Breeders’ Cup notes & quotes from Saturday training

Here are Breeders’ Cup notes from Saturday morning’s activity at Del Mar across the country.

Classic

Antiquarian

Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

Jockey: To be determined.

Morning activity: Walked Saturday at Saratoga following 4f breeze in 48.67 Friday at Saratoga.

Planned activity: Will ship to Del Mar on Sunday. 

The quote: “I don’t think he’s a particularly difficult horse to ride. I think he needs a strong rider. He’s tactical enough. He can use his speed to get a good position in the race and but he can be one that you kind of got to pedal on a little bit, too. ... If you saw his races in the Suburban and the Blame he was getting there. He just sort of ran out of time. It looked like in both of those races at the sixteenth pole that he was going to be beaten by several lengths, and then really accelerated the last 100 yards to almost get there. I think as he’s physically matured and mentally matured, he’s gotten better and better and perhaps a little easier to ride as well.” – Todd Pletcher.

Workouts + videos: Breeders’ Cup contenders & more.

Baeza

Trainer: John Shirreffs.

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 1:01.6 at Santa Anita.

Fierceness

Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

Jockey: John Velázquez.

Set: None 

Morning activity: Walked Saturday following 4f breeze in 48.0 seconds Friday at Saratoga.

Activity: Scheduled to ship to Del Mar on Sunday. 

The quote: On his victory in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic: “I thought it was extremely impressive and he’s done that a few times in his career. He’s had races like the Florida Derby (G1) where he ran a phenomenal race there. The Travers (G1) wasn’t as big a margin, but a super, big win there. Set a track record at Churchill. His resume has been sometimes a little bit inconsistent, but at the same time brilliant on many occasions.” – Pletcher. 

Forever Young

Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi 

Jockey: Ryusei Sakai 

Set: 11 a.m. EDT.

Morning activity: 1 1/2-lap canter. 

The quote: “He has recovered well from his travel to Del Mar. He is in good form both mentally and physically. We appreciate all the support we are getting here as Yahagi Stable.” – Stable representative Yukihiko Araki.

Journalism

Trainer: Michael McCarthy.

Jockey: José Ortiz.

Set: 9:30 a.m. EDT. 

Morning activity: Galloped one mile under Luis Cacares. 

Activity: Scheduled to breeze at about 9:30 a.m. EDT with his new jockey José Ortiz. McCarthy said Saturday that the breeze time is fluid and that he might send the colt out earlier. 

The quote: “It seems like he’s training as well as we could be asking for. Plenty of spacing between the Pacific Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Thought he had a very good summer here at Del Mar. Seems to be enjoying his time down here.” – McCarthy.

Mindframe

Trainer: Pletcher 

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.   

Morning activity: Walked following four-furlong work in 49.88 seconds Friday at Saratoga.

Activity: Scheduled to ship to Del Mar on Sunday. 

The quote: “We accomplished our first goal of the year, which was to win a Grade 1 and to show his versatility, He was able to do that going seven furlongs and then come back and do it again, going a mile-and-an-eighth. That, in itself, is pretty impressive. Now hopefully he can prove himself at a mile-and-a-quarter. The one real chance he had at it before, he finished second in the Belmont in only the third start of his life. That gives us confidence that he’s capable.” – Pletcher.

Nevada Beach

Trainer: Bob Baffert.

Jockey: Mike Smith.

Morning activity: Worked six furlongs in 1:12.2 at Santa Anita. 

Activity: Ships to Del Mar on Sunday or Monday.

The quote: “He went nice. He is not a great work horse, but he went well. He has never run against this kind of competition, but I have always been very high on him. I don’t think the distance is going to be a problem for him.” – Baffert.

Sierra Leone 

Trainer: Chad Brown.

Jockey: Flavien Prat.

Morning activity: Worked furlongs in 48.6 seconds, the 16th-fastest of 49 moves over Saratoga’s Oklahoma dirt-training track.

The quote: “It was exceptional. He’s doing great and this work was as good or better than he’s worked all year. He’s coming into the race like last year, very well, and he’s been working great over the past few weeks. I didn’t think it was possible to build off the last two works, but he somehow managed to even work a touch better today. He’s really in good form.”  –  Brown.

Sovereignty 

Trainer: Bill Mott.

Jockey: Júnior Alvarado.

Set: 10 a.m. EDT.

Morning activity: Galloped 1 1/2m with exercise rider Jimmy Quispe 

Activity: Will gallop or work at 10 a.m. EDT Sunday. 

