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Breeders' Cup contenders work out from coast to coast

Bushfire tuned up at Keeneland for a likely tilt at the Breeders' Cup Distaff (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) PEGASUS WIND (Fusaichi Pegasus) worked one mile in 1:44 1/5 over a fast track at Churchill Downs shortly after the track opened for training at 6 a.m. (EDT) Monday. The D. Wayne Lukas pupil continues to train forwardly toward a scheduled run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on November 4 at Churchill Downs. The one-mile breeze by his lone contender for the 23rd Breeders' Cup World Championships was out of character for the leading trainer in the history of the event. "That's unusual for me," Lukas said. "But I'm not trying to get him fit. He's plenty fit. I just want to get him settled into his high cruising speed." Lukas will be shooting for his sixth victory in the Juvenile and his 19th overall in Breeders' Cup races. He is the all-time leader in victories (18) and total earnings ($19,645,520) in the 22-year history of the Breeders' Cup. Pegasus Wind finished a close third to SCAT DADDY (Johannesburg) and NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ (Albert the Great) in the Champagne S. (G1) on October 14 at Belmont Park. The bay colt set the early pace before holding on well, losing by just 1 1/4 lengths. Lukas said the Champagne was a back-up plan. He had originally planned to run Pegasus Wind in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, but after a pair of workouts on the new Polytrack surface (six furlongs in 1:12 on September 22, and six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 on September 30), he sent the colt to New York. "I just didn't think he looked real good," Lukas said. "He looked good for the first part of the work, but then he seemed like his head got lower and lower, and he was struggling with it. He was blowing, and I know he's fit, so I said let's go to the Champagne. Then he caught a loose, sandy track in the Champagne that I don't think he cared for."

Lukas originally wanted to run Pegasus Wind around two turns in the Breeders' Futurity, and will finally get that opportunity in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile.

"I feel real good about him here," Lukas said. "This is his home field now. I've said it from back in May that I don't think we'll see the best of him until we go two turns. I think two turns is his cup of tea. He's got such a high cruising speed. I mean he really cruises here."

Lukas' five previous Juvenile winners include two that won at Churchill Downs: Is It True, who upset champion Easy Goer in the first renewal of the Breeders' Cup at the Louisville track in 1988, and Timber Country, who capped a championship season with his win in the 1994 Juvenile.

On the Polytrack at Keeneland, three-time Grade 1 queen BUSHFIRE (Louis Quatorze) breezed four furlongs in :49 1/5 in advance of an expected start in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

The bay won the Ashland S. (G1) in front-running fashion before finishing a closing third in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), only to be disqualified and placed sixth. The Eddie Kenneally trainee won the Acorn S. (G1) and Mother Goose S. (G1) before setting the tempo and fading to fifth in the Gazelle S. (G1) on September 9.

Grade 1 heroine ROUND POND (Awesome Again), also likely for the Distaff, breezed five furlongs in 1:02 3/5.

The bay four-year-old won her first two starts of the season, including the Azeri Breeders' Cup S. (G3), for conditioner John Servis. She finished second, beaten a head, in the Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup S. (G2) for trainer Michael Matz, and most recently ran third to FLEET INDIAN (Indian Charlie) and BALLETTO (UAE) (Timber Country) in the Beldame S. (G1).

Spinaway S. (G1) winner APPEALING ZOPHIE (Successful Appeal) worked six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 in company with three-year-old stakes winner Admiral's Arch (High Yield). The Scott Blasi trainee likely will run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Appealing Zophie set the early pace before finishing a better-than-appears sixth in the Alcibiades S. (G2) on October 6 at Keeneland.

Frizette S. (G1) winner SUTRA (Meadowlake), also likely for the Juvenile Fillies, breezed a half-mile in :50 4/5. The dark bay closed from far back to win the one-mile Frizette by 1 3/4 lengths on October 14 at Belmont Park.

In California, Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) worked seven furlongs in 1:26 1/5 over a fast track at Santa Anita in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

A top contender for the Triple Crown, Brother Derek won his first three starts of the season before finishing fourth in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1). In his second start following a layoff, the Dan Hendricks-trained sophomore finished second to LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew) in the Goodwood Breeders' Cup H. (G2) on October 7 at Santa Anita.

