McLaughlin Readies Five Runners for Breeders' Cup

Photo: Sophie Shore / Eclipse Sportswire

A little under three weeks out from the Breeders' Cup, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is busy readying a possible contingent of five horses, likely to be headed by Grade 1 TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial winner Frosted, who will point to the $5 million Classic.

Following his victory in the Wood, Frosted ran consistently well but endured a four-race winless streak prior to breaking through in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby in his most recent start. The gray son of Tapit encountered Triple Crown winner American Pharoah twice in three starts, including the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Race Course, before taking the Pennsylvania Derby by two lengths.

 
Logging the first of three planned workouts in advance of the Breeders' Cup on Saturday in Saratoga, Frosted breezed four furlongs in 48 seconds over the synthetic surface at the Greentree Training Center.

"He worked great," McLaughlin said of the Godolphin color-bearer. "He'll work back on Friday. He worked on Saturday this past week because it rained on Friday. He's doing fabulous and couldn't be doing better. He'll stay at Greentree and ship from there to Keeneland."

Also at Greentree is multiple Grade 1 winner Wedding Toast, who will target the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff on October 30 at Keeneland for McLaughlin and Godolphin. The 5-year-old daughter of Street Sense is currently on a three-race win streak - all at Belmont - including the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps and Grade 1 Beldame in her two most recent starts.

According to McLaughlin, Wedding Toast will work on Thursday at Greentree and then again the following Thursday to complete her preparations for the Distaff.

Like Wedding Toast, Cavorting has won three in a row and is Breeders' Cup bound for McLaughlin. The 3-year-old filly by Bernardini captured the Grade 1 Test and Grade 2 Prioress at the Spa, and is headed to the Grade 1, $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint, where she will meet her elders for the first time in her career.
Cavorting worked on Thursday over the Belmont training track, breezing four furlongs in 49.01, and will keep up with her Thursday regimen before shipping to Keeneland the week of the Breeders' Cup, McLaughlin said.

The Kentucky-born trainer may also send out Sentiero Italia, who is coming off a troubled trip in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, in the Grade 1, $2 million Filly & Mare Turf. The 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro won the Grade 2 Maker's Mark Lake Placid and Grade 2 Sands Point before getting hung very wide on the far turn of the Q.E. II and staying on to finish third, beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Her Emmynency. She exited the race in good shape, according to McLaughlin, and will ship back to New York before a decision is made regarding her Breeders' Cup status.

McLaughlin added that Group 2 winner Tamarkuz is a possibility for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Source: NYRA Communications

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