Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Mind Your Biscuits dazzles
LOUISVILLE, KY. – Cold, damp, and dreary.
That pretty much sums up training hours Friday morning at Churchill Downs, where a steady drizzle made the unseasonably cool temperature feel even cooler. The main track was eventually downgraded from good to sloppy, and the turf course was listed as yielding when opened for business at 9:45 a.m.
The main track tab was dominated by potential Classic contenders, led by Mind Your Biscuits and Thunder Snow. Only four horses, all 2-year-olds pointing to races on the first of the two Breeders’ Cup sessions here next Friday, breezed over the turf.
MIND YOUR BISCUITS wasn’t scheduled for a recorded work this morning, just a twominute gallop, but he is so sharp right now he actually made the tab with a final clocking that far from tells the whole story. Biscuits did ease away from the seven-eighths pole at a two-minute clip, but the furlong splits began to improve incrementally as he continued, with his final five-eighths coming in 1:03.07 (a true two-minute lick would be 1:15) before finally easing up after a mile in 1:45.99. Continues to give off positive vibes over the Churchill Downs surface, and he couldn’t be doing much better leading up to the Classic.
THUNDER SNOW also began at the seven-eighths pole, cruising during the early stages through splits of 26.56, 38.43, and 1:02.47 to the top of the stretch, at which point he was set down in a full drive to the wire, covering his final quarter in 24.37 to complete the distance in 1:26.84 before galloping out a mile in 1:41.81. Remained on his left lead through much of the stretch before switching back approaching the finish line.
SEEKING THE SOUL has shown some quickness in the morning and did so again today, albeit over a strip that had tightened up and produced some fast times, especially before sunrise. Breezed a half in 47.68, completing his final quarter in 24.17 without prodding before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.11. Seems to be holding good form.
WHITMORE was the first worker of the morning, breezing in company within moments of the track opening for training at 5:30 and showing his fondness for the surface and the brisk weather and sizzling from start to finish. Blasted off an opening quarter in 22.40 before completing a half in a crisp 46.22 while holding a slight edge to the wire working inside his mate. He edged clear on the gallop-out in 1:00.57. He was equipped with the blinkers he always wears when he runs. Seems to be flourishing lately over his home course.
MR MONEY was extremely impressive in his final prep for the Juvenile. Shaded 1:00 and did it easily enough, traveling five furlongs in 36.08, 59.81 over the quick early morning surface, then really caught the eye with his high-energy gallopout, going three-quarters in 1:12.65 and up seven furlongs around the clubhouse turn in 1:25.96. Looks to be ready for another improved effort off the recent maiden win.
TOAST OF NEW YORK didn’t receive a published work but did, for the second time in less than a week, get to stretch his legs . He broke out of an open gallop to complete a final threeeighths to the wire in 40.21.
TURF
CHELSEA CLOISTERS and SHANG SHANG SHANG went in company over the yielding surface with the former easily best of the Wesley Ward pairing. Chelsea Cloisters broke off about 1 1/2 lengths back of Shang Shang Shang and finished a couple of lengths clear in 26.77, 50.66 atop the boggy ground, with neither offering much on the gallopout. Both wore blinkers, with Shang Shang Shang working nearest the rail. FORTY UNDER got the No. 1 star on the turf today with the final time again not telling the whole tale. Breezed a half in 52.01, but came down the lane in 23.60 and reached out nicely to the wire before galloping out with excellent energy into and around the turn. Juvenile Turf-bound youngster already showed a fondness for this type of looser surface with his victory in the Pilgrim.
PAKHET, another who obviously doesn’t mind the softer ground, came down the lane in 23.51 to complete a 51.32 halfmile going easily enough. He looked decent on the gallop out, although not nearly as strong as Forty Under. Improving sort, but will have to move well forward against Newspaperofrecord and some of the top European invaders in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
THURSDAY
Several likely Breeders’ Cup starters had their scheduled works moved forward a day due to the impending precipitation, including WONDER GADOT, who was actually a little too eager to start her work. She was extremely rank going to the pole before blasting off an opening quarter in 22 and change, then was allowed to just coast home to complete the backward half-mile in a swift 47.
BRAVAZO was also full of run during the early stages of his five-furlong drill in 59.80 in company with an overmatched mate. Got a sharp right-hand stick when beginning to bear out approaching the stretch, pulled away from his company while angling back down to finish near the fence, and got a little leg weary at the end. Not much on the gallop-out, which is common for workers from the Lukas barn.
GULFSTREAM PARK
GUNNEVERA completed his preparations for the Classic on Friday morning at Gulfstream Park West, going six furlongs in 1:15.40, according to the track clocker.