Breeders' Cup final works round-up: Arrogate, Unique Bella, Lady Eli fire bullets

Breeders’ Cup contenders have turned in their final major works, with just routine training from this point on as we near the November 3-4 World Championships at Del Mar.

As usual, there was a flurry of activity over the weekend as horsemen often like to work about a week ahead of the race.

Here’s a selection of notable moves, with horses listed according to the order of their Breeders’ Cup targets. Click the links to the Brisnet.com stories for full coverage of that day’s works.

BREEDERS’ CUP FRIDAY

Dirt Mile (G1) morning-line favorite Mor Spirit covered six furlongs in 1:13.40 October 29 at Santa Anita.

Sharp Azteca scorched the bullet in :58.60 at Del Mar, recording the fastest of 16 five-furlong works on   October 28.

Distaff (G1) morning-line favorite Stellar Wind drilled five-eighths in a bullet :59.80 October 28 at Santa Anita, the best of 47 at the distance.

Abel Tasman fired a bullet the same day at the same track when blitzing six panels in 1:12.80.

BREEDERS’ CUP SATURDAY

Turf Sprint (G1) morning-line favorite Lady Aurelia negotiated a half-mile in :48.60 over the Del Mar turf October 29.

Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) morning-line favorite Unique Bella turned in her seventh consecutive bullet move at Santa Anita October 25, motoring five furlongs in a best-of-30 :59.20.

Defending champion Finest City sped a bullet half-mile in :47.00 at Santa Anita, fastest of 67 at the distance on October 28.

Filly & Mare Turf (G1) morning-line favorite Lady Eli registered a bullet in her final move at Belmont Park October 28, breezing five panels around the “dogs” on the inner turf in 1:01.19.

Defending TwinSpires Sprint (G1) champion Drefong, also the morning-line favorite, polished off his preparations October 30 with a half-mile spin in :48.60 at Santa Anita.

Several of his rivals tuned up with bullets.

At Del Mar, American Pastime zipped four furlongs in :45.80, best of 17 on October 27, while Mind Your Biscuits posted the fastest three furlongs in :36.20 October 30 and Roy H did the same the next day in :36.80.

At Belmont Park, Takaful blazed four panels in :46.66, best of 46 on the training track October 27, and at Santa Anita, Ransom the Moon sped in :47.00, best of 47 at the half-mile distance October 29.

Leading North American Mile (G1) hope World Approval worked four furlongs at his Churchill Downs base in :47.80 on October 27.

Om scampered three-eighths over the Del Mar turf October 29 in a bullet :35.20.

Unbeaten Juvenile (G1) morning-line favorite Bolt d’Oro toured five panels at Santa Anita in 1:02.20 October 29.

Top American Turf (G1) hope Beach Patrol, striding in company with stablemate and fellow Turf runner Fanciful Angel, covered five-eighths on Belmont’s inner turf in 1:02.54 (around the dogs) October 28.

At Del Mar, Oscar Performance sped a half-mile on the turf in :47.00.

Defending Classic (G1) champion Arrogate made the final work of his career a bullet, speeding five furlongs in a best-of-19 1:00 on October 30 at Santa Anita.

Classic morning-line favorite Gun Runner stretched his legs in :49.40 for a half-mile the same day at Del Mar.

Photo of Arrogate (and workmate Hot Sean) by Cecilia Gustavsson/Horsephotos.com