Breeders' Cup hopefuls out in force Sunday

A little under two weeks remain before the Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park on

October 29, and a number of hopefuls were out working on Sunday to prepare for

their respective engagements on Thoroughbred racing's championship day.

Trainer Nick Zito sent out five of his runners over Saratoga's muddy Oklahoma

training track. Florida Derby (G1) hero HIGH FLY (Atticus), second in the Jerome H. (G2) in

his comebacker, got five furlongs in 1:03 2/5 and is being pointed to the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

Three Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hopefuls -- SIR SHACKLETON (Miswaki), SUN KING

(Charismatic) and ANDROMEDA'S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) -- also worked. The former

logged five panels in 1:03 2/5 while the latter got the same distance in 1:03

1/5. Sun King went a half-mile in :52 3/5.

Also for Zito, Gazelle S. (G1) heroine IN THE GOLD (Golden Missile), who is

aiming toward a try in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), smoked a bullet

five-eighths in 1:00.

Grade 1 victress ISLAND SAND (Tabasco Cat), winner of the lucrative Delaware

H. (G2) three prior, stopped the teletimer in 1:01 3/5 for five furlongs. The

Larry Jones-trained four-year-old is headed to the Distaff off a seventh-place

effort in the October 1 Beldame S. (G1).

"She worked well and we're planning on running," Jones said. "She had a major

excuse in the Beldame because of a reccurring breathing problem. We think we've

got it corrected. She didn't have surgery, we treated it with antibiotics."

Jones said that jockey Terry Thompson has the call on Island Sand in the

Distaff.

Multiple Grade 2 winner ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]), second by a head in

the Kelso Breeders' Cup H. (G2) last try, moved a half-mile in :51 3/5 over

Belmont Park's fast training surface under jockey Richard Migliore. The four-year-old

is headed for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

"I wanted him to do something leisurely, but I would've liked him to go a

tiny bit faster," trainer James Jerkens said. "He's OK. Richie said he was

pulling so hard to the pole that he was afraid he'd run off if he turned him

loose. We're in good shape."

Artie Schiller ran 12th in last season's Mile after being sent off the 7-2

favorite.

Grade 1 heroine HAPPY TICKET (Anet), who was a hard luck second in the

Beldame most recently, smoked five-eighths in 1:00 in advance of the Distaff (G1).

The four-year-old bay has captured 10 of her 12 career starts and placed second

in the other two.

Last year's Mile winner, SINGLETARY (Sultry Song), headed a small group of

Breeders' Cup workers in California. Hero of the

Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile S. (G2) most recently, the Don Chatlos trainee

breezed five-eighths in 1:03 1/5 over Hollywood Park's fast dirt.

"He went beautifully," Chatlos said. "I was worried about the rain so we

worked today instead of tomorrow, which would have been our normal day. I didn't

want to get stuck."

Singletary has won two of his five starts so far this season, including the

Arcadia H. (G2), and ran third in the Eddie Read H. (G1). He's set to ship to

New York on October 25, the Tuesday before Breeders' Cup Day.

"The weather's been so bad back East, the later the better," Chatlos said.

"Plus, he's a very good shipper, so we don't expect any problems."

Working on Santa Anita's fast main track, Oak Leaf S. (G2) princess DIAMOND

OMI (Giant's Causeway) geared up for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)

with a six-furlong move in 1:12 3/5, the quickest of 10 at that distance on the

day.

Oak Leaf runner-up WILD FIT (Wild Wonder) got her six-furlong work in 1:13

2/5 under Alex Solis. Trainer Jeff Mullins sent the Del Mar Debutante S. (G1)

winner out prior to the 1ST race, and she set fractions of :25 and :49 1/5

before galloping out seven furlongs in 1:26 4/5.

Another Mulllins trainee, back-to-back San Diego H. (G2) hero CHOCTAW NATION

(Louis Quatorze), worked after Wild Fit, going three-quarters in 1:13 1/5. With

Corey Nakatani in the irons, the five-year-old Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)

hopeful logged splits of :25 1/5 and :50 before galloping out seven-eighths in

1:15 4/5.

Vosburgh S. (G1) hero TASTE OF PARADISE (Conquistador Cielo) traveled five

panels in a bullet :59 over Hollywood Park's fast dirt to prepare for the

Sprint.

Saratoga Breeders' Cup H. (G2) winner SUAVE (A.P. Indy), second in the

Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), traveled five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 over a fast track

at Churchill Downs in advance of the Classic.

"I thought he did really good," trainer Paul McGee. "I got him just under a

minute and two."

Edgar Prado has the call on Suave, who will travel to New York on October 25

for the Classic.

In other Breeders' Cup news, trainer Richard Mandella said Classic hopeful

ROCK HARD TEN (Kris S.) galloped at Santa Anita on Sunday. The dark bay colt

will enter the Classic off four straight graded wins, including the Santa Anita

H. (G1) and Goodwood Breeders' Cup H. (G2) most recently.

Cotillion H. (G2) victress NOTHING BUT FUN (Dixie Union) is set to work five

furlongs Monday in California in preparation for a possible start in the

Distaff. The Michael Hushion-trained sophomore miss is undefeated from four

career starts.

Trainer Greg Gilchrist said that leading sprinter LOST IN THE FOG (Lost in

Soldier) could ship to Belmont Saturday in stead of the originally scheduled

time of Tuesday.

"I need to get one more work into him," said Gilchrist. "With all the rain in

New York last week, I feel more comfortable working him at Golden Gate where I

know the weather will be good and he'll have fast track.

"I think we'll be able to work things out," the trainer said of Lost in the

Fog's shipping arrangements. "Right now, I'd say we're 75-25 in favor of

shipping Saturday."