gender and has essentially become the class of the race.
Sweet Inferno: The black mare was slightly shown up by her workmate in this one, but she has been pretty consistent all season long. Her half was very sharp though and she won't be facing any brilliant speedy closers like Ventura at the twelve furlong distance. Essentially, the distance will wipe out those with a shocking turn of foot and will give more of a grinding element to the likes of Limited Edition and his sort. However, all of Sweet Inferno's courage will be called upon to beat the horses she will face in the Dirt Marathon if she goes immediately to the lead.
December Week Four - 12/31
Dreaming Of Glory: The longest shot on the board may have seen his odds drop slightly after the oddest, yet most inspiring, workout of any Breeders' Cup workouts this season. The chestnut son faced four quarter horses placed at each quarter pole to get him to extend himself before the big dance. The pace heavy classic will be extremely tough on the front runners and it appears Grayson has fitness circled in red. Dreaming Of Glory rocketed through tough quarters, besting the last horse in the circuit by three lengths. If Red Herring puts Eternal Phantom through her paces, Dreaming Of Glory will be lurking, but if Dreaming of Glory is the leader... we may have a quarter horse race on our hands for the mile and a quarter classic.
Daydream: Oceanic View Stable's only starter took to the track upon the end of Dreaming Of Glory's workout. She was put through an easy work by Isabelle Nottingham for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. While she may not be one of the favorites, her races of late have been really good and she could land the big money if given the right set up. Word is she'll retire sometime next year before breeding season is over. It would probably please more than just Oceanic View to see the hard trying mare land a big victory before the closure of her career.
Horses who enjoy the heavier surfaces may find the short springy turf and speedy dirt track not as much to their liking. It has been essential to get experience over both set of tracks and I will be able to see who appears to be coming into form in time for the most exciting set of races of the year.
December Week Three workouts 12/20-12/21:
Nature Blue, Witch Creek, and Firestone racing stables have so far set up their workouts for the Breeders' Cup. It is interesting that the horses with the most experience over the track have shown up first to play. Witch Creek horses have been galloping for a couple of days now, but a trio of Breeders' Cup destined horses put in their final workouts.
Spotlight Pride: worked four furlongs in company with the consistent Vagabond and Queen's Honesty. Witch Creek has shown its hand with this chestnut colt and for all intents and purposes, it looks as though they are trying to slow down his speed. His last workout at home was said to have been sensational versus Casualty of War and this workout was also quite good. The Deathflash's Pride fought at first before settling down and rallying between horses down the stretch. The colt has become quite battle tested and Witch Creek will be pulling all the stops to end up back in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner's circle.
Bella Luna: A major workout for Bella Luna over this track and she sure looked good. She has mainly raced at Green Horse Fields the last half of the season, but as was true as a three year old and four year old, she performed spectacularly over this turf track. Working five furlongs in company with Paranormal Hunter and In Front, Bella Luna seemed to have them well measured and galloped out well. All signs point to her continuing her dominating form of late.
Paranormal Hunter: She's not as great a work horse as she is a racehorse, but Paranormal Hunter looked good running down In Front and Bella Luna with very quick closing time of :11 3/5. She has a wow factor to her and if she has pace to run into in the Breeders' Cup Mile, she could prove to be very lethal. She has found the mile very much to her liking and has won the last two races, at nine and eight furlongs, since her break.
Passion Heart: The black mare for Grayson Meadows put on a demolition derby once the Witch Creek horses stepped off of the track. Her ten furlong workout in 1:59 3/5 was absolutely sensational, though one must wonder if she will be back in racing shape come next week. A workout of that magnitude can be tiring, but if any horse has the bottom for Breeders' Cup it is this one. We will have to keep a close eye on her in next couple of weeks to see if this workout has knocked her out any.
December Week Three Workouts - 12/22
GS Supercharged: He was the better half of the workout with Reflected In Water and is definitely coming into form at the right time. His hard trying attitude and closing kick may come in handy in the Breeders' Cup Classic where he will face more speed than he has the entire season. He closed impressively to beat Reflected In Water, signaling his readiness and his purpose. It wouldn't be surprising if the blaze faced stallion was flying down the stretch, picking off tiring horses come Breeders' Cup Classic day.
