With international choices, Gufo might not go to Breeders’ Cup

Multiple Grade 1 winner Gufo, who was nominated to several upcoming international engagements, is not a certain starter in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, trainer Christophe Clement said Sunday.

Gufo worked Saturday in his first effort back from a seventh-place finish in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1). The chestnut son of Declaration of War posted a half-mile in 49.22 seconds over Belmont Park’s inner turf course, the sixth-fastest time of 17 recorded works at that distance.

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“I thought he worked a little bit lazy yesterday,” Clement said Sunday. “So I will speak to (owner Stephen) Cainelli today, and we’ll make a decision about where to go next.”

Gufo, who scored a repeat victory in the Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) in August, was nominated to both the Hong Kong Vase (G1) on Dec. 11 at Sha Tin and the Japan Cup (G1) on Nov. 24 at Tokyo Racecourse.

As the winner of the Sword Dancer, Gufo would receive a handsome bonus for performing well in the Japan Cup. The prestigious race, worth a little more than $3.4 million, offers the winners of several top American turf races bonuses of $3 million, $1.2 million, $750,000, and $200,000 for finishing first through fourth.

Clement said Gufo’s nominations are to keep his options open, and they included the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 5 at Keeneland as another potential target.

“Everything has been considered,” Clement said. “We’re just keeping him eligible for everything. But the well-being of the horse comes first, and we’ll just worry about that first.”

Along with two editions of the Sword Dancer, Gufo scored another Grade 1 victory as a sophomore in the Belmont Derby Invitational. His lone Breeders’ Cup start was a distant 10th-place finish in last year’s Turf at Del Mar.

Multiple grade-stakes placed Soldier Rising also was nominated to the Hong Kong Vase. Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables and Michael Caruso, the bay son of Frankel was last seen finishing a good fourth in the Hirsch on Oct. 8 at Belmont at the Big A, where he rallied from fifth of seven to just miss show honors by a nose.

Clement said Soldier Rising’s next start will be determined after he has his first work back from the Joe Hirsch.

“Same story with him,” Clement said. “I haven’t worked him yet, so I want to work him first and see where we’re at.”

Lady Edith, owned by Abbondanza Racing and Omar Aldabbagh, topped a Clement-trained exacta over Too Sexy in the $150,000 Floral Park, a six-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward last Sunday at Belmont at the Big A. Although the daughter of Street Boss is entered as a racing or broodmare prospect in the upcoming Keeneland November sale, Clement said she is likely to skip the sale and target the six-furlong $150,000 Autumn Days over the turf on Nov. 27 at Aqueduct, instead.

“She’s doing well, and the same spot comes back in late November, so we’ll try to aim her for that,” Clement said. “I thought she was very impressive the other day. I don’t think she’ll go to the sale.”

Clement said Too Sexy, The Elkstone Group’s 5-year-old daughter of Quality Road, emerged from her game runner-up effort well and that a next start has not been determined.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and Tango Uniform Racing’s New York-bred Silver Skillet likely will get a chance to break her maiden in style in next Sunday’s one-mile, $200,000 Maid of the Mist at Aqueduct. A 2-year-old Liam’s Map filly, Silver Skillet has made two starts at the state-bred, maiden special-weight level, most recently finishing third in a Sept. 22, six-furlong, main track sprint after being squeezed at the start and improving position throughout at the Big A.

Silver Skillet worked a half-mile in 51.21 seconds Sunday over the Belmont main track, and Clement said he is looking forward to stretching out the $260,000 purchase.

“She worked well this morning, so I’m going to the Maid of the Mist,” Clement said. “She’s a maiden, so it’s ambitious, but since she’s training well, I want to be ambitious with her. There’s no maiden going long, so it’s fun to try there.”