Belmont Park Notes 10.16.16

by NYRA Press Office

• Theory holds up after G3 Futurity win; Pletcher's Breeders' Cup contenders hit the worktab

• McLaughlin's Breeders' Cup contingent set to work Wednesday

• Joking stays on schedule with "good" work on training track

• All systems go for BC Filly & Mare Sprint hopeful Haveyougoneaway

• Fields coming together for Empire Showcase Day

 China Horse Club and WinStar Farm's Theory exited his 3 ½-length victory in Saturday' Grade 3 Futurity in fine fettle, according to trainer Todd Pletcher on Sunday morning at Belmont Park. 

"He's excellent," said Pletcher. "He looked good this morning."

Pletcher added that the connections are still sizing up their options for the 2-year-old Gemologist colt, citing the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sentient Jet Juvenile on November 5 at Santa Anita Park, the Grade 2, $300,000 Remsen at Aqueduct Racetrack or the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs, both on November 26, as potential targets.

"I spoke to Elliot [Walden, of WinStar] a little bit yesterday and figured we'd give it some time and get the horse back on the track before we firm anything up," he said. "If he ran back on short rest, I think it would be the Breeders' Cup. Otherwise, [he would run] in the Remsen or the Jockey Club."

Should Theory make the jump to Breeder's Cup fact, he would join stablemate Syndergaard, second in the Grade 1 Champagne on October 8, in the Juvenile.

Additionally, Pletcher reported that the rest of his band of Breeders' Cup contenders came out of their respective Saturday morning breezes in good order. 

Al Shaqab Racing Racing and Gerard Augustin Normand's Ectot, who punched his ticket to the $4 million Breeders' Cup Longines Turf with a five-length win over the formidable Flintshire in the Grade 1, $1 million Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, turned in his first breeze since his October 1 victory, working a half-mile on the inner turf in 49.09 seconds Saturday morning.

"He's a good work horse," said Pletcher. "He seemed happy to be back to work. I thought he breezed well. He looked good and came out of it in good shape this morning."

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Curalina, who has been training up to the Breeders' Cup since her runner-up finish to the recently-retired Cavorting in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on August 27, breezed five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.23. Third in last year's Distaff, Curalina could make a return appearance in this year's $2 million Distaff, although Pletcher said that her connections are keeping a close eye on the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint as well.

In the last two weeks, Forever Unbridled and I'm a Chatterbox, third and fourth in the Personal Ensign, have each came back to post impressive victories in the Grade 1 Beldame and Grade 1 Spinster, respectively, and are both expected to target the Distaff.

"It's no secret that the Personal Ensign was tough race and everyone's come out of it and run well," said Pletcher. "One of the reasons we haven't chosen which race is that complexion of both races changed significantly this last week, with Cathryn Sophia deciding not to go to the Sprint and Cavorting not going to the Distaff, so that's why we'll keep both races in play. I don't think it's really going to affect how we train her much until maybe her final breeze before."

Pletcher could have a pair of runners in the $1 million Juvenile Turf on November 4, with Grade 2 With Anticipation winner Made You Look and Grade 3 Pilgrim runner-up J. S. Choice both under strong consideration. J. S. Choice kept to his typical dirt training regimen Saturday in his first work since the Pilgrim, breezing a half-mile on the main track in 49.07, while Made You Look covered five-eighths on the inner turf in 1:02.14.

Teresa Viola Racing Stable's Photo Call is back in New York, training at Pletcher's Belmont base following her front running, 2 ¾-length victory over Tepin in the Grade 1 First Lady on October 8 at Keeneland. Ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux in the First Lady, the 5-year-old Irish-bred will be pre-entered in both the Breeders' Cup $2 million Mile and Filly & Mare Turf, said Pletcher, who added that Desormeaux, her fifth jockey in as many starts, could have the return call for her Breeders' Cup assignment.

"She's a tricky horse to ride," said Pletcher. "Kent seemed to get along with her well so we're hoping to keep him on her."

