December 22, 2024

Work All Week, Wildcat Red drill bullets ahead of Smile Sprint

Last updated: 6/28/15 7:39 PM


Work All Week, Wildcat Red drill bullets ahead of Smile
Sprint










Florent Geroux flew to Churchill to pilot Work All Week in his Sunday work
(Breeders’ Cup Ltd. Photo)





Champion Work All Week (City Zip) prepared for a scheduled start in next
Sunday’s $250,000 Smile Sprint (G2) at Gulfstream Park by breezing a half-mile
in :46 1/5 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. Regular rider Florent Geroux flew
in to guide the Midwest Thoroughbreds homebred, who turned in the fastest of 53
workouts at the distance.

“He went great,” trainer Roger Brueggemann said. “He’s ready.”

Work All Week capped his 2014 Eclipse Award-winning season with a half-length
victory in the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita on November
l. The six-year-old finished a troubled second in the 2015 debut in the
Aristides (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 30.

Aristides winner Alsvid (Officer) is also scheduled to ship from Kentucky for
the Smile and a chance to clinch a berth in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

In other Smile news, trainer Jose Garoffalo said Sunday morning that Honors
Stable Corp.’s Wildcat Red (D’wildcat) will be reunited with reigning two-time
Eclipse Award champion Javier Castellano in Sunday’s “Win & You’re In.”

“I’m going to go with Castellano,” Garoffalo said. “We’re happy to have him
ride our horse.”



Castellano, the reigning three-time Championship Meet titlist, has ridden
Wildcat Red once, guiding the Florida-bred colt to a 4 3/4-length romp in the
seven-furlong Hutcheson (G3) at Gulfstream in 2014.

Wildcat Red was confirmed for the six-furlong Smile Sunday morning following
a bullet five-furlong breeze at Gulfstream Park.

“He went great,” said Garoffalo, whose colt captured the Fountain of Youth
(G2) and finished a close-up second in the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream last
year. “He loves this track.”

The four-year-old, who hasn’t raced since finishing off the board in the
Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream on January 17, was timed in 1:00 1/5 —
the fastest clocking of 12 recorded at the five-furlong distance. 

“Mentally, he’s more focused. Physically, he’s a lot stronger and is more
muscled,” Garoffalo said. “He’s doing everything easier like he did before. He’s
ready to get back.”

In addition to Castellano, Victor Espinoza is slated to ride on the $1.175
million Summit of Speed program, highlighted by the Smile and $250,000 Princess
Rooney (G2), a Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” for the Filly & Mare Sprint.

Espinoza, who rode American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) for a 2015 Triple
Crown sweep, will sign autographs prior to the program. He is slated to ride
City of Weston (Holy Bull) in the Smile Sprint among other mounts on the card,
which also includes the $150,000 Azalea (G3) and $150,000 Carry Back (G3) and
five other stakes.



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