The quote: “He is good. He was a little anxious the first day or two (after arriving from Saratoga) wanting to get to the track. They get a little anxious early in the morning wanting to go. Other than that he is fine, and he’s doing good around the barn. He will work Sunday or Monday. He was a little stronger today. He was pretty strong the second time by. He probably needed one of those.” – Bill Mott.

Distaff

Alice Vérité

Trainer: Kazuya Nakatake.

Set: 11 a.m. EDT.

The quote: “This is her second year at Del Mar. She is settled better and faster than last year.” – Stable representative Yuichiro Mibichi.

Clicquot

Trainer: Brendan Walsh 

Jockey: Flavien Prat  

Set: Churchill Downs.

Morning activity: Breezed four furlongs in 48.0 seconds, fifth-fastest of 177.

Planned activity: Ships to California on Monday.

Quote: “She worked great. I’m very happy with her. It was a nice work, but she’s a good worker, and she’s doing it easy enough. I couldn’t be happier with her, so hopefully everything goes well between now and Saturday. She will ship early on Monday morning (with fellow Breeders’ Cup stablemates Gin Gin and Imaginationthelady), so she will arrive around 2 or 3 o’clock in the afternoon there I think.” – Brendan Walsh.

Dorth Vader 

Trainer: George Weaver.

Set: 10 a.m. EDT.

Morning activity: Galloped 1 3/8 miles under exercise rider Raúl Múñoz.

Planned activity: Working a half-mile Sunday after the renovation break.

The quote: “Raúl has been getting on her, and he does a great job with her. He’s happy with her. We brought her a little earlier, because it’s better for her to run where she’s at. George wanted to get here as early as possible with her.” – Blair Golen, assistant trainer to Weaver. 

Dry Powder

Trainer: Chad Summers.

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 1:01.0 Friday at Del Mar with Emily Ellingwood up. Walked the shed row Saturday.

Planned activity: To be determined, possible to jog at 9 a.m. EDT.

The quote: “She’s super today. I’m not sure what we’ll do tomorrow. Her work went well. It was right what we were looking for. At the end of the day we’re a week out from the Breeders’ Cup, and you’re not trying to break any world records or anything. You just want to see them hitting the ground well and striding out well. ... The prime concept of the work was switching her leads in the stretch with it being a short stretch here at Del Mar, and with it being a mile-and-an-eighth race, we wanted to get a big gallop-out. Emily Ellingwood did a great job to tick every box we were looking for.” – Summers.

Gin Gin.

Trainer: Walsh.

Jockey: Luis Sáez.

Morning activity: Galloped at Keeneland after a final Friday breeze of 49.4 seconds for four furlongs.

Planned activity: Ships to California on Monday  

The quote: “She had a great work. Luis worked her, and he loved her. He thought she went great. She’s in good shape, too. She and Clicquot have earned their way into the Distaff, and they’re both doing well. We look forward to it, and hopefully one of them will come good and maybe get the job done.” – Walsh.

Gun Song.

Trainer: Mark Hennig.

Jockey: To be determined.

Morning activity: Galloped on training track at Belmont Park.

Planned activity: Ship to Del Mar on Sunday.

The quote: “I was satisfied with her work Thursday (50.25 seconds for four furlongs). The owner (Lee Lewis) will be coming in Wednesday night.” – Hennig.

Majestic Oops

Trainer: Dan Ward.

Morning activity: Galloped at Monmouth Park.

Activity: Ships to California on Sunday.

The quote: “She’s doing super. I think she likes cooler weather. I don’t think she liked the track last time (in the Grade 3 Delaware Handicap). She’s bounced back and run well after disappointing races, so we feel good about her.” – Ward.

Nitrogen

Trainer: Mark Casse.

Morning activity: En route to California from Kentucky.

The quote: “Her work yesterday (four furlongs Friday in 48.8 seconds at Churchill Downs) was very good. She’s usually not much of a work horse. I gave her a little company yesterday, and she worked great. I’ve very happy with her. She flies today. She won’t do too much when she gets to Del Mar. She’ll just enjoy the scenery and do some light work. Her major work is behind her.” – Casse.

Regaled

Trainer: Whit Beckman.

Jockey: Joe Ramos.

Set: 11 a.m. EDT.

Morning activity: Galloped 1 1/8 miles with exercise rider Josue Rodríguez up. 

Planned activity: Same time Sunday.

The quote: “This was her first day on the track as she didn’t get in until late Thursday night. I told Whit I couldn’t be happier with how she is doing.” – T.C. Stevens, assistant to Beckman, who arrives at Del Mar Tuesday.

