Masochistic fires four furlong bullet for 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint
Masochistic worked four furlongs under Mike Smith Thursday in a bullet 45.40, handily from the gate for trainer Ron Ellis.
It was the fastest of 46 drills at the distance as the California-bred son of Sought After prepared for the $1.5 million TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint at six furlongs Nov. 5.
“I wanted to sharpen him up a little bit,” Ellis said in explaining the gate drill. “We might even do it one more time. He’s got two more works, one next Friday and probably on Saturday after that, a week before the race.”
“All the Breeders’ Cup races except probably the Classic appear to be pretty wide open. They look very competitive. I would agree (with Bob Baffert) that the post position, the start, and other intangibles will be important in a race like the Sprint.”
ROSE MENTIONS CALIFORNIA CHROME ON FOX SPORTS POST GAME SHOW
Pete Rose, who along with fellow retired hardball greats Alex Rodriguez and Frank Thomas works as an analyst on Fox Sports NLCS baseball coverage, worked in a mention of superstar California Chrome following last night’s Cubs vs. Dodgers game at Wrigley Field.
In an unscripted moment approaching midnight Central Time, Rose asked diminutive field reporter Ken Rosenthal, who had just finished an on-field interview with a Cubs’ player who easily exceeded 6' 5?, “Are you gonna ride California Chrome?” A bit of uncertainty followed, with Rose being informed by anchor Kevin Burkhardt that “Ken isn’t a jockey.” Unbowed, Rose then pointed out that California Chrome would be running soon in the Breeders’ Cup.
THANKS PETE!!
FINISH LINES: Songbird galloped Sunday morning and is scheduled to work Thursday for the Distaff . . . Multiple graded stakes winner Tara’s Tango worked five furlongs Sunday in a minute flat, fastest of 59 drills at the distance under Rafael Bejarano for the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint at seven furlongs Nov. 5. “Perfect” is how Jerry Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward summed up the drill. “It was a good finish, a good gallop out, just the way you want it. She’s a very good work horse.” . . . Ashleyluvssugar, winner of the Grade II John Henry Turf Championship on Oct. 2, had “a lovely work” in the dark for the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at 1 ½ miles Nov. 5, going four furlongs in 48.40 for Peter Eurton, while Sprint contender Drefong went six furlongs in a bullet 1:12.20 handily from the gate with Martin Garcia aboard. “He went good and he needed it,” Bob Baffert said. “It was a good work for him,” the fastest of 15 at the distance . . . Runhappy, winner of last year’s Grade I Malibu Stakes, is set to arrive at Santa Anita next Sunday, Oct. 23, from The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky., to prepare for the $1 million Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 4 under trainer Laura Wohlers . . . Point Piper, a longshot for the Dirt Mile, went four furlongs for Hollendorfer in 50.80 . . . The jury was still out Sunday morning on why Long Hot Summer finished a disappointing fifth and last by 13 lengths as the 13-10 favorite in Saturday’s California Distaff Handicap. “We’ll evaluate her day to day,” said trainer Phil D’Amato, who sent out Enola Gray to win the race in her turf debut. “Something’s not right. We’ll take Long Hot Summer’s blood tomorrow to see if she could be getting sick on us, because that was not the performance we were expecting from her. On the other end, Enola saved the day for us with a really nice grass performance.” As to Obviously‘s Breeders’ Cup status, D’Amato said he would cross-nominate him to the Mile and the Turf Sprint “and kind of decide after that.” D’Amato has Grade I winner Midnight Storm as a leading candidate for the Mile . . . Trainer Jeff Bonde was pleased as punch with the debut victory of Princess Karen in yesterday’s second race, but revealed no imminent race for the two-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Stay Thirsty, who won by nearly two lengths under Mike Smith. “We’re hoping for good things from her,” Bonde said. . . . Congrats to clocker Toby Turrell of The Yellow Sheet on picking Sundar Creek ($25.40) as his best bet Saturday. The Bob Hess Jr. trainee won by 5 ¼ lengths under Fernando Perez in the ninth race, cementing a Pick Six carryover of $67,281 into Sunday’s races. Turrell wrote in part, “Can’t ask for a softer spot than this. Play: $100 win . . .” for a juicy return of $1,250.
Source: Santa Anita Park