The Bob Baffert-trained MALT MAGIC (Cherokee Run), who finished a troubled sixth in the Norfolk Breeders' Cup S. (G2) on October 8 at Santa Anita, drilled one mile in 1:38 2/5. The dark bay colt broke his maiden impressively on Labor Day at Del Mar and is expected to be pre-entered in the Juvenile.

On the synthetic track at Hollywood Park, multiple Grade 1 winner ARAGORN (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) breezed six furlongs in 1:16 in advance of the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). In his last four starts, the Neil Drysdale-trained four-year-old has won the Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile S. (G2), the Del Mar Breeders' Cup H. (G2), the Eddie Read H. (G1) and the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S. (G1).

Classic winner GIACOMO (Holy Bull), who finished third in the Goodwood, smoked three-quarters in a bullet 1:12 4/5, easily the fastest of 16 works at the distance. The John Shirreffs trainee is probable for the 1 1/4-mile Classic.

In Florida, Forego S. (G1) winner POMEROY (Boundary) worked five furlongs out of the gate in a bullet 1:01 2/5 on a fast track at Calder in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

Prior to winning the seven-furlong Forego by 2 1/4 lengths on September 2, the Marty Wolfson trainee finished second to NIGHTMARE AFFAIR (Out of Place) in the Smile Sprint H. (G2) on July 15 at Calder.

In New York, Fall Highweight H. winner ATTILA'S STORM (Forest Wildcat), who is also pointing toward the Sprint, breezed five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 on a fast track at Belmont Park. The move was the second best of 17 works at the distance.

In his first start following a layoff, the speedy four-year-old set the early pace before finishing third to HENNY HUGHES (Hennessy) and WAR FRONT (Danzig) in the Vosburgh S. (G1) on October 7 at Belmont Park.

In other Breeders' Cup news:

Owner Robert L. Lothenbach has decided against pre-entering unbeaten Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) victress VACARE (Lear Fan) in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), her connections revealed Monday.

"There were several reasons we decided against it," trainer Chris Block said. "The competition jump off short (three weeks) rest, the additional distance (11 furlongs), and the fact that her schedule did not revolve around the Breeders' Cup this year were the mitigating factors. Heck, in June she was an unraced maiden."

Vacare is cataloged in the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed sale to be held on November 5, the day after the Breeders' Cup.

"She would have to be a prime prospect for a potential buyer," Block continued. "She's fresh, isn't overraced, and with several of the top females in the division likely to retire, she could quickly become one of the new stars. Mr. Lothenbach will set a reserve, and if it is not met, it will be a pleasure for us to campaign her next year."

According to the Churchill Downs press office, Washington Park H. (G2) winner SUAVE (A.P. Indy) is a confirmed pre-entry for the Classic, while Nijinsky S. (Can-G2) victor RUSH BAY (Cozzene) is among those pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), and Frizette S. (G1) third LILLY CARSON (Carson City) is pre-entered for the Juvenile Fillies.

Suave's trainer, Paul McGee, believes that his charge is ready to rebound from a troubled 10th-place finish in the Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga.

"I feel like he's on top of his game," McGee said. "I think he's doing really good."

Ralph Nicks, Lilly Carson's conditioner, is encouraged by his pupil's performance in the Frizette, which was only her second career start after a 5 1/2-furlong maiden victory at Saratoga.

"She ran well and now she's Grade 1-placed," Nicks said. "She kind of ran off like she was going 5 1/2 (furlongs), but still didn't let them by her until late. She showed a lot of courage."

Several Breeders' Cup contenders are expected to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday. Coming in from trainer Graham Motion's Maryland base are BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man) and FILM MAKER (Dynaformer), pointing for the Turf and Filly & Mare Turf, respectively. A plane from California will be carrying Sprint hopefuls BORDONARO (Memo [Chi]) and SIREN LURE (Joyeux Danseur) along with Distaff contender HOLLYWOOD STORY (Wild Rush).

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