Monday morning was very overcast for the morning works at Keeneland, with temperatures in the low 60's, however rain on Sunday downgraded the track to "good". We got to the track just after 7am today after picking up our photo credentials at the press hotel, however most Breeders' Cup entrants did not go out on the track until after 8, with none on the turf due to rain overnight and very few on the training track. There were five timed works from Breeders' Cup horses this morning. 34 European horses arrived on Saturday and will clear quarantine Monday evening, so will be allowed on the track Tuesday morning. The post position draw was held this afternoon, so check out all the entries, post positions, and morning line odds here.
Here are photos for 45 of the horses on the track Monday morning. Click the small picture to see a larger version. I did see others, like Taiba but only on the other side of a pony which doesn't make for a good photo, so I skipped them for today.
Clairiere (Distaff) worked 4f in 50 seconds. Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "Clairiere is just an unbelievable mare. She really is. Love how she's doing here. It's a tremendous field, but she's a tremendous horse."
|
Malathaat (Distaff) galloped twice around after having her last timed work on Saturday. Trainer Todd Pletcher said, "I think (post 1 for Malathaat) is fine as long as we can work our way into a clear trail on the backside. Saving ground around the first turn would be great then hopefully we're in the clear where she can put together that long sustained run. I think it would have been very tempting (to enter Malathaat or Nest in the Classic if Flightline wasn't participating). I think the thing about both of those fillies is that the 1 1/4 mile distance would suit them both really well. They're both Alabama winners so in a different year we would've probably taken strong consideration with one of them."
|
Nest (Distaff) galloped twice around. Trainer Todd Pletcher said, "She is impeccably bred, but not necessarily to run in the summer of her 2-year-old year. So, we took that approach and our target was the Belmont fall meet. She trained really well and ran really well in her first three races. Around January and February we started to see her really develop and improve in her breezes. That is when we started thinking 'wow, we have a legitimate Kentucky Oaks filly here.'"
|
Search Results (Distaff) jogged once around. Trainer Chad Brown said, "She worked superb, looks great and has been working along really nicely here at Keeneland. She did a little bit more. She hasn't run since Saratoga, so I was very happy with her. I think nine furlongs seems to be about 50 yards too long for her. At Keeneland, your hope is that this mile and an eighth wouldn't be as challenging as a Saratoga or a Churchill mile and an eighth. The track can carry a little farther here."
|
Gold Phoenix (Turf) drew post 9 for trainer Phil D'Amato. Flavien Prat rides the 20-1 outsider.
|
Highland Chief (Turf) drew the far outside 13 post. John Velazquez rides the 15-1 shot for trainer Graham Motion.
|
In Italian (Filly & Mare Turf) is one of three Chad Brown entrants. She drew post 11 and will have Joel Rosario aboard the 7-2 second choice.
|
Rougir (Filly & Mare Turf) is one of three Chad Brown entrants. She and jockey Flavien Prat break from stall 9 and is 12-1 morning line.
|
Annapolis (Mile) drew post 11 for trainer Todd Pletcher. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides the 10-1 shot.
|
Aloha West (Sprint) worked 4f in 47.40, fastest of 7 at the distance with exercise rider Antonio Dominguez aboard. Trainer Wayne Catalano said, "He is coming off a layoff and he is doing good. So we said, 'let's just take him work by work and see how he takes it.' Every work has been great and every time he came back good. When he went (5f in 58 3/5 at Keeneland on Oct. 25), I said 'I think we are good.' I am happy with him."
|
Elite Power (Sprint) gets Irad Ortiz Jr. out of post 6. The Bill Mott trainee is 6-1 on the morning line.
|
Jackie's Warrior (Sprint) worked 3f in 37.60. Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "His two defeats in the Breeders' Cup are hard to imagine (if you are) around him. He is coming into it just beautiful and I love his draw for the race. It would be wonderful for him to cap off his career with a Breeders' Cup victory."
|
Super Ocho (Sprint) drew post 7 for trainer Amador Sanchez. Hector Berrios gets the call aboard the 30-1 longshot.
|
Willy Boi (Sprint) drew post 10. Chantal Sutherland rides again for trainer Jorge Delgado aboard the 30-1 outsider.
|
Ce Ce (Filly & Mare Sprint) looks to defend her title won at Del Mar last year. The Mike McCarthy trainee drew post 4 with Victor Espinoza aboard the 4-1 second choice.