Reflected In Water: The filly has always been a bit of a surprise, but she has always been the consistent horse. She put in a solid workout versus Breeders' Cup Classic destined stable-mate GS Supercharged. She was caught at the wire and seemed a bit distracted by the stallion. She will be stepping out of her gender in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, but will find a familiar foe in Battle Wings. Perhaps she will be propelled forward against that nemesis, but it is a long way from this workout to the winner's circle. She strikes me as a filly who will do damage come Year Fifteen as an older horse.
Mastermind: It was expected to be an easy workout for Mastermind as he nears the end of his career, much like GS Supercharged, but what it ended up being was something intangibly great. The chestnut horse ripped through five furlongs like it was nothing, completing the panels in :58 1/5. Few would believe me if I said it was in hand, but, luckily for me, many were witness to the spectacle and came to the same conclusion. The Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is to be his last start and one of Ripley's final rides and I am definitely not going to miss it.
Supernatural: Of those who watched it, most of them said it was a fantastic workout for the Red Mile winner and Dirt Mile Series winner. She'll be stretching out to ten furlongs versus The Wire mainstay Italian Ice, but she looks to be well rested and coming into it very well. She has run well off the layoff and could be the second choice in the race. She completed the five furlongs in 1:00 2/5, which appears ordinary in comparison to Mastermind's time, but she was kept honest and fast by Lethal Dose, who looked pretty sensational herself coming to and leaving the track.
December Week Three Workouts - 12/23
Call Me Crooked: The bay daughter of Crooked Fire and Royal Assault made an impression in the quiet early hours on Tuesday. She was a handful for her rider, but settled down once she started to work. She's been as good a work horse all year, if not more so currently. Her terrific form was further emphasized in her six furlong workout completed in 1:08. She's a fast filly normally, but it was more how she looked in the homestretch than anything else that caught the eye. She only seemed to be gaining steam and appeared well in hand doing it, suggesting that the best is yet to come.
A Royal Legacy: He was a bit of a surprise when nominated for the Breeders' Cup Marathon, as was his workmate Rules Of Passion when she was nominated to the Breeders' Cup Sprint. The bay son of Merry Bay King will likely be the longest shot on the board and will have the tall task of taking down both Anodyne and Limited Edition. His workout was good, but he was outworked by the upcoming Rules of Passion and would be a major shock if he takes down the win.
Rules Of Passion: She looked like she was playing the cat to A Royal Legacy's mouse. The bay filly, a half to scary good Passion Heart, reminded everyone of her relations as she strolled by the larger foe quite easily to nab a nose victor. She has a long striding movement and could be a rising star, however, she has the tall task of taking down Forbidden To Fly, the arch-nemesis of Mastermind. It is likely that when dropped in class this filly will see as meteoric of a rise as Passion Heart herself.
Tears Of Blood: The older colt has been continually flustered by the likes of Mastermind the last half of the season, as he has been nearly his whole career. After some stunted seasons, the stallion has found some consistency in the hands of Grayson Meadows and looks to be flourishing in their care. He worked with Allouette Divine in a head to head battle from the gate and managed to beat the bay filly. He looked to be trying slightly harder than she and is likely to pose the biggest threat to Forbidden To Fly.
Allouette Divine: The bay filly looked very good, but never could get by the chestnut stallion though there is a question of how hard she was really trying. She will face a tougher challenge in Ventura, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint defender, and older mare Dirty Diana, a grade one winner who has yet to lose a seven furlong race and is coming off a confidence builder. It will be a testament to Grayson Meadows training abilities if the bay filly shows up her elders and continues her ascent into the top sprinting ranks.
December Week Four Workouts - 12/24
Sun King: The nearly grade two colt flashed some speed in the Arizona Breeders' Futurity last out and looks to be the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Ripley ran the conservative route with the big colt and Saintly Touch and sent them four furlongs in : 48 3/5, just a couple seconds quicker than Ripley's plan. Anyone hoping for a stumble now is out of luck as the big colt completed an impressive gallop out and pulled up well.
