Monday works: Sprint stars Tamara, Kopion lead tab

Tamara and Kopion each worked Monday at Santa Anita for trainer Richard Mandella ahead of expected starts at the Breeders’ Cup. Other Breeders’ Cup candidates on the tab included Explora, Bottle of Rouge, Formidable Man and Desert Gate.

Monday’s works came ahead of a projected multiple-day rainstorm that’s expected to arrive at Santa Anita later this evening.

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Tamara’s work was her first since winning the Chillingworth (G3) off a long layoff on Oct. 4 at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old filly by Bolt d’Oro out of Hall of Famer Beholder drilled three furlongs on the main track in 37.4 seconds.

Kopion was clocked going three furlongs on the synthetic training track in 39.8 seconds. Mandella said Kopion, who wears glue-on shoes, is “barefoot for a few days, and I just wanted to do something with her before the rain comes. It wasn’t really a work.”

Tamara and Kopion both are owned by Spendthrift Farm. Tamara is ticketed for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. As for Kopion, there’s a slight chance she takes on males going six furlongs in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Otherwise, she’d join Tamara in the Filly & Mare Sprint.

“We’re just taking everything in, but at the moment I would say it’s more than likely they both run in the Filly & Mare (Sprint),” Mandella said.

In either race, Kopion would cut back in distance.  The 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach most recently was second in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 2 at Del Mar.

These 14 graded-stakes winners worked across the country Monday morning:

Formidable Man (City of Light), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2025 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, 2024 Hollywood Derby), worked five furlongs in 1:02.6 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 34th fastest of 43 works at the distance. His previous work was three days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he won the Del Mar Mile (G2) going one mile on the turf at Del Mar on Aug. 30 for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Kopion (Omaha Beach), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2025 Derby City Distaff, 2024 La Brea), worked three furlongs in 39.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the slowest of four works at the distance. Her previous work was five days ago going six furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start, she placed second in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Del Mar on Aug. 2 for trainer Richard Mandella.

Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Del Mar Debutante), worked five furlongs in 1:00.4 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of 43 works at the distance. Her previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start, she won the Del Mar Debutante (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track at Del Mar on Sept. 6 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Del Mar Debutante), worked three furlongs in 37.4 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 19 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she won the Chillingworth (G3) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on Oct. 4 for trainer Richard Mandella.

Damon's Mound (Girvin), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2023 Gallant Bob, 2022 Saratoga Special), worked four furlongs in 49.6 seconds at Saratoga on Monday morning. It was the second fastest of seven works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start, he placed fourth in the Parx Sprint going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Parx Racing on Sept. 20 for trainer Bill Mott.

Explora (Blame), a Grade 2 winner (2025 Oak Leaf), worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 19th fastest of 63 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she won the Oak Leaf (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on Oct. 4 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Gigante (Not This Time), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Secretariat), worked four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Remington Park on Monday morning. It was the fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Remington Park. In his last start, he won the Remington Green going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Remington Park on Sept. 28 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Batten Down (Tapit), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Ohio Derby), worked three furlongs in 39.0 seconds at Saratoga on Monday morning. It was the slower of two works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed fifth in the Excelsior going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on April 5 for trainer Bill Mott.

Desert Gate (Omaha Beach), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Best Pal), worked four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the 55th fastest of 63 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed second in the American Pharoah (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on Oct. 4 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Encino (Nyquist), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Lexington), worked four furlongs in 50.8 seconds at Ellis Park on Monday morning. It was the 17th fastest of 20 works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Ellis Park. In his last start, he won the Presque Isle Mile going 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic at Presque Isle Downs on Sept. 19 for trainer Brad Cox.

Firenze Flavor (Liam's Map), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Honeymoon), worked five furlongs in 1:00.6 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 12 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start, she placed seventh in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Del Mar on Aug. 16 for trainer Patrick Gallagher.

Himika (Curlin), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Sorrento), worked three furlongs in 37.6 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 19 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she placed fifth in the Oak Leaf (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on Oct. 4 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Innovative (Complexity), a Grade 3 winner (2025 John C. Harris), worked four furlongs in 51.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the slowest of 63 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she won the John C. Harris (G3) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 27 for trainer Phil D'Amato.

Track Phantom (Quality Road), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Lecomte), worked four furlongs in 50.2 seconds at Remington Park on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Remington Park. In his last start, he placed ninth in the Tapit going one mile and 70 yards on the turf at Kentucky Downs on Aug. 28 for trainer Steve Asmussen.