Gorella, Many More Contenders Work at Keeneland

Martin Schwartz's Gorella worked in the company with a stablemate and got five furlongs in :58 over the Polytrack at Keeneland Race Course Sunday in preparation for the Nov. 4 World Thoroughbred Championships at Churchill Downs. She wasn't alone as several horses with Breeders' Cup aspirations got their final works in on the morning.

The 4-year-old French-bred filly galloped out six furlongs in 1:11 under jockey Julien Leparoux. Coming off a narrow victory in the First Lady (gr. II) at Keeneland Oct. 14, the French filly is cross-entered in the Filly & Mare Turf and the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).

Gorella is likely to go in the Mile. Last year she was a game third behind Artie Schiller and Leroidesanimaux. This year she is four for five with other wins in the Beverly D. (gr. IT) and Just a Game Handicap (gr. IIT).

Bushwood Stables' Better Talk Now and Courtlandt Farm's Film Maker turned in a handy work together for trainer H. Graham Motion.

With Better Talk Now under exercise rider Lisa Davidson and Film Maker ridden by exercise rider Finella O'Flynn, the pair went a comfortable three-quarters in 1:12 3/5 without being asked.

"It was a little quick, but this track is fast," Motion said. "They seemed to handle everything OK, and I think it was a decent work. They finished up well."

7-year-old Better Talk Now (Talkin Man--Bendita, by Baldski), winner of the 2004 John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), comes off a win in the Sky Classic Stakes (Can–II) at Woodbine Sept. 24. Six-year-old Film Maker is scheduled to make her third consecutive run in the Filly and Mare Turf (gr .IT) after a narrow loss to Honey Ryder in the Oct. 7 Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap (gr.IT). The daughter of Dynaformer out of the Mr. Prospector mare Miss Du Bois was second in the 2004 running behind Ouija Board and third last year behind Intercontinental and Ouija Board at Belmont Park.

Also prepping for the Turf, Juddmonte Farms' Cacique went three-quarters in 1:13 under exercise rider Frederick Buscail for trainer Robert Frankel. The 5-year-old French-bred comes off a 1 ¾ -length victory in the Sept. 9 Man o' War (gr. IT) at Belmont Park.

Oak Crest Farm's Sutra, under exercise rider Frank Todd, worked five-eighths in :59 1/5 in company with stablemate Arbuckle Bandit in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). The 2-year-old daughter of Meadowlake galloped out six furlongs in a professional 1:12 3/5, remaining unflappable when a minor equipment function caused her saddle to slip backwards at the eighth pole.

Summer Place Farm's Kelly's Landing, working a half-mile, turned in a handy :46 1/5 under exercise rider Lorina Andersen. The 5-year-old son of Patton went the first quarter in :24 and picked it up going down the lane to finish the second quarter in :22 1/5. Trained by Eddie Kenneally and winner of the Phoenix Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) Oct. 8, he points toward the TVG Sprint (gr. I).

Kenneally sent out Ronald and Ricki Rashinski's Bushfire (Louis Quatorze) under Andersen earlier in the morning. The 3-year-old filly worked a half in :48 and galloped out five-eighths in 1:01 in preparation for the Emirates Airline Distaff (gr. I). She comes off a fifth-place finish in the Sept. 9 Gazelle Handicap (gr. I).

Also prepping for the Distaff, Michael Matz trainee Round Pond went five-eighths in :59 under Pam Ritter. The 4-year-old filly made her last start in the Oct. 7 Beldame Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, where she finished third behind Fleet Indian and Balletto.