Saintly Touch: The seal brown colt came back off of his break with a second place finish and looks to continue to improve to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He gave a good showing of himself in the workout, on the lead the whole way and looked full of it in the gallop out. He's definitely coming into form and may be good price behind Speak Easy and Impressionable come Breeders' Cup day.
In The Spotlight: The half sister to Spotlight Pride became the first horse of Stride of Perfection Stable to set foot on the track. She was impressive in a solo move that hinted her continuing her recent success. She put in a thrilling race versus older in the World Turf Cup and may be a danger to even money favorite Bella Luna. The Gorgeous George daughter ran a lightning quick time down the homestretch and galloped out strongly. She'll be on the lead come Breeders' Cup day, but is she capable of holding off the best horses this side of the pond? She is most certainly competitive enough to do damage.
Ultimate Revenge: The black Admiral's Revenge colt has been a bit of a late bloomer for Intrepid Racing Stable and is right on the cusp of grade three status. He was pulled from the Breeders' Cup late last night and will face Fleet Street and Casualty of War, among others in the Blue Mountain Stakes instead. His workout of :37 and change for three furlongs proves he is as in form as he can get. With a favorable pace scenario and more distance, the colt could be a winner. It is clear that Intrepid Racing is focusing on more than just the Breeders' Cup, a training philosophy that has worked well for several of their late blooming horses.
December Week Four Workouts - 12/25
Tears Of An Angel: The chestnut mare once was considered the top turf sprinter filly in the land, tough enough to spoil Innocent Passion and Cross My Hearts's expected victories. Now, it is a surprise to see the mare entered in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Sprint versus Innocent Passion and Silver Serendipity. But hey, if anyone is likely to pull an upset it is a past champion. She did defeat Loud and Clear recently over the dirt and turf has always been her friend. She looked great in her workout with two year old stablemate My Kingdom Come. She looked beaten by the precocious gray, but rallied up the rail to dominate by a length and a half. She's supposed to be staying in training and we can only hope the injury is behind her.
Limited Edition: If anyone was waiting to see how Limited Edition came out of his Dubai World Cup, they got an emphatic answer this morning. Stride Of Perfection sent the Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner out in an 8 furlong move, consisting of six furlongs gallop and two furlongs blow out. He worked alongside returning two year old Fleet Street and always looked in control. He rounded up on the colt and continued down the lane in a dominating performance. No doubt everyone's eyes will be on Anodyne next to see if the Canadian Triple Crown winner will be ready to take on the in form Limited Edition.
Silver Serendipity & Princetta: While most horses are being put through their paces one week out from the Breeders' Cup, it appears Firestone Racing is taking the conservative route in their first Breeders' Cup appearance. Both fillies appeared to be wanting to do more than they were allowed to, putting in strong efforts over the turf. Both are coming off recent appearances and look to be dead fit. Silver Serendipity looked more than ready to go this morning and was a handful for her rider. If she doesn't make the lead in the Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, than the sky isn't blue. But she's shown to have the back class and really met few filly challengers. Princetta will be cruising into the Filly and Mare Turf where she will face a wide open field. She looks to have a great chance versus the others and has the maturity to taken down the younger group. Just last year, her relation Flawed Princess stole the win and Firestone will be wanting to continue family tradition.
Battle Wings: She executed a flawless workout for the Breeders' Cup Dirt mile beneath Krystal Yhate. The bay daughter of Akuma Battlecry hardly needed any encouragement to continue down the lane and it is likely the mile is her preferred distance. She has all the guts and talent necessary to win the race, but will she have the ability to run on the lead and face a fresh horse such as Mastermind down the lane? If she beats that one she will have to do it with her cunning nature and clever jockey tactics. The filly looks like she shall only continue to improve upon this workout.
Italian Ice: Well... Not sure what to make of this one. She looks beautiful and in good health, but the workout was just odd. Could it even be described as a workout? The black mare was hardly tested and looked to just be coasting. This one doesn't need to become familiar with the racetrack as this is where she has been most dominant in her career anyway. Will she be in shape enough off of the one furlong run she received at the end? Not quite sure, but she already has class on the field. If she's not in shape, well Supernatural, Maliah and Bellefire will be waiting to pounce. Let's just chalk this up to Stride of Perfection keeping the horse fresh...
