With apologies to Grantland Rice, under blue-gray October skies,
Breeders’ Cup candidates were out en force at Santa Anita Saturday
morning, going through final stages of their major drills for the World
Championships event at The Great Race Place on Nov. 2 and 3.
“Loved it” is how Dale Romans’ long-time assistant Tammy Fox
succinctly termed Dullahan’s four furlong clocking on turf of 47.80. “I
got him going five furlongs in about a minute,” the former jockey added.
Six BC hopefuls from the Todd Pletcher barn were out for morning exercise, including
Zenyatta Stakes winner Love and Pride (Ladies’ Classic or Filly &
Mare Turf), ridden by jockey Martin Garcia, and John Henry Turf
Championship winner Turbo Compressor (Turf), who worked five furlongs in
company on the main track for Todd Pletcher in identical clockings of
1:00.40.
“Both of them worked well,” Pletcher said as a light drizzle
speckled the track. “It was just a steady five-eighths breeze. They had a
decent gallop out, so we were happy with both of them.”
Before departing on an early afternoon flight back to the East
Coast, Pletcher also supervised drills for Bridgetown (Turf Sprint),
four furlongs on Santa Anita’s firm turf course in 48 flat; Doubles
Partner (Mile), also 48 on the turf; In Lingerie (Ladies’ Classic or
Filly & Mare Turf), likewise 48 on grass; and Tara from the Cape
(Juvenile Fillies Turf), four furlongs on turf in 48.60. Bridgetown and
Doubles Partner worked in company, as did In Lingerie and Tara from the
Cape.