Working Saturday at Santa Anita toward expected starts in the Breeders' Cup were Grade I American Pharoah runner-up Net Par and a quartet of runners for trainer Phil D'Amato—Gold Phoenix, Thought Process, Sorrento Sky and Majestic Oops.
Net Par, trained by Antonio Garcia, drilled four furlongs in 1:00.4 with jockey Juan Hernandez aboard. It was his first work since the American Pharoah on Oct. 3.
"He cruised around there pretty easy," Garcia said. "Juan was pretty happy with the way he did it and galloped out. It will depend on how he's doing tomorrow, but more than likely we're going to the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile)."
Making his two-turn debut in the 1 1/16-miile American Pharoah, California-bred Net Par went to the lead under jockey Adrian Escobedo and showed the way down the backstretch while receiving pressure on his outside. Net Par put away his pace rival on the second turn but then had to deal with Hughes, the odds-on favorite trained by Bob Baffert. Hughes ranged up to the outside of Net Par near the quarter pole and spurted away in the stretch to win by six lengths. Net Par, who was 18-1, finished 9 ½ lengths clear of third-place finisher Imperial Honor. Hughes is expected to be the favorite in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Oct. 30 at Keeneland.
"We were trying to see this morning if he came out of that last race well. It was a lot to ask of him and he ran a good race," Garcia said. "I wanted to get Juan's opinion and he was pretty happy, so I'll take his word."
By Pavel, Net Par is a homebred for Reddam Racing. He would be Garcia's first Breeders' Cup starter.
"Pretty cool," Garcia said.
Prior to the American Pharoah, Net Par had a productive Del Mar meet. He broke his maiden when making his second start in July, then came right back to win the Graduation Stakes against California-breds going 5 ½ furlongs in August. Net Par returned in the six-furlong I'm Smokin Stakes for statebreds on Sept. 7. He stumbled badly leaving the starting gate that day but then rallied to be second behind odds-on favorite Early Encore.
D'Amato's quartet of workers Saturday will be joined at the Breeders' Cup by stablemate Iron Man Cal, who on Thursday worked five furlongs in 1:00.8 for an expected start in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Gold Phoenix worked five furlongs in company on the training track in 59.8 seconds.
"Good drill," D'Amato said. "This was his heavy-lifting work. He'll have an easy one next week and then we'll go to Kentucky."
Gold Phoenix is ticketed for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf going 1 ½ miles on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. It would be the fifth straight appearance in the Breeders' Cup Turf for Gold Phoenix, an 8-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Belardo. Last year, he finished fifth at Del Mar. Gold Phoenix most recently on Aug. 29 at Del Mar finished fourth in the GII Del Mar Handicap.
Sorrento Sky, targeting the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, also worked five furlongs on the training track in 59.8 seconds. It was his second work since winning the GII Eddie D on the hillside turf course on Sept. 26.
"He breezed with (jockey) Umberto Rispoli. It was a tough breeze today and again (like Gold Phoenix), he'll have any breeze next week before going into Kentucky," D'Amato said.
Thought Process worked for the first time since winning the GII Rodeo Drive on Oct. 3 at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old filly by Collected was clocked going four furlongs in 48.4 seconds.
"It was just an easy breeze today. She'll have a tougher one next week going five-eighths and then we'll put her on the plane," D'Amato said.
Majestic Oops worked for the second time since finishing second in the GII Zenyatta going 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita. The 6-year-old mare by Majestic Harbor was timed going five furlongs in 1:01.6. D'Amato said Majestic Oops, who was ninth in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff, and has raced exclusively around two turns this campaign, would be entered in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs.
"It was just an easy five-eighths today. She'll have a tougher five-eighths next week and then run in the Filly & Mare Sprint," D'Amato said.
Pre-entries for the Breeders' Cup close on Monday at 12 p.m. ET. All North American-based horses competing in the Breeders' Cup must be on the Keeneland grounds by Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. ET.
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