By Christie DeBernardis
Bob Baffert sent out several of his top runners, including “TDN Rising Stars” Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) and Dortmund (Big Brown), to their penultimate Breeders' Cup works Tuesday morning at Santa Anita.
Juddmonte Farms' record-breaking GI Travers S. winner Arrogate fired a six-furlong bullet in 1:11.20 (1/6) working in company with GISW Mor Spirit (Eskendereya) (Video). Jockey Rafael Bejarano was aboard for the work, but regular rider Mike Smith will be in the irons for the Nov. 5 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, where the sophomore will face off with dual Eclipse winner California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit).
“He's working well,” Baffert told the TDN Tuesday afternoon. “All his works have been pretty strong leading up to here being that he hasn't run in a while. So far, I haven't seen any regression since his last race. I am pretty happy with the way he has been training. We have one more week to go. He will work again either Monday or Tuesday, but it won't be a really serious work.”
Kaleem Shah's Dortmund breezed a best-of-28 five panels in :58.80 in company with fellow Shah colorbearer Bollywood (Bernardini) (Video). Jockey Martin Garcia, who rode MGISW Dortmund to eight victories from 10 starts during his two and 3-year-old seasons, was aboard for the work, but Baffert has not yet decided who will ride the chestnut in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 4.
“He worked well,” Baffert commented on the 4-year-old, who most recently finished second to California Chrome in the GI Awesome Again S. Oct. 1. “He has always been a good work horse. I think he is doing well and the Mile is going to suit him much better than the Classic.”
Also on the worktab for Baffert Tuesday were Grade I-winning juveniles and “TDN Rising Stars” Klimt (Quality Road) and Noted and Quoted (The Factor). Shah's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile contender Klimt covered six furlongs in 1:11.80 (2/6) under Garcia in company with fellow “TDN Rising Star” Big Gray Rocket (Tapit) (Video). The bay captured the GI Del Mar Futurity Sept. 5 and was runner-up in the GI FrontRunner S. Oct. 1.
Speedway Stable's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner Noted and Quoted also covered six furlongs in 1:11.80 (2/6) with regular rider Bejarano aboard. The gray scored a half-length victory in Arcadia's GI Chandelier S. last time out Oct. 1.
“I am pretty happy with the way all my horses are doing,” Baffert remarked. “We have to keep them healthy another week and need some racing luck, but I feel pretty confident that they will all be in top shape on race day.”
The Hall of Famer continued, “My job is to have them ready to fire their best race. They all look great. Everything is running really smooth. I had a really smooth morning [Tuesday] and that is all you can ask for.”
Baffert also offered an update on Charles Chu's “TDN Rising Star” Drefong (Gio Ponti), who fired a six-panel bullet in 1:11 flat in company with fellow “TDN Rising Star” Ten Blessings (Smart Strike) Monday at Santa Anita. The GI Breeders' Cup Sprint contender was last seen scoring a decisive victory in Saratoga's GI King's Bishop S. Aug. 27.
“He worked really well,” Baffert said. “He's a heavier horse so he needed to do a little bit more. He came out of the work well and looked great [Tuesday]. We're happy.”
The conditioner added, “[MGISW and BC Sprint contender] Lord Nelson (Pulpit) works [Wednesday]. He will have a little bit of a serious work tomorrow. We're all on pins and needles hoping everything goes well until [the Breeders' Cup]. We have a lot of rain coming in this weekend, Friday and Saturday, so I think everybody is trying to get everything out of the way before the rain hits.”
Other notable Breeders' Cup workers at Santa Anita Tuesday:
MGSW & GISP Om (Munnings), who will run in either the GI Breeders' Cup Mile or GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, covered five furlongs in 1:00.20 (10/28).
Grade I-winning BC Mile contender Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile) breezed six furlongs in 1:12.40 (6/6).
Turf Sprint contender Holy Lute (Midnight Lute), who won the GIII Eddie D. S. last time out Sept. 30, worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 (10/28) (Video).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