Sarawak Rim

Trainer: Nacho Correas.

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. 

Set: 10:55 a.m. EDT. 

Morning activity: Galloped 1 3/8 miles with exercise rider Geovanny Vences aboard.

Planned activity: Same time Sunday.

The quote: “With Blue Prize when she won the Distaff at Santa Anita, I was in the same barn with (Richard) Baltas. That is who I am in with this time, so I want the result to be the same.” – Correas.

Scottish Lassie

Trainer: Jorge Abreu.

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 1:01.0 at Belmont Park.

Seismic Beauty

Trainer: Baffert 

Jockey: Juan Hernández.

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 59.2 seconds at Santa Anita.

Activity: Ships to Del Mar on Sunday or Monday.

The quote: “She went nice. She always goes by herself. She has not run in a while (since winning the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch on Aug. 2), but she is doing well. She is fast, a big mare who covers a lot of ground.” – Baffert.

Scylla

Trainer: Bill Mott 

Set: 11 a.m. EDT.

Morning activity: Galloped once around with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky.

Activity: Same as Saturday. 

The quote: “She got here Thursday night (from Kentucky). She shows up. One of these times things are going to work out for her. It would be nice if she did it in the Breeders’ Cup. Let’s put it this way. If she ever won a big one, I don’t think it would be a surprise, because she has always been in the hunt.” – Mott.

Turf

Gold Phoenix

Trainer: Phil D’Amato.

Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. 

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 1:01.0 on the synthetic training track at Santa Anita.

Planned activity: Ships to Del Mar on Monday.

The quote: “He worked well and everything went as planned.” – Phil D’Amato.

Mile

Johannes 

Trainer: Tim Yakteen.

Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. 

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 1:00.4 at Santa Anita.

Formidable Man  

Trainer: McCarthy 

Jockey: José Ortiz. 

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 59 4/5 at Del Mar with Cacares.  

The quote: “I thought it was very, very good.” – McCarthy.

Filly & Mare Turf 

Mission of Joy 

Trainer: D’Amato.

Jockey: Rispoli. 

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 on all-weather track at Santa Anita.

Planned activity: Ships to Del Mar on Monday.

The quote: “She worked well and everything went as planned.” – D’Amato.

Turf Sprint

Ag Bullet

Trainer: Richard Baltas.

Jockey: John Velazquez. 

Set: 12:30 p.m. EDT.

Morning activity: Worked on firm turf going four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at Del Mar with José Valdivia Jr. up.

The quote: “A nice, easy breeze. I got her in 50-and-3, and she looked good doing it.” – Baltas.

No Nay Hudson

Trainer: Wesley Ward.

Jockey: To be determined.

Set: Keeneland.

Morning activity: Breezed five furlongs on the turf in 1:02.8. 

The quote: “Good. He had an excellent workout last week and repeated again this week. It’s a shame for Charlie O’Conner and his group of owners that are more excited for the Breeders’ Cup. We’re going to see what’s coming over from Europe and see if we can get in, because he is sitting on a big race, as well. ... We’re going to have to make that decision (on whether to ship to Del Mar while also eligible for the Turf Sprint). There’s another race out there, but it’s not until the end of the month, so we would sit out there for three or four weeks. We’ll have to get together and see what we risk going out there and kind of seeing if there are other scratches. Everybody’s coming from all over the world to run in these races, and things can happen with these horses. If this guy wasn’t doing as well as he is, we would look for another option, but he looks like he’d have a big chance.” – Ward.

Sprint

Bentornato 

Trainer: José D’Angelo. 

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Morning activity: Worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Keeneland and went out five furlongs in 1:02.8.

Planned activity: Ships to Del Mar on Monday.

The quote: “I was looking for a nice easy workout. We were pushing him a little bit last week when he was working in company (a bullet five furlongs in in 1:00.0). We wanted to use this last workout to help. He’s ready.” – D’Angelo.

Filly & Mare Sprint 

Praying 

Trainer: Robbie Medina.

Jockey: John Velázquez.

Morning activity: Worked four furlongs in 48.2 seconds at Keeneland at 6 a.m. EDT over a fast track.

Planned activity: Ships to Del Mar on Monday. 

The quote: “She went very well. I had her in 47-and-4 and out in one minute-and-4. She had some unexpected company.” – Medina, who arrives at Del Mar on Thursday.

Splendora 

Trainer: Baffert.

Jockey: Hernández. 

