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Civil Union works for BC F&M Turf; Code of Honor sharp in breeze for G1 Clark

by NYRA Press Office

• Civil Union works for BC F&M Turf; Code of Honor sharp in breeze for G1 Clark
• Brown brigade puts finishing touches on Breeders' Cup preparations
• Oleksandra posts final breeze for G1 Turf Sprint
• Clement works juvenile Breeders' Cup contenders one day before trekking to Bluegrass State
• Step Dancer earns 83 BSF for Awad score
• Luck Money earns career-best 91 BSF in Zagora triumph
• Aqueduct fall meet Week 1 stakes probables

Allen Stable's homebred Civil Union worked a half-mile in 51 seconds flat in company with older allowance horse Sentry on the inner turf Sunday at Belmont Park in preparation for Saturday's Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland Race Course.

"The company carried her along," said Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. "She worked good. She's gotten better and better and stronger and stronger."

The 5-year-old War Front mare extended her streak to four wins with a head score last out in the Grade 1, $250,000 Flower Bowl Invitational. The turf specialist arrived at the 10-furlong Widener turf test on a winning run-of-form that launched in a June 21 allowance tilt at Belmont and continued through scores in the 12-furlong River Memories on July 12 at Belmont and the 11-furlong Grade 2 Glens Falls at Saratoga.

Racing from sixth position early under Joel Rosario in the Flower Bowl, Civil Union advanced gamely to notch a narrow head score over Filly and Mare Turf-rivals My Sister Nat and Nay Lady Nay.

McGaughey said Civil Union, who ran second in a turf allowance in October 2018, in her lone Keeneland start, has the ability to be tactical if needed.

"In the Flower Bowl she was back a little further than usual," said McGaughey. "If she gets a decent post and breaks good and depending what some of the others do, I know Joel will have her where he wants her to be. She's pretty versatile. She can settle in behind or if she needs to be up close she can be up close."

W.S. Farish homebred Code of Honor, a last-out second to Complexity in the Grade 2 Kelso, breezed a bullet half mile solo in 47.66 Sunday on the fast Belmont main track.

McGaughey said the Noble Mission chestnut will target the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark, a nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up on November 27 at Churchill Downs - - although the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up on December 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack remains under consideration.

"Code of Honor worked really good. I think the track pulled him along a bit but he's been doing good," said McGaughey. "We'll see how he comes along in the next few weeks and then decide if we run here or go to the Clark, but I think the two turns and a mile and an eighth probably suits him better than the mile."

A winner of last year's Grade 1 Runhappy Travers and Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, Code of Honor is out of the graded stakes winning Dixie Union mare Reunited.

McGaughey is likely to target the Grade 1 Cigar Mile with Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm's Performer. The 4-year-old Speightstown chestnut earned a 98 Beyer last out when capturing an optional-claiming mile on October 17 at Belmont off an 11-month layoff.

"Performer is doing good. If the track is OK tomorrow he'll work here," said McGaughey.

Brown brigade puts finishing touches on Breeders' Cup preparations

Trainer Chad Brown will be sending out a baker's dozen in pursuit of victories at next Saturday's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Keeneland. The four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner breezed the bulk of his Breeders' Cup contingent on Sunday morning at Belmont.

Rushing Fall, an aspirant for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf for e Five Thoroughbred Racing, went a half-mile in 50.69 seconds in company with  Peter Brant's Sistercharlie [50.66] over a soft inner turf.

Rushing Fall, a 5-year-old bay mare by leading Breeders' Cup producing stallion More Than Ready, will look to become only the fifth horse to notch victories in two different Breeders' Cup races. During her juvenile campaign, Rushing Fall won the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.

Rushing Fall is unbeaten this year in three starts, all at different tracks, while garnering triple-digit speed figures. Following a 2020 debut win in the Grade 3 Beaugay on June 3 at Belmont Park, she scored back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Jenny Wiley on July 11 at Keeneland and the Diana on August 23 at Saratoga.

"She's been training well," said e Five Thoroughbred Racing owner Bob Edwards. "I've been speaking with Chad quite a bit. She's a mare that works better with breaks, so we gave her a little freshening after the Diana. We know she loves Keeneland. I'm looking forward to the Breeders' Cup and hopefully she gets a good trip."

Rushing Fall, who has earned $2,553,000 while boasting a 14-11-2-0 record, is scheduled to go through the sales ring at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale following the Breeders' Cup, where she will be consigned by Indian Creek.

