Team Valor International’s State of Play worked five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 on Oct. 21 at Keeneland in preparation for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT).
State of Play, with exercise rider David Nava aboard, worked in company over the main track with the undefeated 2-year-old filly Sweet Seventeen, who is being pointed for the Pocahontas (gr. II) at Churchill Downs on Oct. 30. The filly broke off two lengths in front, with State of Play making up ground to finish together with her at the wire.
State of Play was clocked in fractions of :13 2/5, :25 3/5, :38 and :49 2/5. He galloped out three-quarters in 1:15 3/5. Sweet Seventeen got the five furlongs in 1:02.
“I thought he worked super,” said trainer Graham Motion. “He’s been sick, so he missed a work or two. So there was a fine line between him doing enough and overdoing it since he’s only got one more work before the Breeders’ Cup. I was very pleased with how it worked out. I thought it was about as close to perfect as it could have been.”
State of Play is undefeated in two career starts, both at Saratoga, winning the With Anticipation (gr. IIT) on Sept. 1. The War Front colt missed a start in Keeneland’s Bourbon (gr. IIIT) on Oct. 9 when he spiked a fever, and Motion elected to train him up to the Breeders’ Cup.
Motion said he plans to ship to Churchill on Oct. 26. Weather permitting, he will work both of his Juvenile Turf contenders, State of Play and Lucky Chappy, on the turf there Oct. 28. Lucky Chappy, a High Chaparral colt also owned by Team Valor, finished third in the Bourbon in his first U. S. start.
Also working next week over the main track at Churchill will be Motion’s Juddmonte Spinster (gr. I) winner Aruna. Aruna is under consideration for either the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) or Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).