Oscar Performance works on the dirt toward Breeders' Cup Mile

Amerman Racing’s four-time Grade 1 winner Oscar Performance continued his preparations for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs by working five furlongs in company in 1:01 over a fast main track Wednesday morning at Keeneland.

Working with Teryn It Up, a 3-year-old maiden, Oscar Performance edged in front at the wire as he completed his final quarter-mile in :24 with regular rider Jose Ortiz up.

“I am happy with it,” trainer Brian Lynch said. “I wanted him to go in around 1:01 or 1:01 and change.”

Oscar Performance, winner of the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) in his most recent start Sept. 15, on Oct. 7 worked a half-mile in :52.20 on a turf course labeled good. He was scheduled for another grass work this past Sunday, but rainy conditions curtailed any turf activity.

“You do what you can,” Lynch said of the missed grass work. “But he has worked well on the dirt, and this year he has never lost when I have worked him on the dirt before a race.

“He worked on dirt before Woodbine and before the race at Belmont (the Grade 3 Poker in June).”

Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in 2016 and ninth in last year’s 1½-mile Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar after setting the pace, Oscar Performance likely will have his final Breeders’ Cup work on the turf at Churchill Downs Oct. 28.