Breeders' Cup 2020: Expert workout report
Past performances can tell only so much when it comes to the 2020 Breeders' Cup. Watching replays and workouts can be a key differentiator for handicappers as they narrow these full fields.
Mille Ball and Zoe Cadman from XBTV gave their thoughts on recent workouts from this year's top Breeders' Cup contenders.
Editor at Large - Juvenile Fillies Turf
Editor at Large has been keeping good company with Public Sector (Juvenile Turf) and appeared to handle the turf, which looked a little softer than firm, with aplomb on Oct. 25. Always going easier than her her workmate, she switched leads on cue (even though her rider apparently didn’t notice — another good sign). Terrific work for a trainer who excels in this race. This filly is live especially with a bit of "give" in the ground. I think she will handle it and she’s bred to love it. Dangerous.
— Zoe Cadman
Working with older Lake Placid (G2) winner Speaktomeofsummer, she broke behind with plenty of pep in her step wearing her usual ear plugs. She tracked behind a pedestrian pace over a softer than firm turf course, cruised up to her workmate and stayed there, albeit perhaps losing focus and switching leads a couple of times. Top filly in terrific form.
— Zoe Cadman
Madone - Juvenile Fillies Turf
Turf filly working on the dirt, so really can’t tell a whole lot. She broke off nicely under Jack Stack and found some Mandella company turning for home. After being asked a couple of times to switch leads (she didn’t), she wasn’t asked again. Much like her Sept. 27 work, when she did eventually. Hard to tell a lot here other than dirt is not her preferred surface. That being said, I prefer others and feel the give in the ground at Keeneland will be her undoing.
— Zoe Cadman
Princess Noor has solidified that she is a star in the making with the level at which she has been working in the mornings. She dismantled Spielberg, a multiple graded-stakes placing 2-year-old colt, in her Oct. 24 work and did the same with admittedly easier prey in her final breeze. In fact, no one in the barn has been able to keep step with her in the morning.
— Millie Ball
United has never looked better in the flesh, weighing in at around 1,200 pounds. He looks like a beast training in the mornings, and his mile work over the main track at Santa Anita in 1:37.8 was so strong for a horse that strictly races on turf. He was beaten a head in the Breeders Cup Turf last year to the eventual Horse of The Year, and he is a better, more dynamic horse in 2020.
— Millie Ball
Working with over matched maiden winner Galloping Mischief, this is undoubtedly the best I have ever seen him, and yes he is a turf horse working on the dirt. He engulfed his workmate like me and a cheese puff and could not have looked better galloping through the wire under Mary with little urging. Horse in top form — if he can handle softer conditions than he has ever seen before, he will be dangerous. His speed helps.
— Zoe Cadman
Continues to amaze me, and at 6 I am not sure he has ever been better. Seen working here with Classic-bound Tacitus, I have long joked with Bill Mott that this horse would drown in a rainstorm due to his high head action that, believe it or not, gets higher the faster he goes. Super bouncy, energetic work from him while not quite matching strides with dirt horse Tacitus late. But hey, Tacitus needs to win one every now and then. Good work for a wily old veteran that will handle any kind of ground. Ignore him at your peril.
— Zoe Cadman
Working in company with three-time winner Hungry Kitten, Civil Union and her massive frame jumped into the bit immediately on the inside, switching leads on cue, and under a bigger exercise rider the winner looked on par with her summer works cruising through the lane. I maybe would have liked to have seen her with a little more “pep” in her step, but nonetheless a good work for her.
— Zoe Cadman
Oh, to be Chad Brown, Rushing Fall (3-for-3 this year) and Sistercharlie (0-for-2) seen working together here. Sistercharlie is now 6 and Rushing Fall 5 (no one has told her). They worked head and head, with Rushing Fall as she always does tugging a little harder. They finished heads up, but hard to ignore Rushing Fall's zest in this one. Sister worked well but may not be quite the same horse.
— Zoe Cadman
Rushing Fall slightly outworked seven-time Grade 1 and divisional winner Sistercharlie on Nov. 1, evident on the gallop-out when her rider still had hands set firmly on a hold. Rushing Fall is so sharp right now. Chad has her primed for a top performance.
— Millie Ball
Mucho Unusual, Filly and Mare Turf
In-form filly working here with 0-for-2 maiden Big Talker, broke way back of him down the backside, drawing within a length of him by the quarter pole. They quickened nicely down the lane with little or no urging as she bested her workmate by five with a stellar gallop-out. Good work for a turf filly on dirt. The jury is out as to whether her second trip to Keeneland will be more fruitful than her first.
— Zoe Cadman
It is hard to believe that Authentic, having come back to Santa Anita licking his wounds from the Preakness, has recovered so remarkably well and posted two exceptional works before jumping back on a plane to Keenland. More striking to me than the actual times he was clocking was the utter ease in which he was able to pass the furlong poles. His gallop-outs have been more enthusiastic, hence more productive, than his final works at Del Mar in preparation for the Kentucky Derby.
— Millie Ball