Breeders' Cup Juvenile contender Henny Hughes.
In his first serious workout since finishing second to First Samurai in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I), Darley Stable's Henny Hughes sizzled a half-mile in :47 Friday at Belmont Park as he continues to work toward the Oct 29 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).With exercise rider Fidel Santiago aboard, the 2-year-old son of Hennessy was timed in :23 2/5 for the first quarter and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 following the workout. The time was the fastest of the day among 23 horses working the distance, and a full second faster than the co-second fastest time of :48."He did it easily and the right way," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who took over conditioning the colt following the Champagne. "It was a little faster than you normally work horses, but when you have good ones they usually work faster than you anticipate. He is plenty fit, so we were just looking for a little maintenance half-mile. He's a good one."Henny Hughes began his career with three consecutive victories, culminating in a victory in the Saratoga Special (gr. II). A second-place finish to First Samurai in the Hopeful (gr. I) preceded the Champagne. Edgar Prado has the mount in the Juvenile Another youngster who worked well Friday was Russell Reineman Stable's Original Spin, pre-entered in the Alberto VO5 Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). With Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey aboard, the filly worked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 after fractions of :25 1/5 and :48 4/5.The daughter of Distorted Humor is undefeated in two starts, including a victory in the Arlington Breeders' Cup Lassie (gr. III)."I was very happy with it," said Sherri Boland-Mitchell, wife and assistant to trainer Anthony Mitchell. "She handles the track with no problem. She took to it real well coming down t he stretch."Boland-Mitchell said Bailey, who will be riding the filly for the first time in the Breeders' Cup."He (Bailey) liked her. He is very happy. He seemed very happy with the way she picked it up without much urging."In the only other workout of the day at Belmont Park, Mrs. Thomas Walsh and Timber Bay Farm's Artie Schiller worked on turf in preparation for the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT). The El Prado colt worked three-quarters of a mile over the firm inner turf course in 1:12 2/5."I was on the pony so I didn't really see much of the work," said trainer Jimmy Jerkens. "From what I did see, he looked very good and he seemed fine coming back and cooling out."In a West Coast work, Fog City Stable's Roman Ruler worked a half-mile in :46 1/5 at Santa Anita in preparation for the TVG Sprint (gr. I).
