Breeders’ Cup favorites turn in final works

As we approach the final days before the 35th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs, the contenders are completing their major preparations.

Here’s a selection of recent works from a number of Breeders’ Cup headliners.

Classic (G1) favorite Accelerate drilled at Santa Anita October 27, clocking six furlongs in 1:12.80 for John Sadler.

Bob Baffert’s leading Classic duo posted works the same morning, champion West Coast ripping a half-mile in :47.20 and McKinzie covering five panels in 1:00.00. Collected blitzed seven furlongs in 1:25.20 October 28 but needs defections to draw into the field.

Among the Classic hopefuls breezing at Churchill Downs were Mind Your Biscuits (his gallop credited as a five-eighths move in 1:03.20 on a good track October 26), Thunder Snow (seven furlongs in 1:27.00 the same day), and Catholic Boy (five panels in 1:01.00 October 28).

Distaff (G1) favorite Monomoy Girl concluded a solid series of Churchill works with a half in :48.40 October 28.

Rivals Wonder Gadot (half in a bullet :47.00 October 25) and Midnight Bisou (five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.00 on October 22) have likewise trained forwardly beneath the Twin Spires.

Out at Santa Anita October 26, champion Abel Tasman and Baffert stablemate Vale Dori negotiated four panels in :47.20. Each Distaff contender was accorded the rare “breezing” designation by the Southern California clockers.

Also for Baffert, Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) favorite Marley’s Freedom sped her half in a bullet :47.00, best of 53 at Santa Anita October 27.

The same day, Dirt Mile (G1) favorite Catalina Cruiser covered five-eighths in :59.80 for Sadler.

Fellow Californian City of Light got in his Dirt Mile work at Churchill, motoring four furlongs October 28 in :47.60, while locally based Bravazo recorded the five-furlong bullet on October 25 in :59.80.

Defending TwinSpires Sprint (G1) champion Roy H exercised five panels October 23 at his San Luis Rey base in :59.60.

Imperial Hint, who’s been blazing at his Parx headquarters, took a half-mile spin around Churchill October 28 in :48.40.

Whitmore sizzled the same distance October 26 in a bullet :46.20, breezing on a good Churchill track.

Mile (G1) contender Oscar Performance traveled five furlongs over Keeneland’s main track October 25 in 1:01.40.

Chad Brown trainees were spotted on Belmont’s firm inner turf October 26, including Robert Bruce stretching his legs over a half in :49.77 for the Turf (G1) and Filly & Mare Turf (G1) contender Sistercharlie striding out in :48.04.

Two of Brown’s high-profile pupils geared up on the Belmont main track October 26 for Future Stars Friday. Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) favorite Newspaperofrecord turned four furlongs in :48.44, while Juvenile (G1) hopeful Complexity clocked :48.32.

On the same day at Santa Anita, Juvenile favorite Game Winner zipped in :47.00 for Baffert.

Juvenile Fillies (G1) favorite Bellafina also geared up at Santa Anita for Simon Callaghan, speeding her four furlongs October 25 in :47.40.

Scenic photo Churchill Downs/Coady Photography