Athena's Desires: This was the workout we were excited for because Call Me Crooked put on a dazzling display the other day and simply looked unbeateable. Now she could be beatable because there is no doubt who the fastest horse is right out of the gate and that is Athena's Desires. The black filly looked like a replica of her sire rocketing around the turf track today and clicked off fast enough fractions to lift eyebrows of the jaded railbirds. She looked great pulling up and has plenty of time to recover from the blazing workout. Stride Of Perfection sent a clear message that they are not out of the running in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint yet.
Flying Solo: The bay stallion has really come into his own at the mature age of six and has been undoubtedly the best older turf sprint horse this year. Firestone Racing did a remarkable job turning the horse around and he will enter his final race as one of the favorites for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. He was set up as a target for Refute in this one and appeared uncomfortable with the situation until the last furlong when he was released. He is not the type of come horse who likes to be on the lead and he'll have something to chase in the form of Cross My Heart and the preceder Manhattan Royalty. He won the workout over Refute despite being taken out of his game and will likely be more content to give chase and outfoot Demonic Desires.
Refute: The DW Flamekissed colt appears to be blooming in the second half of the year and continued to shine in this workout. Firestone successfully had the colt rate off of Flying Solo, such as he will have to do in the Juvenile Turf behind Spotlight Pride, Eavesdropper and Devil's Flair. With his temperament, he looks to be sitting mighty pretty and only lost barely in the workout. While everyone else in the race has the shine, perhaps this is the dark horse to watch out for?
Lilith Wind: The chestnut daughter of Speed Demon has some giant hoofsteps to follow in between Mastermind and Demonic Desires, but she sure is giving it her all. In a paired workout with Mainspring, the filly rolled through the quarter in :23 seconds, to finish only little behind Mainspring. She's running impressive times for a juvenile filly and could give the boys quite a scare in the Juvenile Sprint. Her older brothers both won the sprint races as juveniles and she's shown plenty of times she has enough talent in her own right. Look for a big showing from this one.
Mainspring: Continued his spectacular second half of the season with a terrific workout this morning. He's up against Mastermind and Battle Wings, but his confidence couldn't be any higher and he did look quite handsome out there. He's creating his own legacy and Intrepid has continually had to put off buyers for the bay colt. Now we know why because this colt is becoming scary good, especially with his :21.71 final time. It'll take more than sheer talent to knock the king off of his pedestal, but this one seems a worthy prince to say the least.
Bellefire: While Italian Ice threw in an odd workout, Bellefire drew attention to the Intrepid Racing crew. The bay mare flew through a stunning four furlongs in :44.76 and looked as though she was up for more. She's been making a steady climb up the ranks and has nearly the same amount of experience at The Wire. Anyone looking to beat Italian Ice may be interested in this one, for she has beaten Italian Ice on two occasions, one a win and another a place. Definitely going to be an interesting Breeders' Cup Distaff and a very quick one. All of the competitors seem to be capable of getting the classic distance and making it a show.
Meritorious: She's coming off of a loss to miler type filly Honorary, but Intrepid made it clear that this is not just a long distance filly. She went nearly as fast as her elder in :44.89 for the four furlongs and is developing into quite the dirt horse herself. She has plenty of experience over this turf and has the right mindset to get it done in the Juvenile Fillies. With her twin sister taking on the boys in the Juvenile, Meritorious will find herself representing the sire line in a field of quick fillies. She's an intense filly and it would be no surprise to find the bald-faced horse in the winner's circle.
December Week Four Workouts - 12/26
Devil's Flair & Pandora: The Stride of Perfection representatives worked an easy six furlongs after having raced last week. It was a solid effort from the pair, but they didn't really have to do much to assert themselves as favorites in their respective Breeders Cup races. Both horses have performed excellently over the turf and are in form now, giving SOPS a strong hand for a dominant return to the turf after a couple years of good turf horses. Perhaps, SOPS will see a re-emergence of the good old days.
