DEL MAR, Calif. – Every time one looked up it seemed like another gaggle of Breeders’ Cup runners were passing by the grandstand, going in one direction or another, many to and from the starting gate or paddock, on the main track and over the turf course as well at Del Mar on Wednesday. This was the busiest morning here by far with all the players currently on the grounds and the first Breeders’ Cup races just 48 hours away.
Wednesday was an important day for the large international contingent on hand for the Breeders’ Cup, with a good many of the Europeans picking up their activity quite noticeably during their second morning since being released from quarantine. A trio of Japanese horses turned in published, half-mile works, including Forever Young, one of the key contenders in the Classic.
Although open for business since Saturday, the turf course had been very quiet the past several days, but that changed in a hurry during the 7:15 a.m. break on Wednesday with more than a dozen Euros availing themselves of the opportunity to test out the local course. The talented group included a half-dozen from the potent Charles Appleby stable, which was led onto the track for a second straight morning by the incomparable fan favorite Rebel’s Romance (Turf). He and his barnmates open-galloped a strong mile, with the two-time Breeders’ Cup winner looking very happy, his ears up to and through the wire into the clubhouse turn.
Aspect Island turned in a very sharp-looking blowout for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, timed by Daily Racing Form in 23.39 down the home straight before continuing out with good energy into the turn. He was followed immediately thereafter by Bucanero Fuerte (Turf Sprint), who completed a very vigorous gallop with a 25.61 final quarter clocking through the finish line. Silawi (Turf) is another who skipped nicely over the firm footing, putting the punctuation mark on a vigorous gallop of his own with a 24.12 closing quarter-mile split.
All three main track works were maintenance by design, beginning with the team of Forever Young (Classic) and his stablemate American Stage (Sprint). Forever Young broke a couple of lengths back before joining his target in early stretch and holding the edge to the wire. He covered the distance in 26.89, 50.89 under a snug hold before galloping out in 1:03.68. American Stage was clocked in 26.88, 51.50, out 1:04.27.
Alice Verite, who will be making only her second career start on dirt in the Distaff, was reined in during the latter stages of her half-mile breeze in 24.78, 49.19, out 1:03.68.
Other observations during training hours included the following:
Mystik Dan (Dirt Mile) looked a lot better during his pre-dawn gallop than on Tuesday, while La Ville Lumiere (Juvenile Fillies) was way more relaxed galloping in the dark than she was following a gate session on Tuesday.
Both Stellify and Village Voice trained with tons of energy just minutes apart shortly before the renovation break prepping for the Filly and Mare Turf. Stellify looked particularly sharp over the main track zipping along at near or better than a two-minute lick for at least a full six furlongs.
Journalism (Classic) was in beast mode as always, perhaps even a bit more so this morning, coming out a bit later than usual while also training right before the break shortly after 7 a.m. He was cruising at better than a two-minute clip before easing up after 1 1/4 miles. He was followed close behind by Dorth Vader, who continues to make a very favorable impression since arriving locally, her rider having all he could handle keeping her contained and from doing too much just 72 hours removed from the Distaff.
Seismic Beauty, a monster of a filly and likely the solid favorite in the Distaff, wound up nearly in run-off mode when wanting to take on a couple of workers who breezed past her while galloping into and around the far turn.
Defending Classic champion Sierra Leone had another very good morning galloping after the renovation break, while trainer Todd Pletcher’s trio of Mindframe, Antiquarian, and Fierceness trained a little later than usual to accommodate a schooling session at the gate.
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