Fresh off his victory in the Sept. 19 Pennsylvania Derby (G1), The Puma arrived at Keeneland Oct. 5 to prepare for the Breeders' Cup. Although trainers Gustavo Delgado Sr. and Gustavo Delgado Jr. are still debating which Breeders' Cup race to run the Essential Quality colt, his return to the worktab Oct. 9 has them leaning toward the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
"We haven't decided which race we're going to go, but after today and the way things have been developing, we're pointing more toward the Classic," the younger Delgado said of the colt owned by OGMA Investments, High Step Racing, TCC Stables, YNG Stables, and JR Ranch.
Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano was aboard for the first breeze since the Pennsylvania Derby. The Puma donned blinkers, which were an immediate success when added for the first time in a race at Parx Racing. The official time on Friday was 1:04 2/5 for 5 furlongs, the slowest time of 30 works at the distance at Keeneland over the morning training period, but the Delgados feel the 3-year-old colt got what he needed from the maintenance work.
The Puma won the Pennsylvania Derby just three weeks after finishing a solid fourth in the Travers Stakes (G1), and Delgado Jr. explained that the work aimed to check on his status after that quick turnaround.
"We just wanted to see where he was at," Delgado Jr. said. "Javier came and gave us a good opinion about him. He's still fresh, which is hard to believe after all the big efforts. But more importantly, it's a good sign to move forward the next three weeks."
The Puma was one of the top choices in the betting for the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1) this spring but had to scratch after developing an infection that morning. However, for the Breeders' Cup, that could be a blessing in disguise, as the gap in the schedule lets him enter the race a bit fresher than some of his competitors.
"It's not what we planned, but I think the outcome so far has been very positive," Delgado Jr. said. "If you imagine what would be the best-case scenario after Derby week, we are in a really nice place right now. We feel good about him, the way he's doing right now."
In addition to the Classic, the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) is also under consideration. Delgado Jr. said the colt will be pre-entered in both races, and the final decision will depend on how the horse is doing and what the fields look like for each race. The expected pace scenario, given that The Puma is a closer who benefits from fast early fractions, will also play a key role in the decision.
Englishman Returns to Worktab
News was also good at the Cherie DeVaux barn Friday as Englishman, the expected favorite for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), returned to the worktab after missing a breeze last week with a minor foot issue.
Daily Racing Form's Marcus Hersh reported Oct. 2 that equine podiatrist and veterinarian Dr. Bryan Fraley visited the DeVaux barn to treat a foot issue that arose earlier that week. DeVaux said Friday that the colt only missed about four days of training. If his workout was any indication, the missed days didn't seem to have any impact.
Breezing by himself soon after the track opened at 5:30 a.m., C R K Stable's son of Maxfield recorded a bullet half-mile in :47 2/5, the fastest of 51 at the distance Friday.
"Englishman had a great work this morning," DeVaux said of the dual grade 1 winner. "He hasn't lost a step at all. It doesn't really phase him to miss a work. When we were going into the Allen Jerkens and we had a lot of time, we, by design, spaced his works out a little bit longer. He stays fit; obviously he's ultra fast, so you just try to keep them happy and sound."
Also on the worktab Friday for DeVaux was Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Golden Tempo. Pointing toward the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred son of Curlin went 5 furlongs in 1:01 4/5 while taking his customary position inside of a workmate, stakes-placed 4-year-old So Sandy. As usual, he pulled away from his workmate on the gallop out with Jose Ortiz aboard.
"He also had a very nice work," DeVaux said of Golden Tempo. "Jose was aboard; he was quite pleased with him. He's a different type of work horse (than Englishman), just a Steady Eddie."
