Breeders’ Cup workout updates: Classic favorites, Distaff threats, sprint stars serve notice

Breeders’ Cup contenders have been upping the ante in the latest round of works in preparation for the November 3-4 World Championships at Del Mar.

Here are just a few of the highlights. For much more, check out the full Breeders’ Cup work stories on Brisnet.com.

CLASSIC

At Santa Anita on October 23, leading contenders Gun Runner and Arrogate took turns advertising themselves. Gun Runner wowed the crowd with a six-furlong bullet in 1:11.40, and Arrogate followed by drilling seven furlongs in 1:25.40.

On October 22, West Coast fired the bullet six furlongs in 1:12.40, and Collected earned the same distinction when motoring in 1:12.00 on October 21.

Belmont Park-based Diversify got the nod to pre-enter after his October 21 five-furlong spin in 1:01.58.

MILE

Likely favorite World Approval covered five panels October 20 at Churchill Downs in 1:00.80.

FILLY & MARE SPRINT

Defending champion Finest City toured five-eighths in 1:02.40 at Santa Anita October 21, the same day that Paulassilverlining, third last year, recorded the bullet at Belmont Park in 1:01.09. By the Moon worked the five-furlong bullet at Belmont October 23 in 1:00.52.

TURF

Top U.S. hopeful Beach Patrol and stablemate Fanciful Angel exercised five furlongs in company in 1:02.23 over Belmont’s inner turf (around the “dogs”) October 21.

JUVENILE

Presumptive favorite Bolt d’Oro worked five panels in 1:01.40 at Santa Anita October 22, one day after possible second choice Free Drop Billy blazed the bullet in :59.60 over the same track.

TURF SPRINT

Superstar Lady Aurelia sped five-eighths, around the dogs, on the Keeneland turf October 21 in a bullet 1:00.80.

SPRINT

At Santa Anita, defending champion Drefong zipped a half-mile October 23 in a bullet :46.80.

American Pastime earned the six-furlong bullet in 1:12.80 at Santa Anita October 20, while Imperial Hint blitzed five panels at his home base of Parx October 21 in a bullet :59.58, and Takaful got the same designation for his half October 19 over Belmont’s training track in :48.25.

Mind Your Biscuits covered the same ground in :47.88 on the Belmont main October 21.

FILLY & MARE TURF

Likely favorite Lady Eli breezed five-eighths on the Belmont inner turf, around the dogs, in 1:00.09 October 21.

Cambodia turned in the October 22 bullet at that distance on the Santa Anita turf in 1:00.

JUVENILE FILLIES

Top local contender Moonshine Memories negotiated five furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:00.00 October 22.

Heavenly Love fired the 1:00 bullet at Keeneland October 20.

DISTAFF

Champion Stellar Wind exercised seven furlongs at Santa Anita October 21 in 1:28.20, and sophomore rival Abel Tasman drilled the same distance in 1:25.60 from the gate October 22.

Elate sped five-eighths in a bullet 1:00.92 over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track October 20.