A large group of California-based Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships-bound horses were put through their final workouts for Racing's Championship Day at both Santa Anita and Hollywood Park Sunday morning.
Top Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) candidate Roman Ruler worked a half-hour before the afternoon's first race, posting a five furlong move in :58 under regular exercise rider Dana Barnes in company with stablemate Pizza Joe, who clocked the distance in :59 2/5 under jockey Douglas Portillo.
Roman Ruler broke off several lengths behind Pizza George before collaring that rival in mid-stretch and drawing away to win the work by several lengths. Clockers caught the Bob Baffert trainee in splits of :23 and :46 2/5 before galloping out in 1:11.
"He sat behind that horse real nice," Baffert said. "When he got by that horse he got to looking around, but that's him. He's a happy camper and he's ready."
Sunday's work was Roman Ruler's first in 10 days after Baffert had to alter the colt's training due to the heavy rains that hit the Southern California area earlier in the week.
"We just had to alter his training schedule a little," Baffert said. "I'm worked him (before the first race) because I didn't know how the track was going to be in the morning. I do it with all my big horses."
Roman Ruler, who won the Best Pal Stakes (gr. III) and the Norfolk Stakes (gr. II), and finished second in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) for owners Fog City Stable, is set to leave for Lone Star Park on Wednesday.
Trainer Julio Canani sent Juvenile Fillies hopeful Sweet Catomine out for a five furlong move, which the filly accomplished in a bullet :58 4/5 under regular exercise rider Jose Dominguez, the fastest of 126 horses who went the distance on the day.
"I didn't really want her to go that fast," Canani said. "But after her last work (five furlongs in 1:03) it's OK. She's ready."
Sweet Catomine won the Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. II) and the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) in her only two stakes appearances after finishing second in her first career start. The Kentucky-bred is owned by her breeders, Marty and Pam Wygod.
NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) starter Blackdoun went five furlongs in 1:02 over a firm turf course, also under Domiguez.
"I got the last quarter in :24," Canani said. "He was looking so good."
Sweet Catomine and Blackdoun will leave for Texas Monday morning and will be followed later in the week by Mile hopeful Special Ring, who will work Monday morning for the final time.
"With all my Breeders' Cups I've done all the work with my horses at home and then shipped late," Canani said.
Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-II) hero Our New Recruit went a bullet six furlongs in 1:12 for trainer John Sadler, also at Santa Anita. He is another scheduled to fly out on the first Texas-bound plane Monday morning.
Grade I winner Island Fashion, prepping for the Breeders' Cup Distaff – Presented by Nextel (gr. I), went five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 for trainer Marcelo Polanco. The conditioner also sent out Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) runner Culture Clash, who went the same distance in :59 2/5. Both horses are owned by Jeff Nielsen's Everest Stables and will carry jockey Kerwin John to post on Racing's Championship Day.
Mile hopeful Singletary, third in the Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IIT) in his last start, went five furlongs in 1:01 under regular exercise rider David Meah.
"It was exactly what I wanted," trainer Don Chatlos Jr. said. "I told him to go in 1:01 and that's what they got. I caught him the last quarter in :23."
Singletary will leave for Texas Monday morning and is expected to go to the Lone Star track for the first time on Wednesday morning, Chatlos said.
Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. I) hero PT's Grey Eagle went a half-mile in :47 at Hollywood Park in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). The Craig Dollase trainee, who is owned by J. Paul Reddam, will have Corey Nakatani in the saddle on Saturday. Dollase also sent Distaff probable Elloluv, who will be looking to better her runner-up finish in the event a year ago, out for a six furlong move which she clocked in a bullet 1:11 2/5. She will also have Nakatani in the saddle on Saturday.
Mike Mitchell sent out his pair of Breeders' Cup-bound horses, Sprint probable Kela and John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) runner Star Over The Bay, for six furlong breezes which they accomplished in 1:15 2/5 and 1:13 1/5, respectively. Regular rider Jorge Alverez was in the saddle for both moves.
Kela won the Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. I) and the Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar in his last two starts. Star Over The Bay has won his last three starts – the Sunset Handicap (gr. IIT), the Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) and the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. IT) – in front-running fashion.
Roman Ruler, breezing at Santa Anita Sunday.