|
Chi Town Lady (Filly & Mare Sprint) is a 20-1 longshot for trainer Wesley Ward. Flavien Prat will be in the irons in post 3.
|
Echo Zulu (Filly & Mare Sprint) will break from the far outside 13 hole for trainer Steve Asmussen. Ricardo Santana Jr. gets the call aboard the 6-1 shot.
|
Hot Peppers (Filly & Mare Sprint) is a 30-1 outsider from post 10. Junior Alvarado rides for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.
|
Kimari (Sprint) goes in the Sprint instead of the Filly and Mare Sprint, drawing post 2 at odds of 4-1. Jose Ortiz will be in the irons for trainer Wesley Ward.
|
Obligatory (Filly & Mare Sprint) drew post 7. Jose Ortiz gets the call for trainer Bill Mott aboard the 8-1 shot.
|
Sterling Silver (Filly & Mare Sprint) is a 30-1 outsider. Javier Castellano rides from post 9 for trainer Tom Albertrani.
|
Wicked Halo (Filly & Mare Sprint) worked 4f in 52.60. Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "They went just as easy as we could get them to go. With (Gunite and Wicked Halo) both running the fastest races by numbers of their careers just two weeks ago, we just wanted them to go nice and easy. It's typically what we do the first work back, so we just followed that plan."
|
Chain of Love (Filly & Mare Sprint), the lone Japanese entrant in this year's Championships, drew post 6 for trainer Michihiro Ogasa. New rider William Buick gets the call aboard the 20-1 shot.
|
Campanelle (Turf Sprint) and jockey Frankie Dettori will break from post 4. The Wesley Ward trainee is 8-1 morning line.
|
Caravel (Turf Sprint) drew post 10 for trainer Brad Cox. Tyler Gaffalione rides the 20-1 shot.
|
Golden Pal (Turf Sprint) is the 2-1 favorite from post 8. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides for trainer Wesley Ward.
|
Cody's Wish (Dirt Mile) drew post 7 as the 5-2 favorite. Junior Alvarado rides for trainer Bill Mott.
|
Gunite (Dire Mile) worked 4f in 51.60. Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "They went just as easy as we could get them to go. With (Gunite and Wicked Halo) both running the fastest races by numbers of their careers just two weeks ago, we just wanted them to go nice and easy. It's typically what we do the first work back, so we just followed that plan."
|
Blazing Sevens (Juvenile) and jockey Flavien Prat will break from post 6 on Friday. Chad Brown trains the 6-1 shot.
|
Cave Rock (Juvenile) went out on the main track with the rest of the Bob Baffert string. "They all traveled really good, excellent," assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said. "Everybody jogged today. We'll probably start galloping tomorrow."
|
National Treasure (Juvenile) went out on the main track with the rest of the Bob Baffert string. "They all traveled really good, excellent," assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said. "Everybody jogged today. We'll probably start galloping tomorrow."
|
Alma Rosa (Juvenile Fillies) drew post 6 for trainer Bernardo Lopez. Regular rider Jaime Rodriguez retains the mount aboard the 30-1 outsider.
|
Chocolate Gelato (Juvenile Fillies) is the 7-2 morning line favorite. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides for trainer Todd Pletcher from post 10.
|
Leave No Trace (Juvenile Fillies) drew post 13 for trainer Phil Serpe. Jose Lezcano rides the 15-1 longshot.
|
Raging Sea (Juvenile Fillies) and jockey Flavien Prat will break from the far outside 14 post. Chad Brown trains the 6-1 shot.
|
Shoplifter (Juvenile Fillies) is a 20-1 longshot for trainer Eddie Kenneally. Martin Garcia will be in the irons out of post 12.
|
You're My Girl (Juvenile Fillies) drew post 2 for trainer John Terranova. John Velazquez rides the 12-1 shot.
|
Major Dude (Juvenile Turf) and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will break from post 13. Todd Pletcher trains the 8-1 shot.
|
Reckoning Force (Juvenile Turf) is 20-1 morning line for trainer Brendan Walsh. Tyler Gaffalione rides from post 11.
|
Free Look (Juvenile Fillies Turf) drew post 4 for trainer Chad Brown. Flavien Prat gets the call aboard the 6-1 shot.
|
Love Reigns (Juvenile Turf Sprint) is the lukewarm 4-1 morning line favorite for trainer Wesley Ward. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 2.
|