Sweet Loretta, who has been based at Saratoga since winning the Grade 1 Spinaway by 5 ¾ lengths on September 3, is expected to ship to Belmont Tuesday to continue preparations for the $2 million Breeders' Cup 14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies.

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Godolphin Racing's Frosted is scheduled to breeze Wednesday at Greentree Training Center as he prepares for the Breeders' Cup, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said on Sunday morning. He said there has not been a decision made on if he will run in the Grade 1, $6 million Classic on November 5 or the Grade 1, $1 million Las Vegas Dirt Mile on November 4 at Santa Anita.

"He'll work Wednesday and we'll probably announce it right after, just to make sure all is well," McLaughlin said. "He's scheduled to fly to California on the 23rd. We want to go before it gets too cold. There's a great flight going nonstop out of Newburgh."

Frosted has a pair of Grade 1 victories this year to his credit, capturing the Whitney on August 6 at Saratoga Race Course and a 14 ¼-length victory in the Metropolitan Handicap win on June 11 at Belmont. 

Sentiero Italia remains a possibility for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. McLaughlin said shecould also work on Wednesday, and if she is entered in the race, will fly out with Frosted.

The 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro bay filly was the runner-up on the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on October 8 and started in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, finishing fourth.

Also a possibility to be on the same flight is Tamarkuz, who is scheduled to work Wednesday in preparation for the Dirt Mile. The Shadwell Stable's 6-year-old was the runner-up in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap on October 8 and will be seeking his first career victory in North America after winning seven of his first 13 career races overseas.

Lady Shipman, who is already out in California, is a possibility to run in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, where she was the runner-up last year, said McLaughlin.  

On Thursday, Stonestreet Stables announced that Cavorting has been retired from racing. The three-time Grade 1 winner was diagnosed with minor bone bruising and will now join Stonestreet's broodmare band in 2017.

The 4-year-old bay filly ended her career with three consecutive wins, including a half-length score in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on August 27 at Saratoga. Cavorting also won the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 11 and won the 2015 Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont. She earned $2.063 million in going 8-1-1 in 13 career starts. Cavorting will stay in McLaughlin's stables until leaving for Kentucky on Tuesday.

"It was a real pleasure to train her," McLaughlin said. "She might be the most accomplished filly I ever trained and one of the best. She was a star of a filly and it was great to work with the Stonestreet people with her. We'll miss her. Hopefully she'll be a great broodmare."

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Trainer Charlton Baker said he was pleased with Breeders' Cup hopeful Joking's half-mile breeze on the Belmont training track Sunday morning. The winner of four consecutive races, including a one-length victory last time out in the Grade 1 Vosburgh on October at 1 Belmont Park and a win by a neck in the Grade 2 True North on June 10, is scheduled to work twice more before the Grade 1, $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Twinspires Sprint on November 5 at Santa Anita Park.

Joking breezed four furlongs in 49.75 seconds with regular exercise rider Bobby Messina aboard. 

"He worked well, it's what we wanted," Baker said. "It's just a maintenance work. It was 15 days since his last race, so it's a normal schedule. It's nice that it's been warm this week. That should be a good thing."

Baker said Joking, who is 5-1-1 in his last eight starts, will ship to California on either October 29 or November 1. 

"I'd prefer leaving on the first, but we'll see," Baker said. "He just needs a few days to settle in. I don't want to get there too early."

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Picking up three wins from four starts since being transferred to trainer Tom Morley, Haveyougoneaway has emerged as a serious contender in next month's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita. 

Coming off a pair of graded stakes victories in her last two starts this summer in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss and the Grade 1 Ballerina, the 5-year-old New York-bred mare has remained in top shape throughout her Breeders' Cup preparations, according to Morley.

Haveyougoneaway opted to skip the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom on October 1, instead posting three workouts on the Belmont main track since her Ballerina victory. The daughter of Congrats most recently breezed a five-furlong bullet last Thursday, covering the distance in in 58.55 seconds.

"Thursday was basically our final serious work," said Morley. "She looks an absolute picture of health and we'll give her one more breeze before the race. I've always said I wanted to go to California with a fresh filly and, having skipped the Gallant Bloom, she was a touch too fresh. She needed that serious work and has come out of it great."

