WinStar Farm’s Drosselmeyer, winner of the 2010 Grade I Belmont
Stakes, continued his preparations for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic
(GI) on Nov.5 by working five furlongs in 1:01.20 in company after the morning
renovation break with Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GII) candidate Birdrun.
Working to the outside of Birdrun with Rodolphe Brisset
up, Drosselmeyer put up fractions of :25, :36.80 and out six furlongs in
1:14.40 as the tandem worked on even terms. Larry Melancon was on
Birdrun, who is owned by Preston Stables. The moves were the fourth
fastest of 51 at the distance over a track rated as fast.
“I liked both of their works,” said trainer Bill Mott,
who plans to work Breeders’ Cup hopefuls Royal Delta (Ladies’ Classic)
and To Honor and Serve (Classic) on Sunday morning.
On hand to watch the work was Elliott Walden,
president, CEO and racing manager for WinStar.
“I was really pleased with the work and he is as good as he
can be,” Walden said. “It looked like he was all over the workmate.”
Runner-up to Flat Out in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI)
on Oct. 1 in his most recent start, Drosselmeyer broke his maiden at Churchill
Downs in November 2009, but has not trained here since that meet. His work
Saturday was his second here since the Jockey Club Gold Cup with the first
being a half-mile bullet breeze of :47.60 last Saturday.
After initially giving the Breeders’ Cup Marathon some
consideration, it is full speed ahead to the Classic for Drosselmeyer.
“He’s a Belmont winner and the Marathon does not matter for
him,” Walden said. “He has had two good works here and is coming out of a good
race. He deserves a chance at the Classic and the mile and a quarter suits him
fine.”
Walden said that Mike Smith, who rode Drosselmeyer to
victory in the Belmont Stakes, would have the Classic mount.”