By Steve Sherack
DEL MAR, CA – With the showdown of the year finally just a few days out, the leading two GI Breeders' Cup Classic heavyweights got a chance to briefly eyeball each other just as the rising sun attempted to emerge through mostly cloudy skies shortly before 7 a.m. at Del Mar Thursday.
Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) continued to look a picture as he galloped powerfully down the stretch while 'TDN Rising Star' Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) was on his toes jogging along the outer rail. The defending Classic champ wasn't to be outdone once it was time to get down to more serious business though. He, too, appears to be heading up to the big one better than ever, striding out nicely during his gallop and he wasn't exactly looking to call it a day once exercise rider Dana Barnes said so on the backstretch, either.
The action didn't even think about slowing down from there.
'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags) (Distaff) walked onto the track as reigning GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint heroine Finest City (City Zip) was out stretching her legs.
A pair of very talented 2-year-olds in Free Drop Billy (Union Rags) (Juvenile) and unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Moonshine Memories (Juvenile Fillies) certainly look ready to make some noise ahead of their engagements.
Fellow unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) has made a very favorable impression throughout the week as she attempts to follow in the larger-than-life footprints of her rockstar stablemate Lady Eli (Divine Park) (F/M Turf). The latter brought a good rise out of the large media contingent assembled by the winner's circle after once again leaving the pony to gallop like she was shot out of a cannon.
The Euros–led by 'TDN Rising Star' Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) (Juvenile Turf) and Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Turf)–put on a nice show during the 7:30 a.m. turf training session.
There was certainly no lack of star power during the second half of training hours following the break as the popular G1 Queen Anne S. hero Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) (Mile) got things started off in style while the stunning West Coast (Flatter) (Classic) stood quietly taking in all the action in midstretch.
Overwhelming Juvenile favorite Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) motored down the lane as the absolutely loaded Aidan O'Brien team, led by Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Classic), Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Turf) and 'TDN Rising Star' Roly Poly (War Front) (Mile), began to make their way out.
All three got a bit hot despite the comfortable temperatures, but certainly nothing out of the ordinary as this is fairly typical of the O'Brien runners as they begin to settle into their temporary Southern California digs. O'Brien's imposing Juvenile Fillies Turf one-two punch of two-time Group 1 winner Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and 'TDN Rising Star' September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) certainly didn't get lost in the shuffle, especially with the latter kicking up her heels a couple of times in the stretch.
Whether 'TDN Rising Star' Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro) (Juvenile Fillies) handles dirt remains to be seen, but she couldn't be looking any better physically during training hours. The same could undoubtedly be said for powerhouse 'TDN Rising Stars' Unique Bella (Tapit) (F/M Sprint) and Elate (Medaglia d'Oro) (Distaff), who both appeared to be sitting on go as the star-studded training hours began to wind down.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