Fleet Majesty: After a frustrating season, the gray mare is finally a grade one horse and just in the nick of time too. She'll enter the biggest race of her career in the Filly and Mare Turf and will have the chance to step out of some shadows in the process. The gray mare put in a good showing of herself in a well executed mile move where she was allowed to run the final two furlongs. She has a smooth way of going and has proven herself to like The Wire track with two wins in the Beverly D. Handicap. Anything can happen and while most think of her as the underdog, Stride of Perfection have held her in high esteem. She'll have a chance to prove her heart and courage when she faces Passion Heart and Princetta.
Nirvana & Dirty Diana: Witch Creek sent out the accomplished fillies for a solid workout in 1:01 and change workout this morning. The pair looked really good as they went through the five furlongs and likely could have done more. Both fillies are fresh for their efforts in the Juvenile Fillies and the Filly & Mare Sprint though they are not exactly the type to flash the speed. The workout was good, but everyone knows that the fillies are better than just a solid workout. Like Witch Creek's other closer Paranormal Hunter, the bay and gray fillies are closers who make the greatest impression down the homestretch. There will be plenty of speed to run into and run down for both in their respective races.
Taboo: It is hard to believe that this five time winner will be going in the longshot into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, but that shows just how tough these two year olds are this year. She looked great in her workout despite being overmatched by the older workmates she was paired with. Despite the trials she had to endure, she completed her Breeders Cup workout in :48 3/5, sensational time for a filly looking to stretch out to nine furlongs. She has yet to win at the distance, but she is related to marathon distance horses and has the very patient Reese Balling Jones in her quarter. Could be an upset, but far from a surprise.
Cross My Heart: The great black mare did exactly what was asked of her and went the four furlongs in :46 4/5. She was hand galloped throughout and barely asked for her best. It is clear that Witch Creek wants to keep the mare fresh for her race versus the colts in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. It was an impressive move for the incredible horse and we expect her to be as deadly as she was last year.
The Devil's Hourglass: She was given quite a different workout regimen than Cross My Heart and Taboo. Instead of working four, the filly worked seven and sure as heck made an impression. She has been known to come to hand in her biggest races, particularly this year in the Belmont Turf Classic and Universal Cup. It looks as though she is back to top form, particular with this scintillating move in 1:23 2/5. She has a week to recoup, but she only seemed to get better in the spring during the rigorous turf triple crown campaign. It will be interesting to see if the bay horse returns to her earlier brilliance.
December Week Four Workouts - 12/27
Dragonheart & Eavesdropper: Nature Blue Stables will be represented by a couple of long shots in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with Dragonheart and Eavesdropper. Dragonheart has been slow to mature, but he was recently crowned grade four with a victory and is riding on an upswing. Eavesdropper has been continually frustrated on the season, but the black colt was precocious enough to notch a victory in the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Turf earlier this season. He has the talent, but lacks the confidence necessary to rack up a win in the biggest race of his young career Both are very talented and both worked very well for Nature Blue with Eavesdropper "beating out" his gray counterpart. Look forward to them continuing on the upswing come Year Fifteen.
Wish Upon A Star: Dragonheart was not the only Everyday Hero baby out on the turf today. The bay miss represented Stride of the Perfection Stables in a workout for the Breeders' Cup Turf Marathon. She worked the longest out of all contenders today, galloping a mile and then working a half. She looked very good and very graceful and has shown she really relishes the turf with wins in the Pegasus Stakes and Flower Bowl. The bay mare will likely continue on her newfound love come Year Fifteen, but she has a good chance to get the victory in the Turf Marathon versus former stablemate Infinite Warcry.
December Week Four: 12/28
Take Flight: Tagged the favorite for the Turf Triple Crown next year, Take Flight will be attempting to live up to his newfound status in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He has a ton to do to get to the big three races next year, but he looked good enough to get the job done in his workout with stablemate Dare To Impress. If the pace is as hot as it looks to be on paper, this may be the one horse who will benefit from a meltdown. He has the ability to get the job done, but has only won a single Horse of the Year race to date. Is he done being a groomsman on the big day or will the other connections' plan to slow down the pace bring down Grayson Meadows' chance of a big victory?
