Five Star Day Breezes; Other Cup Hopefuls Work

Breeders' Cup Sprint hopeful Five Star Day cleared a couple of major hurdles on Wednesday. The Beau Greely trainee was named as one of the 14 preferred entrants in the Sprint and he turned in a solid training move in his next-to-last work before the Breeders' Cup. Five Star Day breezed four furlongs in :48 over a "fast" track under workout rider Frank Dalton. Greely said his colt was his usual eager self in the work.

"It was probably a little more than I wanted," he said. "But that's the way he is. If he works too slow, something's wrong."

The 4-year-old son of Carson City is coming off a sharp victory in the Phoenix Breeders' Cup (gr. III) at Keeneland. It was just the second race of the year for Five Star Day, who went on the shelf in January after surgery to remove a bone chip, but Greely likes what he sees in the days leading up to the Breeders' Cup.

"He went extremely well and for just running 10 days ago, that's plenty," said Greely. "He doesn't need to go any faster than that."

Five Star Day figures to be part of a torrid pace in the Sprint -- just as he would have a year ago had he not been so far down the preference list for the race.

"I think he was a very good horse last year," Greely said, "but this year I think he's improved because even though he's fast and goes out front, he does it in the same fashion and time but has learned to relax."

Greely will also saddle Manndar in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Lukas Fillies "On Target" -- Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, the most successful trainer in Breeders' Cup history, sent two of his Cup hopefuls out for works on Wednesday and was encouraged by both efforts.

Juvenile Fillies hopeful Cash Deal breezed five furlongs in 1:00 and Distaff contender Spain worked a sharp five furlongs handily in :59 1/5. Both horses were ridden by exercise rider Stacey Maker.

"They were good," said Lukas. "Both of them right on target."

The moves continued a string of sharp training efforts by Lukas' Breeders' Cup contingent, which makes him wish the calendar would move just as quickly.

"Everything we've worked so far has worked so well I wish they'd run the thing on Saturday," Lukas said. "I don't need another week. I'd just as soon run them."

More Cup Works -- Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. III) runner-up Guided Tour continued his preparations for the Classic by working five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 under jockey Larry Melancon. Trainer Niall O'Callaghan worked the Hansel gelding in company with a stablemate. "He's the worst work horse I've ever trained," O'Callaghan said. "That's a good work for him. If he does by himself, you get five-eighths in 1:07." O'Callaghan said Guided Tour's plodding style in the morning has prompted his barn crew to dub him with the nickname "Tour Bus"...Juvenile Fillies contender Freefourracing breezed four furlongs for trainer Neil Drysdale. The filly, who won Keeneland's Indian Summer Stakes just last Thursday, worked in company with Bodyguard, the regular workmate of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. The sturdy Bodyguard worked in company with the Derby winner just two days ago...Distaff contender Beautiful Pleasure is scheduled to work Thursday morning for trainer John Ward. She galloped a mile on Wednesday.

Barn Notes from Santa Anita

Kona Gold, prepping for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, breezed five furlongs in 1:03.20 at Santa Anita Wednesday for trainer Bruce Headley...En route to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Arabian Light worked six furlongs in 1:11.40 while Flame Thrower worked six furlongs in 1:11.60 for Baffert...Lexicon, prepping for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, covered six furlongs in 1:12.20...Street Cry, also heading to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, breezed six furlongs in 1:11.40 for trainer Eoin Harty.