Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Sunday that his quartet of
Breeders’ Cup horses would likely complete major preparations for their
respective races at Belmont
Park and ship to
Churchill the week of the event. McLaughlin is planning to send Godolphin
Racing’s dual Grade 1 winner It’s
Tricky to the Ladies’ Classic, Mill House’s Grade 2 True
North winner Trappe Shot to either
the Dirt Mile or the Sprint, Godolphin’s Grade 1 Champagne runner-up Alpha to the Juvenile, and Cheyenne
Stables’ Grade 1 Frizette third-place finisher Miss Netta to the Juvenile Fillies.
Trappe Shot and It’s Tricky, both of whom ran on October 1, will
work next weekend, McLaughlin said, while the juveniles who ran on October 8
will likely breeze the following weekend. Trappe Shot was fourth in the Grade 1
Vosburgh Invitational at Belmont
on Super Saturday and It’s Tricky finished second in the Grade 2
Cotillion at Parx Racing on the same day.
“Next weekend we will work It’s Tricky and Trappe
Shot,” McLaughlin said. “Miss Netta and Alpha are only going to
have one work, so that’s in two weeks. We think we’re going to stay
here as long as we can and ship Sunday or Monday of Breeders’ Cup week.
We have to see exactly what time the fillies have to be on the grounds, but we
will do all of our works here.”
Mill House’s Rattlesnake Bridge,
whom McLaughlin named an outside possibility to go to the Breeders’ Cup
Classic, breezed a half-mile over the Belmont training track in 48.70.
Runner-up to Stay Thirsty in the Travers, Rattlesnake Bridge
was most recently third in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby on September 24
behind To Honor and Serve and Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice.
“He looked good and worked well,” McLaughlin said. “Probably
not [for the Breeders’ Cup], but still he’s a possibility.”