Collected posts ‘A’ workout in final Breeders’ Cup 2017 drill
Under jockey Martin Garcia, Collected headed Breeders’ Cup 2017 workouts Saturday at Santa Anita Park in a drill that will complicate handicapping next week’s Classic at Del Mar.
“This is a very good horse that is dangerous,” said former champion jockey Richard Migliore, analyzing the workout for Xpressbet TV, “particularly if they forget about him and Arrogate starts worrying too much about Gun Runner and Gun Runner starts worrying too much about Arrogate.”
The Bob Baffert trainee kicked through six furlongs in 1:13.40 in his final drill before facing the toughest task of his career. But, last time out the 4-year-old son of City Zip proved himself by topping Arrogate in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic.
Collected continued with a strong gallop out, moving before sunrise at Santa Anita.
“If you were going to grade this work, you would easily give it an A,” Migliore said. “Just great extension. I love his stride. Good gallop out. Cruised off early and was maybe easier the first park than last week.
“The big work was last week, but he finished well through the lane, he galloped out well, and he continues to go on out. He will not be a short horse, I’m sure of that.”
Collected has won all four of his starts this year and, going back to his 3-year-old season, six of his last seven races. The colt received a lengthy layoff following a 10th-place effort in the sloppy 2016 Preakness Stakes. For owner Speedway Stable LLC, he has earned more than $1.2 million.
Baffert, in addition to Arrogate and Collected, is expected to send postward West Coast and Mubtaahij in the Classic.