Busy Couple of Days at Santa Anita for Breeders’ Cup-Bound Runners

by Margaret Ransom

It was an active couple of days for Breeders’ Cup probable at Santa Anita over the past couple of days and Hall of Famer Bob Baffert was likely busiest as he readied several of his top runners for Racing’s Championship Day with works over the California track’s main oval.

On Tuesday, Juddmonte Farms’ Travers Stakes (GI) winner Arrogate went seven furlongs in 1:24 2/5 in company with his Grade 1-winning stablemate Mor Spirit. Jockey Rafael Bejarano was aboard for the move, which was the best of two on the day. Mor Spirit was clocked in 1:24 3/5.

Trainer Bob Baffert said he caught the son of Unbridled’s Song galloping out the mile in 1:37. The 3-year-old colt will face older horses for the first time in the November 5 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). Baffert hasn’t indicated where Mor Spirit, who is unraced since a tenth-place finish in the May 7 Kentucky Derby (GI), will make his return to action.

Also working on Tuesday was impressive maiden winner Big Gray Rocket, who logged three furlongs in :37. The son of Tapit and grade 1 winner Mistical Plan was most recently fourth in the Futurity Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park on October 8. The gray colt is considered possible for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI).

Trainer Jim Cassidy on Thursday sent out Eddie D. Stakes (GIIIT) winner Holy Lute for a work in preparation for the November 5 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GI) and the 6-year-old son of Midnight Lute logged five furlongs in 1:00 4/5. The gray horse has previously participated in the Breeders’ Cup having finished 10^th in the Dirt Mile (GI) in 2013.

On Wednesday, Kaleem Shah’s grade 1 winner Dortmund went out just before the sun came up and logged a half-mile in :47 2/5 in preparation for the Dirt Mile. The son of Big Brown was most recently second to California Chrome in the Awesome Again Stakes (GI) on October 1.

Chandelier Stakes (GI) winner Noted and Quoted went a mile in 1:00 and later in the morning Del Mar Futurity (GI) winner Klimt, who was second in the Frontrunner Stakes (GI) last out, went the same distance in the same time.

Noted and Quoted is on track to make her next start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) while Klimt is getting ready for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI).

Venneri Racing and Little Red Feather’s grade 1 winner Midnight Storm worked six furlongs in 1:15 2/5 for trainer Phil D’Amato. The son of Pioneerof the Nile hasn’t raced since capturing the August 21 Del Mar Mile (GIIT) and is scheduled to start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI).