Ceisteach works in advance of possible tilt against the
boys
Glen Hill Farm’s Ceisteach worked Sunday morning toward what will be a race
against the boys in the Grade 3 $200,000 American Derby on
July 12, going five furlongs over the Polytrack in 1:01 3/5 at Arlington for
trainer Tom Proctor. The daughter of European champion juvenile New Approach had
been intended to take on her elders in the Grade 3 $200,000
Modesty Handicap on the same card, but instead her connections decided to opt to
stay within her own age group.
Glen Hill Farm will not be without representation in the
Modesty, as the outfit also worked Gulsary, an improving and talented daughter
Galileo intended to start in that race. The multiple stakes-placed mare went in
an identical time to Ceisteach.
“They worked good. They went on their own and I was really
happy with what I saw,” Lindsay Schultz, assistant to Proctor on hand for the
works, immediately reported.
“I try not to react to works too much, but they all worked
well,” affirmed Proctor, who is currently in California with his West Coast
string. “It looks like Gulsary is headed to the Modesty and Ceisteach will most
likely take on the boys in the American Derby.”
The decision on the American
Derby was later confirmed via text with Glen Hill Farm President Craig Bernick.
Also on the work tab for the Glen Hill/Proctor team was
stable star Global View, who is preparing for big races this summer for turf
sophomores — namely the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 5 at Belmont
Park and the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes on August 16 at Arlington.
Working on Polytrack, the multiple graded stakes-winning sophomore son of
Galileo went an impressive 1:01 2/5 for five furlongs.
“Global
View was better than last week,” Schultz reported. “There was a pair of workers
about 10 lengths in front of him that got him going and a little more keen.”
Proctor declared a similar sentiment. “He’s on track for the (Belmont Derby),
but if something comes up, he always has the option of coming back the following
week for the American Derby.”
Team Block’s pair of Afortable and I O Ireland put in
important moves toward their dates with Million Preview Day, July 12, on Sunday
morning. Both working six furlongs on the grass, Afortable (also co-owned by Tom
Fedro) worked handily in tandem with multiple graded stakes winner General
Election in 1:14 2/5 and I O Ireland went in 1:17 2/5.
“The American Derby is the goal for Afortable” trainer Chris Block said.
The son of Fort Prado was third in the Grade 3 Arlington Classic on May 24 in only
his fourth career start.
“It was a real good work. (Afortable and General
Election) are a good pair together,” Block said. “They galloped off nice and smooth and when
they gathered them up at the eighth-pole to finish, they finished good
together.”
Stakes winner I O Ireland — a half to Illinois champion
Ioya Bigtime by Giant’s Causeway — went more leisurely this morning while
working solo.
“She works better on the grass,” Block explained. “She definitely gets across
it a lot better. We’re going to go in the Modesty. I know she’ll
be a price in there, but I think the farther she goes, the better she’ll be.
It’s hard to find those kinds of races. She’s here and she doesn’t ship too
well, so we will run her. Ultimately we want to run her at a mile and a half and
around three turns.”
Last out, in her second start of the season, the emblazoned
chestnut was a good second to subsequent Lincoln Heritage Handicap winner Kepi
in a good allowance on June 5 going one mile — a distance below her optimum.
Keeneland’s Dowager Stakes at a mile and a half is said to be a
possible goal this season.
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