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Lucky, Zensational fire bullets in advance of Breeders' Cup
Zensational, who has swept the Pat O'Brien S. (G1), Bing Crosby H. (G1) and Triple Bend H. (G1), sizzled six furlongs in 1:10 3/5 from the gate in advance of the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). The speedy gray sophomore drilled in company with the four-year-old El Martillo (Tiznow), who was clocked in 1:11 4/5 from the gate. "The horses are right on schedule," said Baffert, Oak Tree's leader through 12 days with 10 wins from 32 starters, an average of 31 percent. "I worked Zensational from the gate because he drew the one hole twice down at Del Mar and want to make sure he's comfortable. He flew out of there and cruised around the backside. I just wanted to wake him up." In Zensational's last nine published workouts dating back to July 22, seven have been of the bullet variety. Defending Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint champion DESERT CODE (E Dubai) worked three furlongs in :35 2/5 for David Hofmans. The multiple Grade 3 winner returned from a five-month layoff in the Morvich H. (G3), where he finished seventh. "He went nice and easy," Hofmans said of Thursday's trial. "He'll work five-eighths or three-quarters on the grass Wednesday with (jockey Richard) Migliore." Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone), who is on course for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) after a sixth in last Saturday's Goodwood S. (G1), galloped his customary two miles Thursday. In other Breeders' Cup news: Belmont S. (G1), Travers S. (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone) had an uneventful coast-to-coast trip in quest of victory in the Classic. The Tim Ice trainee arrived at Santa Anita Monday, galloped one mile Thursday, and is scheduled to work five furlongs Saturday. "He shipped great, and so far, he's been great," Ice said. "It was about a six-hour flight, and he took the trip well. It didn't take anything out of him. He ate up all his feed the night he got in and hasn't been off of it since, so everything looks good." Ice has few, if any, qualms about Summer Bird's transition to a synthetic surface. "He seemed to handle the track fine," Ice said. "He's run every race on dirt, but he was out here from last October until I got him in January. He has nine workouts over this track as a two-year-old, so it's not totally new to him, but he's never run on a synthetic." Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) contender PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem), who romped in last Sunday's Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship S. (G1), showed signs of jet lag after his coast to coast trip from New York to California last week. Fortunately, it occurred after the 10-furlong race, while the six-year-old gelding was recuperating from his wire-to-wire, 2 1/2-length victory. "The horse came out of the race good," said Fernando Espinoza, trainer Mary Hartmann's long-time assistant. "He was a little tired after the Hirsch, not much, but I think it was due to the time change. He's doing good and he enjoys his new surroundings." Presious Passion currently resides at trainer Paco Gonzalez's barn. Espinoza, a native of Puebla, Mexico, has been with Hartmann for 16 years. "We were together with trainer J.J. Crupi part of that time," he said. "Mary was his assistant and I was rubbing the horses."
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