At Churchill Downs, projected Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) favorite Monomoy Girl covered five-eighths in 1:00.20 Saturday in company with stablemate Dazzling Gem, who needed 1:01.40 to finish on the “good” track.
Under jockey Florent Geroux, the Brad Cox pupil posted splits of :12.80, :24.60, :36.40 and :48.60, and galloped out in 1:13.40.
“It was a fantastic breeze,” Cox said. “We got a little bit of rain overnight so the track was a little slow but she worked fantastic over it. She started a few lengths behind the workmate and finished up strong in front of him and galloped out well. We’ll probably come back next week to work a half-mile prior to the Distaff.”
At Santa Anita, champion Abel Tasman worked seven panels Friday in 1:26.40 with stablemate and Distaff rival Vale Dori, who went a tick slower in 1:26.60.
“They went well,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said.
At Churchill Friday, Wonder Gadot zipped five furlongs in a bullet 1:00 in company with stablemate Awesome Slew, the Mark Casse pair sharing the fastest time of 42 on the day.
“It was a strong work,” assistant trainer Nick Tomlinson said. “Both horses breezed well together and (Wonder Gadot) galloped out strong. It was what we wanted to see two weeks prior to the race.”
Blue Prize, under jockey Joe Bravo, motored a half in :47.20 at Keeneland Friday. The Argentine import finished her last quarter in :23.20 and galloped out five in :59.60.
“It was a maintenance work, and it was a little bit faster than I would have liked, but she got that target (two horses working together) about 10 lengths in front that we weren’t expecting,” trainer Ignacio Correas IV said. “Other than that, I wanted to see what she did with Joe coming home. I think she did everything right. We’re happy.
“I wanted him (Bravo) to get to know her a little bit better. Caught everybody by surprise what she did last time (ducking out sharply while winning the Spinster [G1]). We don’t really have an explanation for that.”
Wow Cat toured a half-mile on the Belmont main Saturday in :49.32, the exact same time as workmate Pacific Wind.
“She’s a decent work horse that needs some company,” trainer Chad Brown said. “She worked with Pacific Wind and I thought it looks like she’s come out of the win (in the Beldame [G1]) fine and is in good order for the Distaff”.