"It's kind of bittersweet," Edwards said. "Regardless of what happens, we're still proud of her. She's sound and she's training well. Coming back after last year's Keeneland race [fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 First Lady] she wasn't herself. We felt we had to race her one more year and it's all paid off.

"She's gotten more mature and confident in herself," Edwards added. "She has a gorgeous blaze, great head, and great body. It's a test going mile and three-sixteenths since she's never gone that long before, but Chad is a phenomenal trainer and he's won this before." 

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano has been aboard Rushing Fall in all of her starts and seeks a 13th Breeders' Cup victory in the Filly and Mare Turf.

Sistercharlie is in pursuit of a second triumph in the Filly Mare and Turf. The seven-time Grade 1 winner was third in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa and Grade 1 Diana, both at Saratoga and will attempt to join Ouija Board [2004, 2006] as the only horses to score non-consecutive wins in the Filly and Mare Turf. Brown's remaining Filly and Mare Turf hopefuls My Sister Nat and Nay Lady Nay, the second and third-place finishers last out in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on October 10 at Belmont, also worked a half-mile on the inner turf Sunday in company with Eliade and Digital Age, respectively.

Also on the work tab for Brown was Uni, the winner of last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile, who went a half-mile in 50.60 in company with Domestic Spending. Uni seeks a repeat victory in the event coming off a second consecutive triumph in the Grade 1 First Lady on October 3 at Keeneland.

The four-time Grade 1 winning 6-year-old chestnut daughter of More Than Ready was third to stablemate Newspaperofrecord in the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 27 over the Widener turf at Belmont before an uncharacteristic seventh as the favorite in the Grade 1 Fourstardave over the Saratoga Mellon turf.

"Her last couple of works have shown that she's really starting to show her old self," said Bradley Weisbord, who manages Uni on behalf of owners Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables. "Going from five to six, some horses may take a few races to knock the rust off. She's got a major turn of foot and it looks like we're going to get firm ground for Saturday. She's won on many different surfaces, but firm turf is where she is best."

Uni will attempt to become the sixth horse to notch back-to-back Mile victories following Miesque [1987-88], Lure [1993-94], Da Hoss [1996,98], Goldikova [2008-10] and Wise Dan [2012-13].

Digital Age completed his half-mile work in 51.25. Owned by Klaravich Stables, the Irish-bred son of Invincible Sprit won the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon on September 5 at Churchill Downs last out. 

Peter Brant's Editor At Large [Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf], third in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo on October 4 at Belmont Park last out, worked a half-mile in 50.75 in company with Klaravich Stables' Public Sector [Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf], second in the Grade 2 Pilgrim on October 3 at Belmont Park, who was clocked in 50.69. Brown won the Juvenile Turf last year with Structor. 

On the main track, Brown sent out Klaravich Stables' Complexity, winner of the Grade 2 Kelso last out, for a half-mile breeze in 49.21. The son of Maclean's Music, who won the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park as a 2-year-old, has given first preference to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile over the Sprint. Also for Brown and Klaravich, Reinvestment Risk went a half-mile in 49.04 seconds in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, which Brown won with Good Magic in 2017. The son of first-crop sire Upstart was a recent second in the Grade 1 Champagne to likely Juvenile favorite Jackie's Warrior.

Peter Brant's Dunbar Road logged a five-furlong work in 1:00.60 for Brown. The winner of last year's Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga is targeting the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff, which she finished fifth in last year.

Oleksandra posts final breeze for G1 Turf Sprint

Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale, currently overseeing a stable of six horses at Belmont, said last-out Grade 1 Jaipur winner Oleksandra looked sharp in her six-furlong breeze Sunday in 1:14.04 on Big Sandy in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

"She's doing very well," said Drysdale. "She doesn't need speed because she's very fast. She worked in company behind another horse and started a half dozen lengths back and finished well."

The ultra-consistent Animal Kingdom mare, Team Valor homebred, sports a record of 15-7-3-3 with purse earnings of $537,353. She rallied from last-of-98 to beat the boys in the six-furlong Jaipur on June 20.

Oleksandra has worked six times on the Belmont main since October 2, including a trio of half-furlong breezes in close succession, ahead of a strong five-furlong effort in 1:01.58 last week.

"That was because of the layoff to get her fit," said Drysdale regarding the busy work pattern. "We gave her some small easy works and then we've only done two serious works - this one and the last one."