Morning activity: Worked four furlongs in 47.4 seconds at Santa Anita. 

Planned activity: Will ship to Del Mar either Sunday or Monday.

The quote: “She went easy and looked great. She has been easy all week.” – Baffert. 

Sweet Azteca 

Trainer: Baltas.

Jockey: Hernández. 

Set: 10:45 a.m. EDT.

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 59.8 seconds at Del Mar on her own with Valdivia aboard.

The quote: “Nice and even and galloped out great in 1:11-and-4.” – Baltas.

Dirt Mile

Citizen Bull

Trainer: Baffert.

Jockey: To be determined.

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 58.8 seconds at Santa Anita.

Planned activity: Will ship to Del Mar on Sunday or Monday.

The quote: “He went really well. He is a good worker. He loves to go out there and train. He is fast and he really likes Del Mar.” – Baffert.

Nysos  

Trainer: Baffert  

Jockey: Flavien Prat. 

Morning activity: Worked six furlongs in 1:11.0 at Santa Anita. 

Planned activity: Ships to Del Mar on Sunday or Monday.

The quote: “Nysos was Nysos. When Nysos is on. Nysos is tough. I would have liked to have run him in the Classic, but missing the Goodwood (G1), I didn’t want to take a chance. I’ve got him going the right way. He is going to be really tough at the mile.” – Baffert.

Tumbarumba 

Trainer: Brian Lynch.

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione.

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 59.4 seconds at Churchill Downs in company with three-time winner Talbingo, the fastest of 67 at the distance.

Planned activity: Ship to Del Mar on Monday 

The quote: “The work was perfect.” – Lynch.

Touch of Destiny

Trainer: McCarthy 

Jockey: Luis Cacares. 

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 59.2 seconds at Del Mar with his regular rider Cacares.

The quote: “I thought he worked very well. We were looking for a little something today. He worked kind of an easy mile last week and came back and finished up full of run today. Very pleased with what we saw. Obviously not sure of how Uruguay’s best stacks up with America’s, but we’re going to find out.” – McCarthy.

Juvenile

Desert Gate 

Trainer: Baffert.

Morning activity: Declared out of the race 

The quote: “He is out. He got an infection on his hock, and we had to treat it with antibiotics. I wouldn’t be able to work him (Sunday). He is going to be OK, but he is not going to run.” – Baffert.

Litmus Test

Trainer: Baffert. 

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 at Santa Anita in company with Bottle of Rouge, who is running in the Juvenile Fillies. 

Planned activity: Will ship to Del Mar on Sunday or Monday.

Juvenile Fillies 

Bottle of Rouge 

Trainer: Baffert.

Jockey: Mike Smith 

Morning activity: Worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 at Santa Anita.

Planned activity: Ships to Del Mar on Sunday or Monday.

The quote: “She went really well. She worked with Litmus Test. It was a good, steady little five-eighths.” – Baffert.

Juvenile Turf 

Outfielder

Trainer: Ward.

Jockey: Velázquez.

Set: Keeneland.

Morning activity: Breezed five furlongs on the turf in 1:00.4.

The quote: “He looked really good. I told Johnny, look, he’s kind of a lazy horse. He’s a big colt. Bit of a lazy guy. You wouldn’t notice that in his races because when he gets in with all the other horses in the gate. The gate opens, and he’s fired up. In the mornings he is a real easy-going guy. I wanted to get him behind another horse, Monterey Bay, broke him off about 10-15 lengths in front, so we’d have a target to look at, and Johnny was a bit surprised. But he worked really well. I was happy with him when he was stretching out to a mile.”

Juvenile Fillies Turf

Ultimate Love 

Trainer: Mike Trombetta 

Jockey: Velázquez.

Morning activity: Worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland. 

Planned activity: Ship to Del Mar on Sunday. 

The quote: “She worked well on the all-weather.” – Trombetta, who is scheduled to arrive at Del Mar next week.

Juvenile Turf Sprint  

Schwarzenegger

Trainer: Ward. 

Jockey: Velázquez.

Set: Keeneland.

Morning activity: Breezed four furlongs on the turf in 52.2 seconds.

Quote: “Pretty good. The course today has a little give in it, kind of kicking it up a little bit. I think when we get out to Del Mar, he’s really going to like it on the (firm) turf. I kind of look at and see how he’s moving. Walter Rodríguez kind of sits right back against him the first part to not let him get away from him. Not letting him get too fast in the work right on top of the race, which he did a good job of doing that.”