Group 1 hero Planteur, the English challenger for Saturday’s Breeders’
Cup Classic at Santa Anita, followed a similar pattern to Tuesday’s exercise,
getting out on the main track early Wednesday morning at around 5:15 a.m. (PDT).
A steady canter around one lap of the track was sufficient
for the son of Danehill Dancer before returning to the barn via the paddock.
Planteur’s schedule at Santa Anita is being supervised by his trainer Marco
Botti’s wife, Lucie.
“I am very happy with Planteur, and the
two-year-old (Al Thakhira [Juvenile Fillies Turf]),” Lucie Botti said afterward.
“They have both done well out here, the work is all done, and we are hoping for
the best.
“She’s well, and I think she should handle fast ground OK, but it’s a slight
unknown as her two runs have been on easier (less firm) surfaces,” she added
about Al Thakhira.
Declaration of War, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Irish hope
for Saturday’s Classic remains in quarantine but should clear later Wednesday
and will be seen out on the track Thursday morning.
William Buick, who has ridden The Fugue in all but two of
her career starts, was on board the four-year-old filly as she stretched her legs out on
the Santa Anita turf under the guidance and watchful eye of trainer John Gosden, stepping up
the pace down the home stretch.
“She’s traveled well, and everything has gone well with her
preparation. She’s fresh and I’m happy with her,” Gosden noted.
Three-time Group 1 vixen The Fugue will face the boys in the Turf on Saturday
instead of trying to improve on her third-place run in the 2012 Filly & Mare Turf, for which she also was pre-entered
in for this year’s edition.
“Yes, I can
tell you there was a longish debate on the subject!” Gosden conceded about
the decision.
With The Fugue bypassing the Filly & Mare Turf, the Michael Stoute-trained Dank
could still steal the show for the Europeans. The Beverly D. winner also took to
the turf on Wednesday for the second day running. A steady canter round one circuit of the
track was all the daughter of Dansili was asked to do ahead of her trainer’s
arrival at Santa Anita Wednesday evening.
The Andre Fabre-trained French challenger Romantica, who is out of 2001 Filly
& Mare Turf winner and multiple champion Banks Hill, had an
easy circuit of the main track.
Chriselliam and Vorda, who will join Al Thakhira in the starting gate for the Juvenile Fillies Turf,
looked in good shape during their routine canters at Santa Anita Wednesday. Vorda
emulated Al Thakhira by taking to the main track while Chriselliam, with race rider
Richard Hughes in the saddle, went one circuit out on the turf.
Trainer Charlie Hills was pleased with the way Chrisellian
went on the turf under Hughes.
“She had a nice spin over about five furlongs and
handled the turf well, Richard said he was happy with the ground,” he stated.
Juvenile Turf challenger Outstrip did his strongest piece
of work yet at Santa Anita when put through his paces on the turf Wednesday. Having warmed
up with a couple of circuits on the training track, Outstrip then headed to the
turf where he gradually picked up the pace over 1 1/2 circuits.
Charlie Appleby, Outstrip’s trainer, was very happy with
what he saw.
“I am really pleased with him and he switched his leads well and
looked really good,” Appleby praised. “All we need now is a prevailing wind and a bit of luck.”
Breeders’ Cup Marathon hopeful London Bridge experienced the dirt for the first time
Wednesday when cantering 1 1/2 miles on the main track.
“He took to the dirt really well and it he felt really
happy on it,” work rider Gabriel Hammond said.
Mikael Magnusson, assistant to trainer Jo Hughes, saw the
three-year-old out on the track.
“I am not really sure how he is going to handle the dirt but his
second dam definitely had a dirt pedigree,” Magnusson said prior to London
Bridge going out on to the dirt for the first time. “He is an out-and-out stayer and for
the race I will leave it up to Mike Smith to see how things go.”
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