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Zenyatta's date with destiny draws closer
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Zenyatta has become known for her come-from-behind rallies
(Paula Smith/Horsephotos.com) |
Undefeated champion ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) took a step closer to a much-anticipated date with the boys
in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Oak Tree on November 7 when she
breezed six furlongs
in 1:12 2/5 over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track on Saturday. Regular rider Mike
Smith was aboard for the move.
"She went very well and everyone was pleased," trainer John Shirreffs
said.
"We'll discuss whether she will run in the Classic (or the Ladies' Classic
[G1] at 1
1/8 miles on November 6) as soon as we sit down with Mr. and Mrs. Moss
(owners Jerry and Ann Moss). We'll see how she comes out of the work and
make a decision."
Zenyatta worked in company with Green Cat (Stormin Fever), who was clocked in 1:13 3/5,
and had fractional times of :24 3/4, :36 3/5, :48 2/5 and 1:00 1/5. She
galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25 1/5.
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The five-year-old mare is unbeaten in 13 starts and
would have to overcome two firsts if she goes in the Classic -- facing males and
going the 1 1/4-mile distance. Zenyatta's
workout can be seen by
clicking here.
On a picture-perfect morning at Santa Anita, three-year-old SUMMER BIRD
(Birdstone) covered five furlongs for the Classic in :59 2/5 under his "gallop boy," Leo
Atempa, who weighs in at 120 pounds. The chestnut was clocked in fractions of :11 2/5, :23, :34 4/5 and :46 4/5
for his move.
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Summer Bird is looking to clinch champion three-year-old
male honors in the Classic
(Paula Smith/Horsephotos.com) |
"He galloped out strong," trainer Tim Ice said of the Belmont
S. (G1), Travers
S. (G1) and
Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner. "I got him in 1:12."
Ice is set on letting Summer Bird run his race and not get caught up in undue
pre-race strategy.
"My horse will run according to how the pace scenario sets up," Ice said. "He
definitely can lay up close, and I also think he can be four or five (lengths)
off
of it. I think it's just a matter of seeing how the race sets up, let 'em break
and see where you're at.
"If we can get a head start on them (into the stretch), I know we can kick
away, and my colt, he doesn't stop until the wire comes. If they head him, he's
going to have a lot of fight."
Dogwood Stable's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) hopeful AIKENITE (Yes It's True)
drilled five furlongs in a bullet :59 4/5 over Belmont Park's fast training
track Saturday with Alan Garcia in the saddle. The move was the quickest of
37 over works at that distance, and set the dual Grade 1-placed juvenile up for
his bid at Breeders' Cup glory.
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"This was the colt's best work to date, as far as his enthusiasm goes,"
Dogwood President Cot Campbell said Saturday morning. "In the past Aikenite
has been rather lethargic as a workhorse, but he has become enthusiastic for the
task at hand and has a spark that would indicate that he is coming up on a
gangbuster race."
The Todd Pletcher-trained Aikenite will be part of a large draft of Breeders'
Cup-bound horses flying out of New York Tuesday afternoon, with an estimated
arrival in California set for 10:40 p.m. (EST). The bay colt will have plenty of time to get
used to his surroundings before Saturday's big race.
"Aikenite has an easy-going character and I expect him to handle the flight
and his new surroundings with no problem," Campbell added. "He'll be able to
gallop over Santa Anita's synthetic surface for several days, but we're not
expecting any issues there either."
Aikenite broke his maiden in his career debut at Saratoga by 2 1/2 lengths on
August 9, then was immediately sent to face Grade 1 company when running in the
Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga and Breeders' Futurity (G1) over Keeneland's
Polytrack in his past two. The two-year-old was third in the Hopeful and second
by just a half-length in the Breeders' Futurity in his first try on a synthetic
track.
"If Aikenite
has run terrifically in the past off of ho-hum works -- his usual pattern -- then
the fact that he now has fire in his belly is definite cause for his connections
to be pumped!" Cox enthused.
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Quality Road, seen here working in August, will try to upset Summer Bird's Classic bid
(Bill Roberts/Horsephotos.com) |
Pletcher had five other Breeders' Cup contenders work over the training track
on Saturday, including Grade 1 winner QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality), who
prepped for the Classic with a breeze in 1:01 1/5. He was second in the
Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) most recently.
INTERACTIF (Broken Vow), the likely favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Turf (G2) following scores in the Bourbon S. (G3) and With Anticipation S. (G3),
covered four furlongs in :50 2/5. Grade 1 winner GAME FACE (Menifee), who is
headed to the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), tuned up with a five-furlong move in
1:02 4/5, while Juvenile candidate ESKENDEREYA (Giant's Causeway), the
Pilgrim S. winner, zipped in :59 4/5. Grade 1-placed READY'S ECHO (More Than
Ready) completed a half-mile in :49 1/5 in advance of the Dirt Mile (G1).
Also working at Belmont on Saturday was multiple Grade 1 hero GIO PONTI (Tale
of the Cat), who logged four furlongs on the soft Widener turf in :52 2/5. The
Christophe Clement trainee is moving back to Pro-Ride to contest the Breeders'
Cup Classic.
Another multiple Grade 1 winner, DIAMONDRELLA (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]),
prepped for the Turf Sprint by clocking :48 over the fast main track. She's
captured the First Lady S. (G1) and Just a Game S. (G1) this season.
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In other Breeders' Cup news:
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) galloped two miles Saturday
at Santa Anita and is
scheduled to work five furlongs Monday with Joe Talamo aboard.
Since his 50-1 shocker in the Run for the Roses, the bay gelding has finished
second in the Preakness S. (G1), third in the Belmont and West Virginia Derby
(G2), and sixth in the Goodwood S. (G1).
Godolphin Racing couldn't be more pleased with how its candidates are coming
up to their Breeders' Cup engagements.
"We have nine horses here and I'm very happy with all of them," said Rick
Mettee, formerly a training fixture in Southern California. "Most of them came
out three weeks ago. Some of them came out last week, but they all seem to
be grabbing this track fine. We haven't had any problems. The weather's been
good here. It hasn't been too hot, so everybody's doing really well."
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