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New York's homebred talent will be on full display next weekend as fields for Saturday's Empire Showcase Day are taking shape, anchored by the $300,000 Empire Classic.

The 1-2 finishers of last year's Empire Classic, West Point Thoroughbreds' Empire Dreams and Michael Dubb's Royal Posse are both expected for a return engagement in this year's edition, where they will likely face a pair of fresh up-and-comers in August Dawn Farm's runaway New York Derby winner Hit It Once More from the barn of Gary Sciacca and graded stakes-placed Governor Malibu for Jump Sucker and Oak Bluff Stables and trainer Christophe Clement. 

The 1 1/8-mile Classic is also likely to attract Clifton Pleasure, claimed last time out by E.V. Racing and trainer Naipal Chatterpaul; Chester and Mary Broman's homebred Crackerjack Jones, who hasn't finished worse than third in four state-bred stakes this year; and Good Luck Gus, stablemate of Royal Posse and winner of the Haynesfield by a neck earlier this year. Sea Raven and Wake Up in Malibu are also possible.

Also on tap Saturday is the $250,000 Empire Distaff for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. Likely contenders include the Broman's Highway Star from the barn of Rodrigo Ubillo; William Schettine's Isabelle for trainer David Donk; Dubb-owned and Rodriguez-trained Literata; Mecke's Madalyn for owner Sinatra Thoroughbred Racing and trainer Corby Caiazzo; Michael A. Henning's Perfect Freud from the Sciacca barn; and Repole Stable's Super Surprise for trainer Todd Pletcher. 

Expected to enter the $200,000 Ticonderoga for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf are Distorted Beauty and Invading Humor for trainer Bruce Levine. Also looking to enter from the barn of trainer David Donk are JC'S Shooting Star and Selenite. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is expected to send Wachtel Stabel's Flipcup, while leading meet trainer Chad Brown is currently pointing Fourstar Crook. Looking to round out the field are Feeling Bossy for trainer Jimmy Jerkens and The Tea Cups for trainer Jeremiah Englehart. C D'Cat and Mah Jong Maddnes are both possible.

The $200,000 Mohawk, for 3-and-up on the grass, looks to feature another showdown between fan favorites Kharafa, King Kreesa and Lubash. Also likely to enter are Tapitation for trainer Ralph Nicks, along with Offering Plan, Macagone, Brother O'Connell and Adirondack Dancer.

Lady Shelia Stable's Hot City Girl will look to enter Saturday's $150,000 Iroquois for fillies & mares 4-years-old and up at 6 ½ furlongs, alongside Gabrielle Farm's Frosty Margarita, Court Dancer for trainer David Cannizzo and Quezon for Bobby Ribaudo. Trainer James Ferraro's True Charm is possible. 

Dubb and Rodriguez are expected to team up in the $150,000 Hudson with Asset Inflation and Drama King both likely to start. Also probable for the 6 ½-furlong sprint is Red and Black Stable's Weekend Hideaway for trainer Phil Serpe, while Mind Your Biscuits, Moonlight Song, and Breakin the Fever are possible. 

The $250,000 Sleepy Hollow for 2-year-olds going a mile is shaping up to feature a contentious field including Runaway Lute for trainer Gary Contessa and owner Harold Lerner. Expected as well are Mission Command and Hamptons Holiday for Rodriguez; Haul Anchor for Kiaran McLaughlin, Appealing Briefs, Eddie's Gift, Gold for the King, Le Grand Warrior, Lucky Lou Pal, Macho Miah and Pat on the Back. Twisted Tom and Fled remain possible.

Pointing for the $250,000 Maid of the Mist for juvenile fillies is Passporttovictory for the Elkstone Group and trainer Tom Morley, along with Bree's Got Heart and Bliss to you. Rodriguez is expected to enter a pair in Tainted Angel and Bonita Bianca, while Grand Banks is expected for trainer David Donk. Twist 'N Shout is also possible.