Higher Power, ‘Cruiser’ among Breeders’ Cup workers at Santa Anita

Higher Power worked five furlongs in 1:01 flat this morning in his penultimate major drill for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita two weeks hence, on Nov. 2.

With Flavien Prat aboard, the Pacific Classic winner was one of four John Sadler workers bound for the Breeders’ Cup, the others being Catalina Cruiser (more likely for the Sprint than the Dirt Mile); Ollie’s Candy (Distaff) and Selcourt (Filly & Mare Sprint).

Catalina Cruiser went five furlongs in 1:00.60; Ollie’s Candy five furlongs in a bullet 59.40, fastest of 61 drills at the distance; and Selcourt four furlongs in 47.80.

There were ample Breeders’ Cup workers on a picturesque morning the Chamber of Commerce could use to solicit tourists.

They included Santa Anita Sprint Championship runner-up Shancelot (Sprint, four furlongs in a bullet 46.80, fastest of 60 drills at the distance for trainer Jorge Navarro); Stubbins (Turf Sprint, four furlongs in 48.80 for Doug O’Neill); Hit the Road (Juvenile Turf, four furlongs on the training track in company with Live It Well, each in 50.20 for Dan Blacker); and Bellafina (Filly & Mare Sprint, four furlongs in 47.20 from the gate for Simon Callaghan).

Flavien Prat was aboard Bellafina.

“She looked really good,” Callaghan said of last year’s Santa Anita Oaks winner. “We’ll just go easy with her now. She’s had two solid moves for the race before this.”

Earlier, Callaghan sent True Valour (Mile) five furlongs in 1:02.60. “He really looked good,” the trainer said of the City of Hope Mile winner.

Other Breeders’ Cup workouts among the 159 recorded overall, 20 on the training track, included those by: Eddie Haskell (Turf Sprint), four furlongs in 49.60 for Mark Glatt; Mongolian Groom (Classic), four furlongs in 49.20 for Enebish Ganbat; Acclimate (Turf), five furlongs in 1:00.20 for Phil D’Amato; Giant Expectations (Dirt Mile), five furlongs in 1:00.60 for Peter Eurton; and Bowies Hero (Mile), four furlongs on the training track in 50.40 for D’Amato.