Members of the “Todd Squad” continued their preparations for
the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs on November 5 and 6 as several turned in
workouts over Belmont
Park’s training track
this weekend.
Quality Road, Todd Pletcher’s hopeful for the
Breeders’ Cup Classic, breezed six furlongs in 1:13.46 as he continues to build
stamina in the lead up to the 1 ¼-mile race, which will be his first start
following an easy victory in the Grade 1, 1 1/8-mile Woodward on September 4.
“We’re running 1 ¼ miles off a little bit of a layoff, so we
want to make sure we have him fit enough,” said Pletcher said of the Edward P.
Evans homebred. “He finished strongly and galloped out well, which is what we
wanted.”
Grade 1 Three Chimneys Hopeful runner-up Stay Thirsty,
who will be joining fellow Repole Stable representative and Grade 1 Champagne
winner Uncle Mo in the starting gate for the Juvenile, covered five
furlongs in 1:00.27 in the second quickest of 28 moves over the course and
distance.
“We were looking to get a good, solid five-eighths into
him,” said Pletcher. “He galloped out strongly, and we are pleased.”
Joining Quality
Road and Stay Thirsty on the training track Sunday
morning were Paul Pompa’s Turf Sprint contender Rose Catherine, who
breezed four furlongs in 48.27, and Derrick Smith’s Bribon, who traveled
five furlongs in 1:00.46 and is under consideration for either the Sprint or
the Dirt Mile.
Life At Ten and Malibu Prayer, both probable
starters in the Ladies’ Classic, turned in separate works on Saturday, and
Pletcher expressed satisfaction with their progress.
Winner of four graded stakes this year, including the Grade
1 Beldame on October 2 last time out for owner Candy DeBartolo, Life At Ten
breezed four furlongs on the training track in 49.90
“That was Life At Ten’s first workout since the Beldame, and
she looked good,” said Pletcher.
Malibu Prayer, an Edward P. Evans homebred who captured the
Grade 1 Ruffian Handicap at Saratoga on August 1
and was second as the beaten favorite in the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park on August 29 most recently,
traversed five furlongs in 1:01.26.
“I thought she worked well and galloped out strongly,” said
Pletcher.