With Anticipation Works Toward Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap

Age hasn't slowed With Anticipation one step. The 9-year-old gelding drilled five furlongs under jockey Pat Day in 1:00 3/5 over Gulfstream Park's main track Thursday for trainer Jonathan Sheppard. With Anticipation was tuning up for the Feb. 22 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IT).

"It was an excellent work, although there was a little miscommunication with the way it turned out," Sheppard said. "He was suppose to break off two or three lengths behind a pair of horses and catch them at the wire, but they got away from him a little bit more and he didn't quite catch them. He did catch them galloping out, however, and the time was very good. It's as good as the other times he's had recently, so I'm very, very happy with it."

With Anticipation will attempt to match John Henry and John's Call as the only horses to ever win a grade I race at age nine. John Henry won both the Arlington Million and Turf Classic Invitational in 1984, while John's Call took the Turf Classic in 2000.

"He's very satisfactory and doing very well," Sheppard said. "Whether he's still up to this level... we'll find that out Sunday."