Churchill Downs Arrivals Curly Jack, Shoplifter Test Keeneland Track

Michael McLoughlin’s Curly Jack had his first timed Keeneland workout Friday in advance of the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Nov. 4.

With regular jockey Edgar Morales aboard, the son of 2017 Juvenile winner Good Magic covered the half-mile in :49.80 on a fast main track. The Juvenile will be Curly Jack’s first start since capturing the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs Sept. 17.

“This is his last work going into the race,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “I know the big question on everyone’s mind is the time between races and how he will respond to that. I am very comfortable with that. Today’s work was designed to be an easy half-mile with a good gallop out. We got just that.”

Curly Jack, a Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate, began his career with a 4-length victory in a Churchill Downs maiden race June 2. After finishing fifth in the Sanford (G3) at Saratoga in July, he was beaten a head in the Runhappy Ellis Park Juvenile Aug. 14 in his only other start.

Curly Jack’s previous works have been at Amoss’ Churchill base.

“I am at Churchill more than I am here and I wanted to be around him on a daily basis,” Amoss said.

Working about the same time as Curly Jack was Anderson Stables, Christian Hays and trainer Eddie Kenneally’s Shoplifter, who breezed a half-mile in :48.20.

The NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) pre-entrant had been training at Churchill since her runner-up finish Sept. 17 in the Pocahontas (G3).

“She went right after the (renovation) break and did it the right way,” Kenneally said. “It was just a maintenance work. She had her major work last Friday at Churchill (5 furlongs in 1:01.60).”