Four of Bob Baffert’s prime Breeders’ Cup contenders moved a step closer to
their engagements at Oak Tree on November 6 and 7 with sharp workouts over Santa
Anita’s Pro-Ride surface Wednesday morning.
Three-time Grade 1 scorer ZENSATIONAL (Unbridled’s Song), favored for the
November 7 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), blazed five furlongs in a bullet :57 4/5,
fastest of 18 drills at the distance and nearly three seconds quicker than the
next-best recorded workout.
“Zensational worked nice,” Baffert said. “That work the other day (six
furlongs in company from the gate in 1:10 3/4 last Thursday) really caught him
back up to speed. He hasn’t lost his form.”
Undefeated juvenile LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), a 1 3/4-length victor of
the Norfolk S. (G1), worked six furlongs in company with Oak Leaf S. (G1)
runner-up ALWAYS A PRINCESS (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]). Lookin at Lucky, on the
outside of his workmate through the stretch, was clocked in a bullet 1:11 4/5,
while Always a Princess posted three-quarters in 1:12 3/5.
Lookin at Lucky is currently favored for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)
going 1 1/16 miles on November 7, while Always a Princess is a major contender
for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at the same distance one day
earlier.
“They’re good work mates,” Baffert said in explaining his strategy. “They’re
both the same quality, so they stay together.”
Pacific Classic (G1) king RICHARD’S KID (Lemon Drop Kid), third in the
Goodwood S. (G1) most recently, also logged a bullet, getting a half-mile in
:46. The four-year-old dark bay is readying for the November 7 Breeders’ Cup
Classic (G1).
Also working ahead of the Breeders’ Cup, multiple Grade 1 heroine MUSIC NOTE (A.P. Indy)
logged five-eighths in
1:01 2/5. An easy winner of the Beldame S. (G1) and Ballerina S. (G1) in her
last two, the Saeed bin Suroor charge finished third in the 2008 Ladies’ Classic
(G1) and is readying for a return engagement on November 6.
“She worked terrific,” said jockey Richard Migliore, who was aboard for the
drill. “She finished up really well.”