Baffert brigade works; Careless Jewel drills bullet

Zensational, shown winning the Pat O’ Brien in hand, will bring a four-race win streak into the Breeders’ Cup (Benoit Photo) Trainer Bob Baffert worked his quartet of Breeders’ Cup contenders over the Pro-Ride at Santa Anita on Tuesday. ZENSATIONAL (Unbridled’s Song), who figures to vie for favoritism in the Sprint (G1) with Gayego (Gilded Time), ripped through a half-mile in :46 2/5, more than two seconds faster than any other worker at the distance. The gray colt exits a trio of convincing wire-to-wire victories in the Pat O’Brien S. (G1), Bing Crosby S. (G1) and Triple Bend H. (G1). The three-year-old has now posted three consecutive bullet workouts at Santa Anita in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup. Zensational, who was last seen capturing the September 6 Pat O’Brien by 2 1/4 lengths, will enter the Sprint off a 62-day freshening.

Probable Juvenile (G1) favorite LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), unbeaten in
four career starts, sped six furlongs in 1:12 2/5. He’s captured the Norfolk S.
(G1) and Del Mar Futurity (G1) in his last two outings.

Pacific Classic (G1) upsetter RICHARD’S KID (Lemon Drop Kid), beaten a length
in third in the Goodwood S. (G1), worked three-quarters in 1:12 4/5 in advance
of the Classic (G1) under exercise rider Joe Steiner.

“I could hardly pull him up,” Steiner told Daily Racing Form.

Oak Leaf S. (G1) runner-up ALWAYS A PRINCESS (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]), a smart
debut maiden scorer at Del Mar two starts back, completed a half-mile in 1:01
1/5. She’ll be one of the top betting choices in the Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Ladies’ Classic (G1) contender CARELESS JEWEL (Tapit), a convincing 3
1/2-length winner of the Cotillion S. (G2) at Philadelphia Park in her last
outing,
recorded her first work over the Pro-Ride when drilling six furlongs in a bullet
1:11 1/5 for trainer Josie Carroll. It was the fastest of seven moves at the distance.

“She looked comfortable,” Carroll said. “This was good.”

It was three-year-old filly’s final serious work for the Ladies’ Classic. An 11-length heroine of the Alabama S. (G1) two back,
Careless Jewel figures to set the pace in the 1 1/8-mile event. The once-beaten
lass has synthetic experience, winning two starts at Woodbine earlier
this season, and the gray will bring a five-race winning streak into Breeders’
Cup.

Multiple Grade 1 hero and likely Classic participant COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow),
second by a neck in the Goodwood, breezed five furlongs in 1:02 for trainer Eoin
Harty. Winner of the grassy Wickerr S. at Del Mar three starts back off a
seven-month layoff, the four-year-old colt is also under consideration for the
Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

In other Breeders’ Cup news:

Stronach Stable’s EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck) climbed aboard a van
at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning for the short ride to
Louisville International Airport, where he caught a flight to California for the
Breeders’ Cup. Winner of the Santa Anita H. (G1) in March, the seven-year-old
horse will look to remain perfect over the Pro-Ride when he lines up for the 1
1/4-mile Classic.

The Helen
Pitts-Blasi trainee exits a runner-up finish in the Pacific Classic.