Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty completed an important step towards the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade 1) with a sharp half-mile workout at Keeneland Race Course on Sunday, October 25. With six days remaining before the championship race, the colt covered the distance in :48 1/5, leaving Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott satisfied with the final stages of preparation.
Regular exercise rider Neil Poznansky was aboard Sovereignty for the morning breeze, which provided an encouraging indication of the colt’s condition ahead of Saturday’s contest. Mott was particularly pleased with the feedback from his exercise rider after the workout.
“It could not have gone any better,” Mott said. “It was a very nice work. More importantly, when I got back to the barn and asked Neil about it, he said it was the best he’s worked in a long, long time. As I stand here six days before the race, I’m very happy.”
Sovereignty’s performance headlined a busy Sunday of preparations for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled for October 30 and 31. Several leading contenders completed their final major workouts at Keeneland and other training centres in Kentucky as trainers fine-tuned their preparations for the two-day championship meeting.
Sovereignty Leads Breeders’ Cup Preparation at Keeneland
Among the other contenders in action was Burnham Square, who continued preparations for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade 1) with a half-mile breeze in :48 flat at Skylight Training Center, outside Louisville. Jockey Chris Landeros was aboard for trainer Ian Wilkes.
Wilkes was encouraged by the colt’s relaxed approach and his willingness to continue moving forward after completing the assigned distance. Rather than asking for more from the workout, the trainer focused on maintaining the enthusiasm that has characterised Burnham Square’s training routine.
“The main thing is just keeping him happy, where he comes out of it wanting to do more,” Wilkes said. “I just let him gallop out, and today I didn’t let him gallop out longer. He was wanting to do more, so that’s what I wanted.”
The trainer added that the colt’s strong work ethic was nothing new, recalling similarly impressive efforts earlier in his career.
“He’s always been a good workhorse. He’s always worked really good,” Wilkes said. “Even coming into the Derby, he worked good. That’s his M.O. He’s an Energizer Bunny. He just keeps on going.”
Baffert’s Breeders’ Cup Contenders Complete Final Workouts
At Churchill Downs, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert oversaw workouts for several of his leading Breeders’ Cup prospects, with the group scheduled to move to Keeneland on Monday.
Explora, a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Grade 1), covered half a mile in :48. Hughes, a leading prospect for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade 1), completed the same distance in :48 4/5.
Fellow Juvenile contender Salahudin posted a sharper half-mile time of :47 flat, matching the clocking recorded by Miss Monica, who is preparing for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1).
Salahudin, ridden by Florent Geroux, and Miss Monica, partnered by former jockey Joe Talamo, recorded the joint-fastest workouts among 80 horses covering the distance. The pair completed their exercises separately.
Baffert was pleased with Hughes’ performance, explaining that the colt had company during the workout to encourage a more purposeful effort.
“He went nice,” Baffert said of Hughes. “I had a horse go with him because sometimes, when he is by himself, he might be a little lazy and I wanted to get a nice work out of him. He just goes over the ground. He is quick, light and very athletic.”
The trainer was equally encouraged by Salahudin, whose progress has continued through the preparation period.
“He has been working right along and is a big, beautiful mover, a big, powerful horse. He worked alone today, and he just keeps getting better and better,” Baffert said.
Chunk of Gold Rounds Off Preparation for Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Back at Keeneland, Chunk of Gold completed his final major preparation for the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1), covering half a mile in :49 2/5 with trainer Ethan West aboard.
West was particularly satisfied with the horse’s composure throughout the exercise. Chunk of Gold settled comfortably during the early stages, responded readily to his trainer’s cues and finished the workout with an encouraging gallop-out.
“I loved it,” West said. “He was nice and relaxed getting me to the pole and every time I asked him to stay right there in the bridle, he did it all on his own. He galloped out great, so I could not have asked for a better final breeze going into a race.”
With the championship meeting approaching, the latest workouts offered several trainers encouraging signs as their contenders entered the closing stages of preparation. Sovereignty’s sharp effort at Keeneland stood out, while Burnham Square, Baffert’s Churchill Downs contingent and Chunk of Gold also completed important exercises ahead of their respective assignments.
The focus now turns to the final days before the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, when the leading contenders will complete their preparations for two days of top-level racing at Keeneland.
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