LSU Stables' Far Bridge breezed a half-mile in 51.60 seconds on Friday over the Belmont Park turf in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf on October 31 at Keeneland.
Trained by Miguel Clement, Far Bridge worked in company with juvenile colt Chief of Peace, starting a few lengths back and cruising up on the outside to put his head in front nearing the end of the move.
"Plan was something easy, he's fit, just look after him, he's plenty fit enough," said Clement. "He's running back a bit quick off a long layoff. I got him finishing very well. He looks great. It's a very ambitious entry, but the horse is doing well."
The 6-year-old English Channel horse was a last-out half-length second to Minaret Station in the 1 1/2-mile Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 1 here. Far Bridge previously made a winning seasonal debut with a title defense in the Grade 3 Pan American in March at Gulfstream Park.
"I thought he ran great off the layoff," Clement said. "He's ran twice this year and had two very strong performances. He's a 6-year-old who has been doing this longer than I have. He's top class."
Clement said Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who was aboard Far Bridge for the first time in the afternoon last out, will ride back in the Breeder's Cup Turf. The bay is slated to ship Saturday, arriving Sunday, October 25.
St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable's Deterministic worked five furlongs in 1:00.18 on Thursday over the Oklahoma dirt training track at Saratoga Race Course. The 5-year-old Liam's Map dark bay is preparing for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile off a last-out second in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile on September 12.
"Fantastic, spectacular work," Clement said. "That was one of his best works to date. That means a lot because he's always been a spectacular work horse, so that actually means a lot that yesterday was probably the best work of his life. Solo, on the dirt, one minute and a fifth, which is amazingly fast for the Oklahoma this time of year."
Clement's other Breeders' Cup contenders are juveniles, including Brickyard Belle [Juvenile Turf Sprint], Citrus Springs [Juvenile Fillies Turf] and Oscar [Juvenile Turf].
"I've got William Buick for Oscar, Kendrick Carmouche for Deterministic, Johnny Velazquez for Far Bridge, Manny Franco for Citrus Springs, Brickyard Belle," Clement said of riders he has lined up.
Brown-Trained Duo Breeze
Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown had a pair of Breeders' Cup contenders on the work tab shortly after the 8:45 a.m. renovation break Friday at Belmont Park with Gaudreau and Domestic Agenda each breezing a half-mile over the main track.
Campaigned by Tanglewood Thoroughbreds, Thirty Year Racing, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Rodeo Creek Racing, Laura Leigh Stable and Swift Thoroughbreds, Gaudreau covered a half-mile in 48.75 seconds working to the inside of 4-year-old gelding Nuanced.
Assistant trainer Lee Vickers said he was pleased with the move from Gaudreau, who is pre-entered in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile on October 30 at Keeneland.
"It was maintenance really and very happy with the way he did it. He did it all well on the bridle, looked comfortable and moved really well, which is all you could be looking for," Vickers said.
Last week, Gaudreau worked a half-mile in 48 flat while breezing to the inside of Card Man, who is entered in Sunday's Grade 3 Street Sense at Churchill Downs.
Gaudreau, a Nyquist bay, graduated in his August 8 debut at Saratoga Race Course, digging in gamely to stave off the late rush of Coach Pope and U. S. S. Valor to score by a half-length in a final time of 1:16.41 for 6 1/2 furlongs. The winning effort returned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure and Coach Pope exited that event to graduate at Churchill Downs ahead of a runner-up try in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.
Gaudreau was last seen battling on the lead in the Grade 1 Champagne on October 3 here en route to a 6 1/2-length second to emphatic winner U. S. S. Valor.
The Louisiana-bred, named for the late seven-time NHL All-Star Johnny Gaudreau, was a $220,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. He is out of the stakes-placed Congrats mare Free Cover, a full-sister to stakes-placed Victory is Sweet.
Klaravich Stables' Domestic Agenda, a 2-year-old daughter of American Pharoah, was clocked in 49 flat while working to the outside of Mioruilt, a 2-year-old Good Magic filly who won impressively in her October 7 debut here over the main track.
"It was a very good work," Vickers said. "With the American pedigree, they tend to handle the dirt OK. She went very good over it. We're very happy and all is good going into next week. Fingers crossed."
Domestic Agenda, a half-length debut winner on September 4 at Saratoga, improved to 2-for-2 last out with a 4 1/2-length romp in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo on October 3 here to secure a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf October 30 at Keeneland.
Brown has captured the Juvenile Fillies Turf a record six times with five of those winners - Hard to Justify [2023], Newspaperofrecord [2018], New Money Honey [2016], Lady Eli [2014] and Maram [2008] -- exiting the Miss Grillo.
Brown, a 19-time Breeders' Cup winner, has a strong contingent for this year's edition led by Klaravich Stables' Ways and Means, who will look to provide the trainer with a record-extending fourth victory in the Grade 1, $2 million Filly and Mare Sprint. His past Filly and Mare Sprint winners include Goodnight Olive [2022-23] and Wavell Avenue [2015] - the 2015 and 2022 victories both came at Keeneland.
Ways and Means, a 5-year-old Practical Joke mare, has banked in excess of $1.6 million through a 13-7-3-1 record. She arrives from back-to-back wins at Saratoga in the Grade 2 Bed o' Roses presented by Boldyn Networks [107 Beyer] and Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Ballerina [104 Beyer].
Michael J. Caruso and Michael Dubb's Kathynmarissa will look to take down the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. The 5-year-old American Pharoah mare has enjoyed a breakout campaign with graded scores in the Grade 3 Modesty in May at Churchill Downs, the nine-furlong Grade 1 Dunkin' Diana in July at the Spa and the 10-furlong Grade 2 Flower Bowl last out on October 1 at Belmont.
Klaravich Stables' Fully Subscribed is also in the midst of a remarkable campaign as she looks to square off with familiar foe Nitrogen in the nine-furlong Grade 1, $2 million Distaff.
The 4-year-old Tiz the Law chestnut has posted a 5-3-2-0 record this year and enters on a three-race win streak that includes scores in the Grade 2 Shuvee and Grade 1 Personal Ensign at the Spa, along with a 3 1/4-length score in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Spinster on October 4 at Keeneland.
Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael Caruso's Zulu Kingdom faces a formidable task in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile.
The 4-year-old Ten Sovereigns ridgling launched his current campaign with a three-quarter length score in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile in April at Keeneland. He followed with a trio of on-the-board efforts in graded company that included a dead-heat win in the Grade 3 Kelso on July 5 at the Spa. He was last seen finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Turf Mile on October 3 at Keeneland -- a race won by returning rival and reigning NYTB Horse of the Year Rhetorical.
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