Oleksandra won the Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County in October 2019 in her only start at Keeneland.

"She's won down there and if it comes up a bit soft she doesn't mind," said Drysdale.

A six-time Breeders' Cup winner, Drysdale won the 1992 Belmont Stakes with A.P. Indy and added a Kentucky Derby win to his ledger in 2000 with Fusaichi Pegasus.

Drysdale started four horses at the Belmont fall meet with the best result being a runner-up effort from Adare, a 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro colt, in a 1 1/6-mile main track event on October 9.

"We'll see how these horses develop here," said Drysdale. "Adare ran well the other day and only got beat a neck. He should improve off that race. We have some maidens to develop."

Clement works juvenile Breeders' Cup contenders one day before trekking to Bluegrass State

Trainer Christophe Clement sent out a pair of Breeders' Cup probables to the Belmont Park main track early Sunday, with Plum Ali [Juveniles Fillies Turf] breezing three-eighths in 36.11 and Momos [Juvenile Turf Sprint] clocked in 35.20 over a Big Sandy track labeled fast.

Clement said he was pleased with both efforts before the pair ship to Lexington, Kentucky for the Breeders' Cup Future Stars Friday at Keeneland. Plum Ali galloped out in 48.37 while Momos went in 49.22, according to DRF.

"They had an easy work on dirt and looked great," Clement said. "I'm very happy with the two of them. They came back in good shape. Now, it's just about keeping them happy as they ship off to Kentucky tomorrow, and we'll go from there."

The duo will look to give Clement his first career Breeders' Cup win after a slew of close calls, with the conditioner saddling six runners-up, six third-place finishes and eight fourth-place efforts in 38 previous starts entering this year's World Championships from November 6-7.

Owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables, Plum Ali will put her 3-for-3 record on the line in the $1 million contest going one mile. The First Samurai filly made a successful debut on July 23 at Saratoga, posting a come-from-behind two-length victory going 1 1/16 miles. Cut back to the Juvenile Fillies Turf distance in her stakes debut, she again tracked the early speed before showing great closing speed, powering home a 2 ¾-length victor in the Mint Juvenile Fillies on September 7 at Kentucky Downs.

Stepping up to graded stakes company, Plum Ali improved her Beyer Speed Figure for a third consecutive race, netting an 82 for her 2 1/4-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Miss Grillo on October 4 over firm Belmont turf.

Momos, owned by Ironhorse Racing Stable and Secure Investments, also posted a debut win at the Spa, winning by 6 ½ furlongs over the main track on July 18. The son of Distorted Humor stayed on the same surface for a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on August 7 before making his turf debut last out with a third-place effort - one length behind winner Second of July - in the Grade 3 Futurity going six furlongs on October 11 at Belmont.

Locally, Clement will also have stakes representation at Aqueduct Racetrack's opening weekend, with the Irish-bred Magisterium ready for her second North American start in the $100,000 Stewart Manor for juvenile fillies going six furlongs on the outer turf on Saturday.

After making her first four starts in Great Britain, the daughter of Elzaam made the trek across the Atlantic and ran third in the Grade 3 Matron going six furlongs over firm Belmont grass on October 11. Magisterium also breezed Sunday at Belmont, going a half-mile in 53 flat over the soft inner turf.

"She also worked and had a good one," Clement said. "It was a good start last time. She seems very comfortable here."

Waterford Stable's Speaktomeofsummer was also clocked in 53 flat over the inner turf on Sunday as she readies for stakes action at the Big A, with the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes in the $100,000 Winter Memories for 3-year-old fillies on November 15 a possibility. The winner of the 1 1/8-mile Lake Placid in July at Saratoga was second last out in the Grade 2 Sands Point going one mile on October 10 over the Belmont turf.

"Speaktomeofsummer had a very nice work on the grass and came back in good shape and is possible for a stakes coming up at Aqueduct."

Otterbend Stables' Gufo breezed a half-mile in 50.85 on the main track Sunday for the first time since winning the Grade 1 Belmont Derby on October 3. The Declaration of War sophomore has won three stakes this year, including the English Channel in May at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 3 Kent on July 4 at Delaware Park.

"Gufo had his first work back since his last race. It was a very easy work on dirt and he came back great," Clement said.

