Spain Breezes Toward Holiday Weekend Start

Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Spain breezed five furlongs at Churchill Downs Wednesday as she continues to prepare for a Churchill Downs Thanksgiving weekend stakes race. The 3-year-old daughter of Thunder Gulch has been nominated to both the Falls City Handicap (gr. III, Churchill Downs, Nov. 23) for fillies and mares and the Clark Handicap (gr. II, Churchill, Nov. 26), which is expected to draw Aptitude, Captain Steve, Vision and Verse, Pine Dance, and Dust On the Bottle. Churchill Downs clockers missed Spain's drill, which assistant trainer Mike Maker said went in 1:01 2/5 on a fast track.

Guided Tour, another nominee for the Clark, breezed five furlongs in 1:03 2/5 at Churchill Wednesday under jockey Larry Melancon. Also nominated to the Clark are Pegasus Handicap (gr. II) winner Kiss A Native and Fayette Stakes (gr. III) winner Jadada.

Nick Zito-trained Out of Sync, who finished ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), is nominated to the Golden Rod (gr. II) at Churchill Downs Nov. 25. She breezed five furlongs in 1:05 Wednesday. Among the 26 nominees to the 1 1/16-mile Golden Rod are Pocahontas winner Unbridled Elaine, Arlington-Washington Lassie (gr. III) winner Thunder Bertie, Edward Evans' multiple stakes winner Gold Mover, Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Miss Pickums, Nasty Storm, and Cash Deal, who finished last in the Juvenile Fillies after she went to her knees at the start of the race.