Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) contender Sistercharlie traveled five-eighths in 1:00.56 on Belmont Park’s good inner turf course Sunday, equaling workmate Uni’s time.
“I wanted a real solid work,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Sistercharlie is coming off a bit of a layoff now (since her Beverly D. [G1] victory August 11), and I felt we got that today. A minute and change and the work was sharp and solid. She galloped out with plenty of energy.
“Uni is a good workmate for her. Although she (Uni) won’t be participating in the Breeders’ Cup she will run in a Grade 1 her next time out in the Matriarch (at Del Mar December 2).”
Stablemates A Raving Beauty (now a Filly & Mare Turf [G1] candidate according to Daily Racing Form’s David Grening) and Fourstar Crook covered a grassy half-mile in :48.66 and :48.77, respectively.
Brown’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) pair of Almanaar and Analyze It teamed up on the same course to clock :49.00.
“Each was their first breeze back since their race at Keeneland where neither of them were effective (Analyze It fourth and Almanaar eighth in the Shadwell Turf Mile [G1]) and I thought they looked terrific this morning,” Brown said.
“I wanted to see how they were doing. It’s not really my style to come in off a poor performance and take a shot in a big race with one horse let alone two, but they were training so well going into the Shadwell that I just feel like they didn’t handle the turf over there. I just can’t believe those two results based on how well they were training coming into that race, so I’m going to draw a line through that thinking maybe they just didn’t care for Keeneland’s turf course particularly that day. It was a little wet. Maybe they will each prefer firmer ground at Churchill.”
Shadwell upsetter Next Shares, still at Keeneland, toured five panels on the good turf Sunday in 1:04.20. Clockers caught the Mile hopeful going in splits of :12.80, :25.80, :40.20, and :52.20.
“He really gets over the ground well, especially with moisture in it,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione who was aboard for the move. “The plan is to work him again next Saturday or Sunday.”
Shadwell third Qurbaan limbered up on Belmont’s main track Friday, clocking his half in :48.82 for Kiaran McLaughlin.
“He worked very well in 48 and change, galloped out well, and we’ll try to work next Friday and hope he gets in the Mile,” McLaughlin said. “It might overfill. He doesn’t have to get in, but we hope he gets in.
“He does everything right in a race, he was a little wide at the Shadwell Mile and it was a little soft that day, so he might be better on firmer turf. But, he’s a neat horse, tries hard, and has done very well for us. He fits in the race if we get in.”
Brown’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) contender Robert Bruce breezed on the good inner turf at Belmont Park Sunday, accompanied by stablemate Instilled Regard through an identical five furlongs in 1:00.77.
At Churchill Downs Sunday, Turf rival Channel Maker negotiated four furlongs alongside stablemate Prompt, each clocking :49.20 on the main track. The fractional times were :12.60 and :24.80, with a five-furlong gallop-out in 1:03.
“I wasn’t too sure whether to work him on the dirt or not,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “I thought it was a good breeze on the inside of (Prompt). We thought about working him on the turf (Tuesday) but this was a good breeze this morning. I’m happy with it.”
On the Santa Anita main track, Mike McCarthy’s Turf hopeful Liam the Charmer and stablemate Paved, headed to the Filly & Mare Turf, exercised five panels Saturday in company in 1:01.40.
