Bevy of Breeders' Cup hopefuls work in New York

Saint Liam will pursue his fourth Grade 1 victory this year in the Classic  (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com)

Multiple Grade 1 winner SAINT LIAM (Saint Ballado), who could vie for

favoritism in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), breezed five furlongs in

1:01 3/5 over a fast track at Aqueduct. The Richard Dutrow trainee was well

within himself throughout the move, which was the sixth fastest of 12 works at

the distance.

"He did it effortlessly," Dutrow said. "He'll walk tomorrow, jog the next

day, then gallop into the race. He galloped out good and finished up good.

That's what he's gonna do in the race."

Saint Liam romped to a handy two-length victory in the Woodward S. (G1) on

September 10 after finishing second by a neck as the odds-on favorite in the

Whitney H. (G1) at Saratoga. Earlier this year, the bay five-year-old won the

Stephen Foster H. (G1) at Churchill Downs and the Donn H. (G1) at Gulfstream

Park.

Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey will ride Saint Liam in the Classic.

Dutrow also sent out Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) hopeful SILVER TRAIN (Old

Trieste), who smoked five furlongs in a bullet :58 2/5 over the main track at

Aqueduct. In his most recent start, the three-year-old scored a front-running victory

in the Jerome H. (G2) at Belmont Park.

"It was probably a little too fast," Dutrow said.

Dutrow said the exercise rider told him Silver Train was "slipping and

sliding a bit" during the work. Dutrow believes Silver Train has a "very minor"

issue in his hind end.

Borrego has stepped up this season, annexing both the Pacific Classic and Jockey Club Gold Cup for trainer Beau Greely (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

Four horses pointing toward the $4 million Classic worked over a fast main

track on Monday. BORREGO (El Prado [Ire]), winner of the Jockey

Club Gold Cup S. (G1) and Pacific Classic (G1) in his last two starts, breezed five furlongs in 1:02 2/5.

"He went very well," trainer Beau Greely said. "It was a very nice, easy

work."

Travers S. (G1) winner FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor), who finished a distant

fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, drilled five furlongs in a

bullet :58 4/5 while coming to the finish line at the same time as three other

workers during a particularly busy time during training hours.

"We sent him from the five-furlong pole and he joined up with a couple horses

working from the three-eighths pole and they all kind of joined up at the same

time," Pletcher said.

Pennsylvania Derby (G2) hero SUN KING (Charismatic), a non-threatening third

in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, worked five furlongs in company in 1:00. The Nick Zito trainee

was equipped with blinkers. Rafael Bejarano will ride Sun King in the Classic.

Grade 2 winner LORD OF THE GAME (Saint Ballado), the first also-eligible for

the Classic, blazed four furlongs in a bullet :46.

"If we don't get in, we would probably leave Wednesday afternoon and go to

Keeneland for the Fayette (S. [G3] on Saturday)," trainer Tom Tomillo said.

Stellar Jayne will attempt to improve on her third in the Distaff last year  (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

Defending champion and likely favorite ASHADO (Saint Ballado) worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5

for trainer Todd Pletcher. The four-year-old filly is coming off a front-running, half-length victory in the Beldame S. (G1) on October 1.

"She's acting and working the same way she did last year," Pletcher said.

"She maybe hasn't had the same consistency (in her races) as she had coming into

last year, but I think ability-wise, she acts like she's ready."

NOTHING BUT FUN (Dixie Union) drilled five furlongs in :59 4/5 for

conditioner Michael Hushion. The three-year-old filly defeated Yolanda B. Too by

a nose in the Cotillion in her last start. Prior to that, she captured the

six-furlong Victory Ride S. at Saratoga. Injured jockey Richard Migliore will be

replaced by Alex Solis.

Multiple Grade 1 victress SOCIETY SELECTION (Coronado's Quest), who is

trained by "The Chief," Allen Jerkens, worked seven furlongs in 1:26 under jockey

Edgar Prado. Society Selection, who finished a dull ninth in last year's Distaff

at Lone Star Park, exits an even third-place effort in the Beldame.

STELLAR JAYNE (Wild Rush), third in last year's Distaff and a front-running

winner of the Ruffian H. (G1) in her most recent outing, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 under Bailey.

