Life at Ten delivers in final major move for Personal Ensign

Life at Ten delivers in final major move for Personal

Ensign

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a handful of workers early this morning on the

Oklahoma training track, including Grade 1 queen LIFE AT TEN (Malibu Moon),

who is targeting next Sunday's Personal Ensign S. (G1), and dual Grade 2

victor DISCREETLY MINE (Mineshaft), expected to head the field for the King's

Bishop S. (G1) on the Travers Day undercard Saturday.

Also on the worktab was multiple Grade 1 hero QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality),

who will make his next start in the Woodward S. (G1) on September 5, and

last-out Ruffian Invitational H. (G1) scorer MALIBU PRAYER (Malibu Moon), who is

under consideration for the Ballerina S. (G1) on Saturday.

Life at Ten, who will carry a six-race winning streak into her meeting with

reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) in the Personal

Ensign, worked in company with Schuylerville S. (G3) runner-up STOPSPENDING

MARIA (Montbrook), covering five furlongs over the sloppy track in 1:02 4/5,

with NYRA clockers catching her galloping out in 1:15 3/5.

"We were looking for a little more from Life at Ten because she is running 1

1/4 miles," Pletcher said of the five-year-old mare, whose most recent victories

include the Delaware H. (G1) and Ogden Phipps. "She not only worked well, but

galloped out extremely well.

"She's in very good form right now, and she's obviously on a winning streak,"

he added. "I think her races this year have been better than some have given her

credit for, but I also think it's a very, very tall order to take on Rachel

Alexandra."

Discreetly Mine, an 8 3/4-length winner of the Amsterdam S. (G2) at the Spa

on August 2, went an easy half-mile in :52 1/5 in preparation for the

seven-furlong King's Bishop.

"Most of them, we were just looking for routine maintenance," Pletcher said.

"Discreetly Mine is obviously very fit, and we were looking for a nice, easy

half. He got over the ground well."

Quality Road, who suffered his first loss of the year when falling a head

short to Blame (Arch) in the Whitney H. (G1), also traveled a half-mile,

covering the distance in :51 4/5, with opening splits of :13 2/5 and :26 2/5,

coming home the last quarter in :23 4/5.

"I was looking not to get off schedule with him," Pletcher explained. "He

seemed to handle everything well, and came back well. The track was sloppy, but

safe, and we caught it very early. It was either go, or not go, and we went."

Malibu Prayer, who captured the Ruffian on August 1 at the Spa, clocked four

furlongs in :49 4/5 as Pletcher and owner Edward P. Evans mull her next start.

Among the possibilities is the Ballerina on the Travers undercard at seven

furlongs, according to her conditioner.

"I will speak with Mr. Evans in the next couple of days and make a decision,"

he said.

Pletcher added that Kentucky Derby (G1) winner SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon) came

out of Saturday's work in good shape as he points to the 141st running of the $1

million Travers S. (G1) next Saturday. The bay colt returned from a three-month

break to finish fourth in the Haskell Invitational (G1) last out.

"I believe the Haskell has moved him forward," Pletcher said. "And I would

expect an improved performance from him in what appears to be a wide-open race."