Blue Prize can prove Breeders' Cup-worthy in the Spinster

Merriebelle Stable’s Blue Prize completed her major preparations for next Sunday’s $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) by working 5 furlongs in 1:03 over a fast main Keeneland track Saturday morning.

Working on her own at 7:30 a.m., Blue Prize posted fractions of :13, :25.80, :38.20 and 1:03.

“I got her going out seven-eighths in 1:27,” trainer Ignacio Correas IV said of Blue Prize, who will attempt to become the fourth horse to win the Juddmonte Spinster in consecutive years.

The Juddmonte Spinster is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race with the winner getting a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Nov. 2. Blue Prize finished fourth in last year’s Distaff at Churchill Downs.

Now 6, Blue Prize has compiled a 4: 1-1-2 record this year and enters the Juddmonte Spinster off a victory in the Summer Colony last month at Saratoga. Prior to that, Blue Prize chased likely Juddmonte Spinster rival Elate in the Fleur de Lis (G2) and Delaware Handicap (G2).

“She came back to me (in the spring) in great shape, and I am very happy with her,” Correas said. “We will find next weekend if we go to the Breeders’ Cup.”