With the rains that inundated the Northeast over the previous week long gone, the sunny skies at Belmont Park Monday made for one of the busiest workout days in a long time as a slew of contenders for the Oct. 29 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships got in some much-needed exercise.
Trainer Beau Greely took advantage of the favorable weather to send Borrego out for his first serious work since his impressive victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Oct. 1 as he prepares for the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
The son of
El Prado worked six furlongs in 1:16 1/5 under assistant trainer Andy Durnin.
"We wanted to go in 1:15 but I was out wider on the track because that is where it was in the best condition, due to all the horses working this morning," Durnin said.
"I was happy with the breeze; the track was in good shape," said the Southern California-based Greely, who will remain in New York until the Breeders' Cup. "He didn't even blow afterward. Obviously it is depending on the weather, but I plan on working him five-eighths next Sunday. He is fit. He is ready. This horse has run pretty well over most tracks, but you never know. Belmont is definitely entirely different from Del Mar, Santa Anita and Hollywood. Going into the Gold Cup he was doing well, but you wonder if he's going to handle it. It gives me more confidence now opposed to him not running over it."
Borrego was the sole main track worker among Breeders' Cup possibles, with the others working over the inner turf course rated in "good" condition or on the training track.
The workouts Monday by possible Breeders' Cup entrants were:
-- Ashado (Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff), five furlongs, training track, 1:00 4/5
-- Flower Alley (Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge), five furlongs, training track, 1:02 4/5
-- Borrego (Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge), six furlongs, main track, 1:16 1/5
-- English Channel (John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf), five furlongs, inner turf, 1:03 1/5
-- Leroidesanimaux (NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile), six furlongs, inner turf, 1:15 3/5
-- Relaxed Gesture (John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf), four furlongs, inner turf, :50 2/5
-- Limehouse, (NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile), four furlongs, inner turf, :49 1/5
-- Riskaverse (Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf), five furlongs, inner turf, 1:02 4/5
-- Wonder Again (Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf), five furlongs, inner turf, 1:01 2/5
-- Lion Tamer (TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint), four furlongs, training track, :47
Trainer Christophe Clement said it was undecided whether Relaxed Gesture would contest the Turf or be sent to Woodbine in Canada for the $2-million Pattison Canadian International (Can-I) Oct. 23.
"Everything is beautiful," trainer Jim Toner said of Wonder Again's work. "The course had a lot of give in it. Edgar said he started out along the inside which was good, but then down the backside it was getting kind of boggy. He took her outside around mid-turn and she was comfortable. It was just a maintenance breeze and she did everything well within herself. She galloped out really good."