Alabama S. (G1) queen SWEET SYMPHONY (A.P. Indy), who suffered her first

career defeat when finishing fourth in the Beldame last out, breezed five furlongs in

company in 1:00

2/5 for Mott.

Gygistar captured the Westchester earlier in the year  (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

Two horses prepping for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) turned in their final

major works on Monday.

Turf mile sensation LEROIDESANIMAUX (Brz) (Candy Stripes), who is undefeated

in three starts this season, including a 7 3/4-length romp in the Atto Mile S.

(Can-G1) at Woodbine last out, breezed four furlongs over the inner turf in

company in :50 4/5

beneath jockey

John Velazquez.

Diana S. (G1) winner SAND SPRINGS (Dynaformer), also headed to the Mile,

breezed four furlongs on the main track in :48 1/5 for Mott.

"I can't say that I have (run a female against males), but she's a masculine

sort of girl," Mott quipped. "We've had a good year with her, so we decided to

step up and give her a chance."

Three contenders for the Sprint each worked four furlongs on the main track

at Belmont.

Grade 1 veteran GYGISTAR (Prospector's Music) drilled four furlongs in :47 1/5.

The Mark Hennig trainee was a good-looking winner against allowance/optional

claiming rivals in his last start.

Cigar Mile H. (G1) winner LION TAMER (Will's Way), a fast-closing third in

the Vosburgh S. (G1) in his latest, breezed four furlongs in :49 for Pletcher.

Wildcat Heir would become the first horse to win the Sprint with only one prior start that year  (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash S. (G1) winner WILDCAT HEIR (Forest Wildcat) sizzled four furlongs in

a bullet :46 under jockey

Stewart Elliott. The bay horse has made only one start this year, a 5 3/4-length

score in the six-furlong Teddy Drone S. on August 7 at Monmouth Park.

"We still needed to do something with him, so we let him roll," trainer Ben

Perkins Jr. said. "I had him finishing up the last quarter in 22 and change, the

last eighth in 11 and change."

Four entrants were seen tuning up for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf

(G1).

RISKAVERSE (Dynaformer), who defeated rival WONDER AGAIN (Silver Hawk) by a

head in the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1) in her last start, breezed five

furlongs over a yielding inner turf course in 1:03, while the latter traveled

four furlongs in a bullet :48 3/5. The multiple Grade 1 winners finished eighth

and third, respectively, in the Filly & Mare Turf last year.

English stakes winner SUNDROP (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), a close fifth in the

Flower Bowl, breezed five furlongs on the main track in 1:01 4/5.

New York H. (G2) winner WEND (Pulpit), a fast-closing second in the Galaxy S

(G2) at Keeneland in her latest, breezed a grassy five-eighths in 1:03 2/5. Mott

said Wend may not find the turf course to her liking if heavy rains hit the area

in the next day or two as forecast.

Jealous Profit will try to break his maiden in his Juvenile  (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

Maiden JEALOUS PROFIT (Trippi), third in both the Norfolk S. (G2) and Del Mar

Futurity, worked a half-mile in :48 2/5. O'Neill said Jealous Profit will be kept

farther off the pace than he was in the Norfolk.

"We kept him up close in the Norfolk and he didn't like it," O'Neill said.

"He

hyperventilated and displaced his soft palate, and we did a little (throat)

surgery called a myectomy afterward. In his first two races, he dropped off the

early pace and made a late run, a style he seems to prefer."

SUPERFLY (Fusaichi Pegasus), a distant third in the Champagne S. (G1) in his

last start, drilled five furlongs in company in :59 4/5 for Zito.

A trio of lasses prepped for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Monday.

Division leader ADIEU (El Corredor), a two-length winner of the Frizette S.

(G1) in her last start, breezed five furlongs in 1:02 for Pletcher. Her only

loss in five career starts occurred when she finished a close fourth in the

Adirondack S. (G2) at Saratoga.

"What I saw from her today was exceptional," Pletcher said. "She was right up

in her bridle and moving very nicely, where before she hadn't been much of a

workhorse."

Frizette runner-up ALONG AT SEA (Anees) worked a half-mile in :47 4/5.