Lexitonian introduced to new rider Gaffalione in Keeneland work

Calumet Farm’s homebred Lexitonian had a get-acquainted session Saturday morning with jockey Tyler Gaffalione by working a half-mile in :49.60 for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

Working shortly after the track opened for training at 5:30 a.m. and in company with graded stakes-placed Pony Up, Lexitonian posted fractions of :13.40, :26, :49.60 and out 5 furlongs in 1:02.20.

“Tyler liked him,” trainer Jack Sisterson said, noting that Gaffalione would replace the injured Adam Beschizza aboard Lexitonian for the 6-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

A son of Speightstown, Lexitonian returned to the dirt here opening day and finished third, beaten a half-length at 46-1, in the Phoenix (G2). Prior to that race, Lexitonian finished third going a mile at Arlington Park on the all-weather track and seventh in the $500,000-added Nevada State Bank Franklin-Simpson (G3) on turf at Kentucky Downs.

“He is better on the dirt and it was a timing thing for him,” Sisterson said of the non-dirt races. “We had Bandua going to the Arlington Million (G1) and we were thinking of maybe stretching Lexitonian out two turns with the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) in mind.

“After that, there was all that money at Kentucky Downs and we used that as a prep to run against older horses for the first time in the Phoenix.”

Sisterson said Lexitonian would have one more work here before the Breeders’ Cup and ship to California on Oct. 29.

As for Bandua, Sisterson may work him on the grass Sunday in preparation for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on Nov. 2. Gaffalione, who rode Bandua to a sixth-place finish in the Manhattan (G1), would have the mount in the Breeders’ Cup.

“We will see how the grass is in the morning and if it is still a little soft we can wait until Monday and work on the dirt,” Sisterson said. “He doesn’t have to work on the grass.”