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Groupie Doll blasted three furlongs in :34 2/5 Monday morning at Santa Anita with regular exercise rider Jada Schlenk aboard in preparation for Saturday's Filly & Mare Sprint. The work
was the co-fastest of 19 at the distance.
After standing for a time with a pony on the backstretch, Groupie Doll and the pony galloped once around with Groupie Doll breaking away from the pony nearing the three-eighths pole. Clockers got the first quarter-mile in :22 4/5 and had her galloping out four furlongs in :47. "She works the same anywhere," Schlenk said of the move that was accomplished in the blinkers Groupie Doll has worn in her past four starts, all victories. "She did it all on her own. We got away from the pony and I eased her into it. I didn't ask her at all. I just gave her a little nudge at the quarter pole." Groupie Doll arrived Saturday and galloped on the main track at Santa Anita for the first time Sunday. "She likes this track," Schlenk said. Maria Kabel, assistant to co-owner and trainer "Buff" Bradley, said Groupie Doll would walk Tuesday and return to the track Wednesday for light exercise. Buff Bradley is scheduled to arrive Thursday. |
It was a busy morning for trainer Steve Asmussen as he sent five of his six Breeders' Cup contenders to the track for workouts Monday.
"I've really liked what I've seen in all their works. I'm happy and excited about all of them," Asmussen said. "The only anxious thing is what posts they'll draw. That's going to be extremely important for several of them."
Dirt Mile contender Tapizar, who enters the race off a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap after a rough trip, worked four furlongs in :48 4/5.
"He's training really well," Asmussen said. "I was disappointed in his race last year (fifth in the Dirt Mile), but excited to bring him back here where he's had two good wins."
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Tapizar won the 2011 Grade 3 Sham and 2012 Grade 2 San Fernando at Santa Anita.
Sprint runner Justin Phillip worked in :48 2/5 Monday. "He's just a machine," Asmussen said. "He's as much fun as any horse to train and as solid as they come. He just eats, sleeps, and trains." Unbridled's Note and Great Mills, who will face each other in the Turf Sprint, worked in :49 3/5 and :48 2/5, respectively. "Unbridled's Note is a lot like Justin Phillip," Asmussen said. "He just loves to train. He has a nice win over the course, so a lot will depend on his draw and how the race unfolds. "Great Mills is doing very good and has been training very good." Dust and Diamonds, on target for the Filly & Mare Sprint, was the only filly among the five Breeders' Cup workers from the barn and she covered the same distance in :49 2/5. |
"She's very sharp right now," Asmussen said. "She's entering the race off a very good win (in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap). The only question with her will be the extra half-furlong. She's never been seven-eighths before."
Working in company shortly after the mid-morning renovation break, Jaycito covered five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 for trainer Bob Baffert with Rafael Bejarano aboard.
A four-year-old colt by Victory Gallop, Jaycito will be running the farthest he's gone in Friday's 1 3/4-mile Marathon. His longest previous effort was Del Mar's 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 Pacific Classic in August in which he finished seventh behind Dullahan.
At Hollywood Park on Monday, Include Me Out and Teddy's Promise each worked four furlongs on Cushion Track for weekend Breeders' Cup engagements to the satisfaction of trainer Ron Ellis.
"She breezed a half and galloped out well," said Ellis after Include Me Out was timed in :49 2/5 under regular rider Joe Talamo in advance of the Ladies' Classic Friday. "She did her serious work here last week. I couldn't be happier."
Samantha Siegel, the filly's owner, was on hand for the drill.
"She's a happy girl, bouncing off the track in the morning," Siegel said.
Teddy's Promise was clocked in :48 4/5 under exercise rider Baltazar Contreras ahead of the Filly & Mare Sprint.
"She's doing great," Ellis said. "She just worked a 47 best in the morning last week. She'll be up close."
Ellis said that Include Me Out would be shipped to Santa Anita Tuesday and Teddy's Promise will be shipped across town Wednesday.
