Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Golden Mischief finishes fast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The action picked up considerably on the Breeders’ Cup front Sunday at Churchill Downs, with the large work tab due in part to the inclement weather that affected the track surface the previous two mornings. A total of 20 prospective Breeders’ Cup starters worked throughout the morning, beginning at 5:15 a.m.
October 28 Churchill Downs Weather: Cloudy Track: Fast Turf: Good Temp. 45°
and ending nearly five hours later with a trio of breezers on the grass.
The main track was fast while a bit glibber during the opening training session than it was after both the first and second renovation breaks. A special 15-minute training window restricted to Breeders’ Cup horses begins at 7:30 a.m. daily.
One might say they “saved the best for first” under the twin spires on Sunday, when the most impressive of the long line of Breeders’ Cup workers of the morning was the first to go – the Filly and Mare Sprint-bound GOLDEN MISCHIEF. The Brad Coxtrained filly not only zipped a half-mile in 47.19 seconds over the fast surface, she did it the right way, completing her final quarter-mile in a sizzling 22.43 with her rider just shaking the reins at her coming to and passing through the wire. Golden Mischief responded by galloping out a solid five-eighths in 59.80 before pulling up six furlongs in 1:14.04. She continues to maintain peak form.
Golden Mischief was one of only three Breeders’ Cup horses to work before the break. That trio also included the 2-year-old TIGHT TEN, who followed a very fast and impressive five-eighths run here last weekend with a nice maintenance half-mile in 24.86 and 50.03. What was noteworthy about this move was the gallop-out, as he continued with excellent energy into and around the turn (1:03.21, up 1:17), not usually part of the game plan for a member of the Asmussen stable breezing just five days before the race.
The big names on the tab during the special Breeders’ Cup training session included CATHOLIC BOY, IMPERIAL
HINT, and MONOMOY GIRL. Catholic Boy was his usual powerful and impressive-looking self again. He took a long run to the half-mile pole under jockey Javier Castellano before breezing the distance in 47.92 while angled well off the turn into the stretch. The gallop-out, as usual, was solid, five-eighths in 1:01.02. The work was a very nice complement to a longer and stiffer drill here last weekend.
Imperial Hint went four furlongs from the three-eighths marker in 48.33 while pursued by a Bill Mott team that included his newly acquired Juvenile prospect TOPPER T. Imperial Hint shaded 36 to the wire, then pulled away readily into the turn and was absolutely full of run on the gallopout when his rider put his feet in the dashboard and squarely on the brake to keep him from doing too much less than a week in advance of the Sprint.
Monomoy Girl exited a huge five-eighths work here a week earlier but was not quite as imposing this morning, albeit while in maintenance mode under regular rider Florent Geroux. Monomoy Girl began about four lengths behind regular workmate Dazzling Gem, got even at the top of the stretch, but could not get past her target, hanging about a neck back both to the wire after a 48.33 half and on the gallop-out into the turn in 1:01.03. She just doesn’t seem to be moving quite as fluidly or have quite the same late energy as the previous week.
CITY OF LIGHT, like Monomoy Girl, had his scheduled work Saturday postponed a day due to the wet track. He topped a classy contingent to breeze after the second break that included PROMISES FULFILLED, SEVEN TRUMPETS, DAK ATTACK, and CHANNEL MAKER. City of Light, also with Castellano in the saddle, cruised four furlongs in 47.67 over the freshly manicured surface, galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.07 before easing up threequarters in 1:15.04.
Promises Fulfilled did not seem quite as sharp this morning as a week earlier, needing some prodding down the stretch to get a half in 48.31 and continue out five furlongs in 1:01.40 for the Sprint. He was followed moments later by Seven Trumpets who completed the same distance in 48.57, out in 1:01.60 under some late urging to the wire and into the bend from regular exercise rider Tammy Fox.
The fastest work after the second break was turned in by the lightly raced Dak Attack, a half-mile in 23.11 and 47.36. He readily pulled away from his overmatched workmate through the stretch prior to galloping out five-eighths in 1:00.67 and pulling up six furlongs in 1:14.32.
The turf course was in somewhat better condition Sunday than when last used Friday, but still had some give in the ground. Trainer Michael McCarthy sent out the pairing of Paved (Castellano up) and Liam the Charmer (Aaron Gryder) to lope an easy five furlongs in 1:05.41, with the bigger and more powerful Liam the Charmer going easiest to the wire working nearest the rail.
Other Breeders’ Cup preentrants to work Sunday included Topper T, a swift halfmile in 47.60; Mia Mischief, a maintenance half-mile in 49.69; Will Call, an easy four furlongs in 25.45 and 49.52; the Joe Sharp team of Mom’s On Strike and Tracksmith, the former edging clear by two lengths after a 24.03 and 48.41 half; Miss Sunset, a half-mile in 49.80 with little energy on the gallop-out; turf specialists Arklow and Channel Maker, maintenance half-miles in 49.60 and 48.00, respectively; King of Speed, four furlongs in 50.21; and Fuhriously Kissed, a decent-looking half-mile on the grass in 50.57.