The Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Mission Impazible and Aikenite
breezed a half-mile together over a fast Churchill Downs track Sunday
morning. Mission Impazible stopped the clock in :48.20 and Aikenite
finished about a length behind in :48.40.
The two 4-year-old colts ran evenly through fractions of :12.20 and
:24 and then Mission Impazible, on the outside, slowly edged away from
his workmate during the final quarter-mile. Mission Impazible galloped
out five furlongs in 1:01.60 with Aikenite about four lengths behind in
1:02.40.
“We’re happy with the way both horses worked and they were certainly on their toes,” assistant trainer Michael McCarthy
said. “Mission Impazible is a tremendous workhorse and definitely has
an affinity for this racetrack. Aikenite likes this track as well, but
he’s not a great worker. We expected Mission Impazible to finish a
little better and Aikenite tends to come off the bridle when he’s inside
of another horse.”
The plans for Dogwood Stable’s Aikenite are still undecided, while the schedule for Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC’s Mission Impazible this fall is clear.
The next start for Aikenite, who won this year’s running of the Grade II Churchill Downs by a nose over Apriority
on the Kentucky Derby Day undercard, remains uncertain. The dark bay or
brown son of Yes It’s True will run in the $1.5 million Sentient Jet
Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) or the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
(GI).
“He could run in either race, but I believe we are leaning toward
running in the Sprint,” McCarthy said. “It’s a possibility that he will
be pre-entered in both races.”
Pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup World Championship races close Monday.
“Mission Impazible is going to the Fayette (GII),” McCarthy said. “It should set him up nicely for the Clark.”
The Fayette at 1 1/8 miles on Polytrack will be the feature race on
Keeneland’s closing-day program Oct. 29, while the $500,000 Clark
Handicap (GI) will be run beneath the Twin Spires for the 137th consecutive year on Friday, Nov. 25.