Congaree Blazes 7 Furlongs in 1:22 3/5 For BC Classic

Stonerside Stable's Congaree worked a sharp seven furlongs in 1:22 3/5 at Santa Anita Wednesday, in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I).

With regular exercise rider Dana Barnes aboard, Congaree went out at 12:30 p.m. and rattled off fractions of :23 4/5, :46 4/6, and 1:10 2/5. After a final eighth in :12 1/5, he galloped out a strong mile in 1:35 4/5. The workout came about 40 minutes before the first post.

"We let him bounce down through there," trainer Bob Baffert said. "He needed it. He worked a little slow the other day, so I wanted to open up his lungs. It was a nice strong work. He's gonna have to run hard (in the Classic)."

Padua Stables' Class Above, Baffert's other top contender for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, also put in a major drill on Wednesday.

Class Above, getting ready for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), worked seven furlongs in 1:24 4/5 with Barnes aboard. The filly went without blinkers despite the fact that she's worn them in her two career starts, including for her 16-length Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies romp.

"She went awesome; very easy and relaxed. It was a good work. She went the first half in :50 and then picked it up a little bit. She needed a good, hard work and that was it. We had to blow all the cobwebs out."

Margaret Ransom contributed to this article.