Dare To Impress: The black filly lit up the nation earlier this season with the idea of another Turf Triple Crown winner in consecutive back to back years. Alas it was not to be as she was denied by The Devil's Hourglass and Call Of The Wild in the Belmont Turf Classic. It has been a tale of two fillies and with her two enemies removed, Dare To Impress will stake a claim for her biggest victory to date in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She looked wonderful in her workout today, getting a head victory over the talented Take Flight, and is definitely coming back to her sensational early form. She has her biggest test versus veterans and will be out to prove that she is not just an early season sensation.
Siren Call: Once again, Firestone Racing put their conservative ways behind them in a workout between juveniles. Siren Call and Speak Easy put on a fascinating show of speed on the maintrack this morning, covering two furlong in :20 seconds and change. The daughter of Shiver Me Timbers and Blood Of The Angel, put up one hell of a fight versus her male counterpart and finished on stride with the larger colt. She will have a tough task in facing the likes of Sun King, Silent Snap and Lilith Wind, but she have won several Horse of the Year races to date versus males. She'll be the last one moving in this speedy group and is classy enough to pull an upset.
Speak Easy: The black colt has really come to hand well for Firestone Racing and is one of the favorites currently with his consistent success. He is a quick footed horse, but he has a less intense attitude than most of the thoroughbreds he will be facing. The fact that Firestone Racing got a 20 second workout out of him means several things: 1) His mind is on racing, 2) He is very much in form and 3) He will be sitting the perfect spot in the race. Could he be the obvious horse everyone will be using in their bets?
December Week Four - 12/29
Stiletto Allure & Lissome: Workouts have steadily dropped off since the weekend when most of the big names got theirs in. We did have a pair from Intrepid in the form of Stiletto Allure and Lissome. Nick Landing gave them a target in Night Goddess, who has recently found her expected star form. It was quite a challenge for Stiletto Allure and Lissome, but they reeled the older mare in and the workout should set them up for their respective races in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and Juvenile Fillies Turf. The workout was time in :40 and change so they're as fast as ever. Stiletto Allure and Lissome could both pose mild upsets and would make a nice bet for those looking to stay away from the chalky favorites of Call Me Crooked, Pandora and Impress The Moonlight.
December Week Four - 12/30
Ventura: With her partner Amber Black in tow, the bay daughter of Impressario and Rising Fury put on a clinic on a relatively light day of training. For the first half of the mile workout, Ventura was content to stalk the slick Sweet Inferno. She remained two lengths back while Sweet Inferno clipped off :47 and change for the four furlongs. However, around the final turn Ventura was given her cue to roll and she ended up beating out her stablemate by an easy two lengths. All signs point to the mare being more than ready to defend her title. She will be given some class relief when stepping back into her own gender and has essentially become the class of the race.
Sweet Inferno: The black mare was slightly shown up by her workmate in this one, but she has been pretty consistent all season long. Her half was very sharp though and she won't be facing any brilliant speedy closers like Ventura at the twelve furlong distance. Essentially, the distance will wipe out those with a shocking turn of foot and will give more of a grinding element to the likes of Limited Edition and his sort. However, all of Sweet Inferno's courage will be called upon to beat the horses she will face in the Dirt Marathon if she goes immediately to the lead.
December Week Four - 12/31
Dreaming Of Glory: The longest shot on the board may have seen his odds drop slightly after the oddest, yet most inspiring, workout of any Breeders' Cup workouts this season. The chestnut son faced four quarter horses placed at each quarter pole to get him to extend himself before the big dance. The pace heavy classic will be extremely tough on the front runners and it appears Grayson has fitness circled in red. Dreaming Of Glory rocketed through tough quarters, besting the last horse in the circuit by three lengths. If Red Herring puts Eternal Phantom through her paces, Dreaming Of Glory will be lurking, but if Dreaming of Glory is the leader... we may have a quarter horse race on our hands for the mile and a quarter classic.
Daydream: Oceanic View Stable's only starter took to the track upon the end of Dreaming Of Glory's workout. She was put through an easy work by Isabelle Nottingham for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. While she may not be one of the favorites, her races of late have been really good and she could land the big money if given the right set up. Word is she'll retire sometime next year before breeding season is over. It would probably please more than just Oceanic View to see the hard trying mare land a big victory before the closure of her career.
