Hronis Racing's Higher Power, third in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) last year at Santa Anita Park, worked seven furlongs in company in 1:25 2/5 over a fast track Oct. 25 at Keeneland.
"This was his big work before the Breeders' Cup (Classic)," said Juan Levya, who was aboard Higher Power. "I am very satisfied with it. He galloped out strong … I had him in 1:39 for the mile."
Leyva, who has been overseeing trainer John Sadler's string of horses at Keeneland, also worked Hronis Racing's Chaos Theory five furlongs over a turf course rated as good in 1:02 4/5. Fourth in the Woodford Stakes Presented by TVG (G2T), Chaos Theory is under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).
Other grass workers under Breeders' Cup consideration Sunday morning were Red King (Longines Turf, G1T) going five furlongs in 1:05 for trainer Phil D'Amato and the Wesley Ward-trained duo of Outadore (:53) and Campanelle (:53 2/5) in company for a half-mile on the turf course.
Highlighting other dirt works was the first local breeze from probable TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) favorite Jackie's Warrior , who worked five furlongs in company with Calibrate in 1:00 1/5.
Owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison and trained by Steve Asmussen, Jackie's Warrior is undefeated in four starts with grade 1 victories coming in the Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.
Also working for Asmussen were Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) hopefuls Yaupon , who worked five furlongs in company with Little Menace in :59 3/5 (best time of 41 works at the distance), and Echo Town , who worked a half-mile in :47 3/5 with Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) possible runner Cowan.
Trainer Chad Brown opted to work FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) Presented by PDJF hopefuls Raging Bull and Flavius together a half-mile on the main track in :49 2/5. Also going on the dirt for Brown was Front Run the Fed (Turf Sprint), who covered a half-mile in :49.
Sleepy Eyes Todd , under consideration for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), worked a half-mile in :48 2/5 under Robby Albarado. The Miguel Silva trainee galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 and six furlongs in 1:14 2/5.
Maxfield Returns to Work Tab
Godolphin's homebred Maxfield was back on the work tab for the first time in four months by posting a three-eighths of mile breeze in :36 4/5 Oct. 25 at Keeneland.
Winner of the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland last fall and the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in May in his lone 2020 start, Maxfield was sidelined in June by a condylar fracture of his right front. He began jogging at Churchill the middle of September and has been galloping at Keeneland since the first of October.
"We are kicking a few ideas around but there is nothing planned for him right now," trainer Brendan Walsh said after the work about Maxfield's possible return to racing.
Mott, Brown Put Breeders' Cup Contenders to Work
At Belmont Park Frank's Rockette, owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, worked a half-mile Sunday in :49.42 in company with unraced 3-year-old filly Strings Attached on the dirt training track.
"It was a good, even work. We wanted to go in :49 and that's about what we did. It was a nice, useful work," said trainer Bill Mott.
The Into Mischief filly posted a 7 1/4-length victory in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) last out at Belmont to mark her fourth consecutive triumph and third straight graded score following wins in the Victory Ride Stakes (G3) July 4 at Belmont and the Prioress Stakes (G2) Sept. 5 at Saratoga.
While Frank's Rockette is under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at seven furlongs on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, Mott said he is more than likely to enter the speedy filly against the boys in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, which offers a potentially more favorable distance of six furlongs.
"Right now, were thinking about the Sprint," said Mott.
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brown worked a number of his baker's dozen of Breeders' Cup contenders over the weekend on both dirt and turf at Belmont.
Klaravich Stables' Complexity , last out winner of the Kelso Handicap (G2) at Belmont, worked a half-mile solo in :48.81 on Big Sandy after missing a work last week.
"He worked this morning and worked great," said Brown of the 2018 Champagne Stakes (G1) winner. "He will be pre-entered tomorrow as long as he comes out of it well."
A number of notables breezed on the Belmont inner turf Sunday led by Rushing Fall and Sistercharlie, who worked five-eighths in 1:01.85.
Rushing Fall, a six-time grade 1 winner, captured the Diana Stakes (G1T) last out Aug. 23 at Saratoga. Sistercharlie, a seven-time grade 1 winner, was third last out in the Diana. Both mares will be retired following the Breeders' Cup.
"They're both training great. Rushing Fall has been a model of consistency all year in works and racing," said Brown. "Sistercharlie got started a little later than we wanted and was clearly a little rusty and out of form in her first start. In her second start, much improved and we decided to skip the Flower Bowl (G1T) and go fresh.
"So far, that decision, based on her morning works, is clearly the right one," added Brown regarding Sistercharlie. "Her last two workouts have been her best two workouts of the year, I thought. She continues to train up to the race the right way."
My Sister Nat and Nay Lady Nay worked in company in :50.66 as they look to step up against their well-regarded stablemates.
Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta, and Bethlehem Stables' reigning champion turf female Uni worked five-eighths in company with Domestic Spending in 1:02.58.
"She worked well. I had her in 1:01 and change," noted Brown, who advised that Domestic Spending is targeting the nine-furlong Hollywood Derby (G1T).
Klaravich Stables' maiden winner Public Sector, second last out in the Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) at Belmont, and Peter Brant's maiden winner Editor At Large, third last out in the Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T) at Belmont, worked in company in 1:02.69.
Brown said Public Sector would benefit from an expected stronger pace in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1T).
"He's an improving horse. His maiden win was super impressive at Saratoga," said Brown. "In the Pilgrim, he got caught in a pace less race. He was really out of sorts that way. He needs some pace to run at. He would be better in a larger field and I like the cutback for him to a mile on a tighter track with even more going on in front of him.
"I'll pre-enter Editor At Large in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T)," added Brown. "She worked exceptional today and I want to try and get her in the race if we can."
Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables' Plum Ali took another step towards her spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Nov. 6, breezing four furlongs in :51.85 in company with fellow graded stakes winner Speaktomeofsummer over the Belmont inner turf Sunday morning.
Plum Ali will put her perfect 3-for-3 record on the line in her first grade 1 effort, giving trainer Christophe Clement all the signs she is progressing well after improving her Beyer Speed Figures in each of her starts, winning across three different tracks.
A daughter of First Samurai , by Giant's Causeway, Plum Ali made her debut on July 23, posting a two-length victory going 1 1/16 miles over the Saratoga turf. Moved up to stakes company next out, she bested an 11-horse field by 2 3/4 lengths to win the Mint Juvenile Fillies Stakes on Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs. A victory last out in the Miss Grillo, featuring a 2 1/4-length win over Caldee at 1 1/16 miles on the Belmont turf, solidified Plum Ali's spot in the sports' biggest stage, where she will cut back to one mile on the Keenland grass.
"She looked well. Everything is on course," Clement said. "They had a nice easy work together. They finished together and I thought they went well."
Baffert Duo Tops Santa Anita Workers
Bob Baffert breezed Maximum Security and Improbable at Santa Anita Park Sunday for the Breeders' Cup Classic, the former going five furlongs in a bullet :59 4/5, the latter seven furlongs in 1:25 flat. Maximum Security's work was the fastest of 71 at the distance, the average time of which was 1:01.73. The stablemates finished 1-2 last out in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1), with Improbable coming out on top to earn his third consecutive grade 1 score.
