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Prince of Wales Stakes Del Mar Futurity Del Mar Debutante Pacific Classic Day Pat O'Brien Stakes |
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 Trainer Todd Pletcher brought several of his Breeders' Cup entrants into the paddock for the schooling session, led by Classic horses Bright Future and Dreamlike. |
Thursday morning was sunny for the morning works at Santa Anita, with temperatures in the upper 50's, but warming up into the 80's after sunrise. We got to the track around 6:20am today when the sun wasn't up yet. After training ended we stayed for the mandatory photographers' meeting and paddock schooling session before leaving around 11:30. The post positions were drawn Monday evening, so check out all the entries, post positions, and morning line odds here.
Here are photos for 40 of the horses on the track Thursday morning. Note that we are trying to avoid repeats except for the Classic so if your favorite horse wasn't featured today check the other days. Over the 4 training days we attended we saw all but 23 Breeders' Cup entrants, most of which trained as early as 5:00am. Click the small picture to see a larger version.
Arabian Knight (Classic) favorite had a light gallop shortly after 8 a.m. Went once around the track, then exited through the tunnel and around the walking ring en route back to the barn. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "He's done all the hard work. He's ready to run. He's doing really well."
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Bright Future (Classic) galloped approximately 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Hector Ramos.
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Clapton (Classic) jogged with Rikki Ramdial on board and stood in the gate. Trainer Chad Summers said, "At this point, you just want to go. It's good for the handicappers when the draw is so far out, but it's bad for us because once the entries are out, you just want to run. To pull the upset, everything needs to be perfect. If we didn't run well in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, if we didn't win the Lukas Classic, if we didn't ship over good, if we didn't breeze good, if the bloodwork wasn't perfect, we wouldn't be here."
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Derma Sotogake (Classic) warmed up with a jog and some footwork (circles and figure-eights) in the chute before an easy canter of the main track and then a walk through the paddock.
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Dreamlike (Classic) galloped approximately 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Dominic Merrit then schooled in the paddock. Trainer Todd Pletcher said, "It seems like on paper that the Classic, at 1 1/4, actually has more pace in it than the Dirt Mile does, which you wouldn't expect. I just felt like if we're going to allow him to run the way he wants, so he'll make one run, that wasn't going to be very effective in the mile if there's not a real pace. It felt like the additional quarter and hopefully an honest pace makes a difference. He obviously needs to step up and run better than he ever has in his life."
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Proxy (Classic) repeated his Wednesday morning track work Thursday with a gallop around the Santa Anita main track. He then promptly returned to his stall in Barn 48 and remained relaxed and reportedly even took a nap just a couple hours after his morning efforts. Trainer Mike Stidham said, "He's great. He had a nice little gallop in the draw reins and looked perfect. He's not like Mystic Guide, who was a lot more to handle on a lot of levels, he's very laid back and a cool character. That makes things a little easier. He doesn't do any more than he's asked. Physically, he looks outstanding."
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White Abarrio (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Emily Ellingwood. Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said, "We picked him up in the middle of his 4-year-old season. He's supposed to be developed by then. I just believe that we got him at the right time where he was getting good. I think it was just the little things that we did, which was (farrier) Ian McKinley putting the glue-ons (shoes) for the Whitney. Then afterwards, we glued him on behind. I think that has made a big difference with him. Also, he's picked up a lot of weight, which he kind of needed. So those are really the only two things that he needed and he got. Now everyone can see what he can do when he's really right, when he's really a full racehorse.
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Zandon (Classic) galloped a circuit of the Santa Anita dirt at 7:45.
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Hoosier Philly (Distaff) stood in gate, galloped 1 1/2 miles and returned to barn through the paddock. Trainer Tom Amoss said, "She has been doing great out here, but I know the opposition (for the Distaff) very well. She is going to have to step it up."
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King of Steel (Turf) went to the gates under work rider Robson Aguier. He stood in the game calmly with the hood on then backed out before training on the turf after.
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Mostahdaf (Turf) favorite will retire to stud duty after Saturday. Shadwell Stable Racing Manager Angus Gold said, "Since winning the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia by 7 lengths earlier this year, he has come from behind to beat the best 10-furlong horses in Europe at Royal Ascot, and then made all in the Juddmonte International. At York he highlighted both his speed and class by running six of the last eight furlongs under 12 seconds." Trainer John Gosden added, "Mostahdaf has always been a pleasure to train. Sound and always positive and generous in his work. His action is superb and fluent with a high cruising speed and electric acceleration. A horse who has been very consistent throughout his career."
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Up to the Mark (Turf) schooled in the paddock.
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American Theorem (Sprint) galloped once around.
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Dr. Schivel (Sprint) galloped on the main track.
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Elite Power (Sprint) favorite galloped once around.
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Lucky Score (Mile) jogged and galloped Thursday for trainer Mark Casse. He was bred in Ontario, Canada by James and Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse.
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Shirl's Speight (Mile) galloped twice around with Canadian trainer Roger Attfield on hand. His owner-breeder is recent Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Charles Fipke.
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Songline (Mile) favorite had her usual busy morning, galloping on the main track and visiting the paddock
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Locked (Juvenile) favorite schooled in the paddock after training ended.
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The Wine Steward (Juvenile) galloped 1 1/2 miles.
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Timberlake (Juvenile) galloped once around.
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Tamara (Juvenile Fillies) favorite went for a routine 1 1/2 mile gallop.
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Inspiral (Filly and Mare Turf) favorite went to the gate under Frankie Dettori. She came out the front of the gates really well and was very well behaved.
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Moira (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped twice around for Canadian trainer Kevin Attard. Canada's Horse of the Year for 2022 won the final Queen's Plate before the race reverted to King's Plate, and she was named after the character Moira Rose in the Canadian sitcom Schitt's Creek.
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Goodnight Olive (Filly and Mare Sprint) favorite galloped once around.
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Society (Filly and Mare Sprint) galloped once around.
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Three Witches (Filly and Mare Sprint) schooled in the paddock with stablemate Skippylongstocking (Dirt Mile).
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Charge It (Dirt Mile) schooled in the paddock.
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Cody's Wish (Dirt Mile) favorite and defending champion jogged and cantered around the training track twice with stablemate War Like Goddess (Turf). Trainer Bill Mott said, "One reason we went to the training track was we wanted to slow him down. We want to make sure we save some gas in the tank." This will be his final career start before retiring to stud duty at Jonabell Farm. Mott added, "Look, I have been doing this long enough, I know it all comes to an end. It's a fact of life. He will be gone, but he has had a great career. We have done all we can do and it's onto his next career."
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Skippylongstocking (Dirt Mile) schooled in the paddock with stablemate Three Witches (Filly and Mare Sprint).
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Agate Road (Juvenile Turf) schooled in the paddock.
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Can Group (Juvenile Turf) galloped once around for Woodbine-based trainer Mark Casse.
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My Boy Prince (Juvenile Turf) went out for a gallop on Thursday. The Mark Casse trainee was bred in Ontario, Canada by Murray Smith.
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River Tiber (Juvenile Turf) favorite cantered with his O'Brien stablemates. Jockey Ryan Moore said, "Any draw around here presents its challenges, and the start dictates all in that regard, but you'd want to be drawn 2 rather than 14 given the opportunity so let's not dwell on that. You can argue the rights and wrongs from any position. River Tiber and Unquestionable head the betting I see and, while it could be a lot more open than that suggests, there is no doubt that my colt and (Unquestionable) hold leading claims. I can see this test suiting them both but River Tiber has possibly the more upside stepping up to a mile for the first time. He had an interrupted preparation when third in the Morny and he looked ready for a step up in trip in the Middle Park last time. He's my best chance of the day."
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She Feels Pretty (Juvenile Fillies Turf) favorite galloped 1 1/2 miles under Obed Roman. Trainer Cherie DeVaux said, "She has moved forward. She has completely changed since we got her. She's a really big filly. When she's 3 and she fills out she will be quite impressive. As they are, they can be a little gawky 2-year-olds. She's gone a few of those stages. She looks good now and she's training really well." She comes here off her Natalma Stakes (G1) win at Woodbine.
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Arzak (Turf Sprint) schooled in the paddock.
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Caravel (Turf Sprint) defending champion galloped once around.
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Roses for Debra (Turf Sprint) galloped once around.
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Tony Ann (Turf Sprint) galloped once around.
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Big Evs (Juvenile Turf Sprint) favorite galloped once around. Trainer Michael Appleby, making his Cup debut said, "We jumped him out of the gates this morning which went really good. He looks in tremendous form ahead of tomorrow's race so hopefully we get some luck in running and if we do, we should go very close. We've been delighted with his preparation. It's obviously going to be a very tough race with the American horses quick out of the gates but hopefully we jump like we normally do, and he can get out and be right up there and we're hopeful of a very big run from him. All fingers crossed but as long as he comes home safe and sound that's all that matters. Obviously, it would be an amazing achievement for the stable and the whole team should he go and win."
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The Aidan O'Brien team goes through their usual morning routine, cantering in a conga line.
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