Racing

Breeders’ Cup Pre-Entrants Breeze on Dirt

Seven horses pre-entered in the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar recorded their final works for the event Saturday morning at Keeneland.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux’s five pre-entrants – Cagliostro (Dirt Mile), More Than Looks (Mile), Pipeline (Dirt Mile), Pyrenees (Classic) and Vahva (Filly and Mare Sprint) – turned in half-mile maintenance works on the dirt track labeled fast.

“This morning we were just working, looking for maintenance moves out here,” DeVaux said. “There’s nothing going to be too flashy, just trying to make sure they’re on task and doing as well as they can be. All of them looked great. This week, not looking for too much out of them is the objective.”

Wathnan Racing’s Cagliostro went in company with Blue Heaven Farm’s Pyrenees and were clocked in :49. (Click here for a video of the work.)

“If you take them solo, they’ll have a tendency to be a bit lazy,” DeVaux said about the two horses. “You just want to make sure they keep to task. They’re easy enough to ride (so) they’re not going to do too much out there.”

Victory Racing Partners’ More Than Looks turned in a solo work in :49.60. He was second in Keeneland’s Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) on Oct. 5. (Click here for a video of the work.)

John D. Gunther’s Pipeline breezed the distance in :48.20.

Vahva worked by herself in :48. (Click here for a video of the work.) Keeneland clockers caught her in fractions of :12.40, :24, :35.60 and :48. She galloped out 5 furlongs in 1:01.40.

Vahva races for Belladonna Racing, Lynne Hudson, Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Nice Guys Stables, Twin Brook Stables, Steve Hornstock, LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock and Runnels Racing.

Also working on the dirt:

For trainer Gustavo Delgado, Ferocious (Juvenile): 5 furlongs in 1:01.80 with a final quarter-mile in :23.20. He galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:14.80.

Second in Keeneland’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on Oct. 5, Ferocious races for JR Ranch, Marquee Bloodstock, High Step Racing and OGMA Investments.

For trainer Wesley Ward, Nakatomi (Sprint) went 5 furlongs in company with Grade 1 winner Chi Town Lady in 1:01. (Click here for a video of the work.)

Nakatomi, who is owned by Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriana Hay, was second in Keeneland’s Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) on Oct. 4.

Post positions for all 14 World Championships races will be drawn Monday beginning at 7:15 ET at the Rood & Riddle Post Position Draw in the Paddock at Del Mar. The event will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV and streamed on the Breeders’ Cup website, Official Mobile App, and FacebookTwitter and YouTube channels.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, Keeneland will hold its inaugural Championship Sale at Del Mar. Visit Championship.Keeneland.com for more information.