(from Keeneland track notes)
Trainer Dallas Stewart took advantage of Keeneland's all-weather track Saturday morning, shipping Lemons Forever from Churchill Downs for her final work in preparation for the Emirates Airling Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I). The 3-year-old filly by Lemon Drop Kid went five furlongs in :59 4/5, fourth-fastest of 30 works at that distance. "The track at Churchill was muddy, and she likes the Polytrack," Stewart said. "She went crisp and clean; cooled out fine. We're very happy with it."Owned by Stewart and Horton Stable Inc., Lemons Forever hopes to regain her winning form in the Distaff, having not won since taking last spring's Kentucky Oaks (gr. 1). She finished fifth in Keeneland's Juddmonte Spinster (gr. 1) on Oct. 8, her last start.Jockey Kyle Kaenel flew in from California to work John and Martha Jane Mulholland's TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) contender Malibu Mint. Clockers caught the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. III) winner going a half in :47 and five furlongs in 1:00. "We couldn't be more pleased," said trainer Jim Chapman afterward. "Actually, the rider (Kaenel) said she was a little more aggressive today than normal. He said he was never able to turn the bit loose at all; she wanted to do a lot more."Malibu Mint has recorded three wins in 10 starts this year, for earnings of $575,939. In addition to the TCA, she won the Princess Rooney (gr. I) at Calder and the Weekend Delight at Turfway. The connections of Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Badge of Silver were pleased with the bullet work for the son of Silver Deputy leading up to next week's NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I). Badge of Silver turned in fractions of :13 4/5, :48 3/5, :59 4/5 and 1:12 2/5 for six furlongs, galloping out in 1:26. "We didn't carry a stick or nothing, and there was no company," said Chad Brown, assistant to trainer Bobby Frankel. "He was going very easy."Exercise rider Frederic Buscail echoed Brown's comments: "He felt very good. He traveled good. I didn't ask him; he did it all by himself pretty much."Badge of Silver has not started since winning the San Gabriel Handicap (gr. II) on New Year's Day at Santa Anita. Two other Breeders' Cup entrants were on Saturday's work tab. Tracy Farmer's Commentator went a half mile in :47. The Nick Zito-trained gelding by Distorted Humor captured the Mugatea Stakes at Belmont earlier this summer in one of only two starts this year.Mauralakana (Fr), cross-entered in both the BC Mile and the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), turned in a bullet work of :58 4/5 for five furlongs. Trained by Patrick Biancone, Mauralakana finished second to Vacare in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) at Keeneland on Oct. 14. Works scheduled for Sunday at Keeneland: Juddmonte Farms' Cacique (Ire) (Turf) to go out around 8:30 a.m.; Martin Schwartz's Gorella (Fr) (cross-entered in Mile and Filly & Mare Turf); Summerplace Farm's Kelly's Landing (Sprint); Brushwood Stables' Better Talk Now (Turf); Courtlandt Farm's Film Maker (Filly & Mare Turf) and James Vreeland, Sr., Tommy Town Thoroughbreds & John Sikura's Untouched Talent (Juvenile Fillies).