Step Dancer earns 83BSF for Awad score

Hayward R. Pressman, Diamond M Stable and Donna Pressman's New York-bred Step Dancer earned an 83 Beyer for a rail-skimming victory in Saturday's $80,000 Awad for juvenile colts going 1 1/6-miles on a yielding Widener turf.

Trained by Barclay Tagg, the son of New York sire War Dancer was patiently handled by jockey Dylan Davis, who found an opening along the rail in the stretch run and surged to a three-quarter length score.

Assistant trainer Robin Smullen said Step Dancer will enjoy a little downtime at their winter base at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Florida, before pointing towards a possible start in the Cutler Bay at one mile on the Gulfstream Park turf on March 27.

"He came out of the race great, but we're going to give him a little break," said Smullen. "He'll come with us to Florida and probably not doing anything for three weeks or so and then we'll crank him back up and probably run him once down there. We'll point him towards the Cutler Bay if everything works out. That would get him ready for back here because he can race in the stallion series races."

Step Dancer posted a rallying 24-1 upset score in his September unveiling on the Saratoga turf ahead of a more prominent third in the Grade 2 Pilgrim on October 3 on the Belmont turf.

"We just did the wrong thing with him in his second start," said Smullen. "We thought we'd have to lay a little closer because of the inner turf and that's obviously not the way he wants to run. We learned from our mistake and took him back this time and it worked out great.

"He was very impressive yesterday," continued Smullen. "He came home with a nice kick and he obviously loved the soft turf. We'll have to see if he likes the firm turf in Florida. We have the stallion series to look forward to and maybe later in the year there will be something even further. I think more distance the better he's going to be."

Smullen praised Davis for a brave ground-saving ride.

"He rode him beautifully. He's learned so much riding in this colony and he certainly looks like he belongs and he's riding like he's right at the top," said Smullen.

The Tagg barn will ship their stock out of Belmont on Thursday with Smullen making one key stop en route to Florida to watch Sackatoga Stable's multiple Grade 1-winner Tiz the Law race in Saturday's Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

"You've got to love those New York-breds," said Smullen with a laugh. "It was a great way to top things off here yesterday and if Tiz can pull that off it would be unbelievable."

Luck Money earns career-best 91 BSF in Zagora triumph

Dr. Catherine Wills' newly minted stakes winner Luck Money garnered a career-best 91 Beyer for her triumph in Saturday's $80,000 Zagora, where she kept a consistent record intact and now boasts a record of 10-3-3-4.

Piloted by Javier Castellano, Luck Money sustained a three-wide position taking dead aim at the frontrunners and held off late challenges from Hungry Kitten and Mutamakina to secure a neck victory.

"She looked good this morning but was a little tired, which is normal when shipping back," Delacour said. "It looks like she can go over any ground and she showed yesterday that she can stretch out just fine."

Luck Money arrived at the Zagora off a victory against winners over the Keeneland lawn going 1 1/8 miles after finishing a close third in the Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs.

Delacour said that there are plenty of options for Luck Money, but that the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita is a possibility, as is the Grade 3, $100,000 Long Island on November 28 at Aqueduct.

"I want to wait and see what the stakes schedule at Santa Anita looks like. That's something we could be interested in," Delacour said.

A Kentucky homebred, Luck Money is out of the unraced black type producing Rahy mare Flagrant, whose other notable offspring include 2009 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Furthest Land and graded stakes placed Street Move. Luck Money also comes from the same family as multiple graded stakes winner Ready for Rye.

                                                               Aqueduct fall meet Week 1 stakes probables

Saturday, November 7

G3 $100K Turnback the Alarm 

Probable: Another Broad (Todd Pletcher), Foxtail (Mertkan Kantarmaci), Nonna Madeline (Pletcher)
Possible: Dreamer's Moon (Claudio Gonzalez), Eres Tu (Arnaud Delacour), Mrs. Orb (Michael Miceli), Nasty Affair (Orlando Noda), 

$100,000 Stewart Manor

Probable: Herald Angle (Mike Maker), Lexinator (Nicholas Sideris), Magical Soul (John Kimmel), Magisterium (Christophe Clement), Show Me the Honey (Michelle Nevin), Spirited Beauty (Jose Camejo)

Sunday, November 8

G3 $100,000 Nashua

Probable: Isolate (Katherine Ritvo), Nova Rags (Bill Mott), Pickin' Time (Kelly Breen), Spectatorless (Wayne Potts), Ten For Ten (Shug McGaughey)
Possible: Civil War (Tom Albertrani)