It was a busy morning Oct. 19 at Santa Anita Park, as contenders for the Breeders' Cup World Championships—led by Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) runner Mucho Macho Man —turned in moves over the track.
Winner of the Sept. 28 Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I), Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Mucho Macho Man had his penultimate workout prior to the $5 million Classic to be run at Santa Anita Nov. 2, going five furlongs in 1:02 1/5.
The 5-year-old son of Macho Uno clocked fractional times of :26 1/5 and :50 4/5, with a gallop-out of 1:15 for six furlongs.
"He went very well," trainer Kathy Ritvo said. "He had a great work today and he'll have one more before the Classic."
"He went very well," trainer Kathy Ritvo said. "He had a great work today and he'll have one more before the Classic."
Also working for the Classic was Southern Equine Stable's 3-year-old Moreno, runner-up to Will Take Charge in the Aug. 24 Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course. The Ghostzapper gelding went five furlongs in company for trainer Eric Guillot in 1:00 3/5 while workmate Distort This was timed in 1:01 2/5. Joe Talamo, who will ride Moreno in the Classic, was in the irons.
"He went really well," Guillot said. "He galloped out seven-eighths in (one) 26 and four."
Other Breeders' Cup workers on the Oct. 19 tab included defending Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner Little Mike, who went five furlongs on the main track in 1:01 flat for trainer Dale Romans. Splits for Carlo and Priscilla Vaccarezza's 6-year-old gelded son of Spanish Steps were :23 4/5, :36 2/5, :49 flat, and a gallop-out of 1:15 for six furlongs.
Romans also worked Mark Bacon and Dana Wells' Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) contender Silver Max , who upset reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan in an off-the-turf edition of the Oct. 5 Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. I) run at Keeneland on the Polytrack. The 4-year-old Badge of Silver colt worked four furlongs on the dirt in :46 4/5.
Padua Stables' Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) candidate Authenticity and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) probable We Miss Artie went in company, getting four furlongs in :47 flat.
"She'll have one more breeze (before the Distaff)," said trainer Todd Pletcher's assistant Mike McCarthy, who has been at Santa Anita with the 6-year-old daughter of Quiet American since she ran second to Beholder in the Sept. 28 Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I).
Dance With Fate, another Juvenile contender, went six furlongs for Peter Eurton in 1:12 4/5. The Two Step Salsa colt races for a partnership group that includes Bran Jam Stable, Ciaglia Racing, and others.
Turf Sprint (gr. IT) contender Caracortado went six furlongs on the main track in 1:12 1/5.
"He went real nice and he looks great right now," trainer Mike Machowsky said of the California-bred 6-year-old Cat Dreams gelding, who is owned by partners including Blahut Racing, Donkey Island Racing, Kagele Brothers, and more. "He finished strong and galloped out good."
At Betfair Hollywood Park Oct. 18, Pamela Ziebarth's homebred Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. IT) winner Tiz Flirtatious worked five furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:00 flat.
"Very nice," said trainer Marty Jones, who has the 4-year-old daughter of Tizbud ticketed for the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) Nov. 2.