Breeders’ Cup Contenders Tune Up at Churchill

Ahead of the Oct. 30-31 Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, a handful of Breeders' Cup contenders recorded their final workouts Oct. 23 at Churchill Downs. Among these breezes was an in-company workout by Brad Cox-trained stablemates Foxiest and Scarlett Begonia, both pointed to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The pair, who were clocked covering 5 furlongs in 1:00 4/5, are stepping up in class in the 1 1/16-mile race after flashing promise against easier opposition. Cox said Scarlett Begonia was eager to start the workout but settled down. He noted that both are "doing as well as they're going to do leading up." Hat Creek Racing, Ashview Farm, and Upland Flats Racing's Scarlett Begonia, by Life Is Good, broke her maiden on debut before running third in the Adirondack Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course and second to the unbeaten Manuka Honey in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) Sept. 12 at Churchill Downs. The latter also is pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) for trainer Brian Lynch. LNJ Foxwood's Foxiest lacks stakes experience, with both of her starts coming in the maiden ranks. After a debut third at Saratoga, she broke her maiden Sept. 27 at Churchill Downs, winning over 7 1/2 furlongs. She has a pedigree for Breeders' Cup success, being a homebred daughter of 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Gun Runner out of 2019 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Covfefe. Gun Runner was Horse of the Year in 2017, and Covfefe took dual Eclipse Awards in 2019 as champion female sprinter and champion 3-year-old filly. Cox, who trained Covfefe, believes Foxiest can handle two turns. "It's obviously a good cross with Gun Runner. I think Gun Runner puts the stamina on the mare," Cox said. In other works from Churchill, Splendora breezed five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) for Hall of Fame Bob Baffert; the Wayne Catalano-trained Built went a half-mile in :48 3/5, likely for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1); and Let Em Know went a half-mile in :48 4/5 for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) for trainer Whit Beckman. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Built will need a new rider for the Breeders' Cup after his initially booked jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., reportedly broke his left ankle after being unseated from the 2-year-old filly She's Good Trouble during the ninth race Oct. 22 at Keeneland. Built's new rider, who hadn't been determined by Friday morning, will be instructed to ride him patiently. "He just wants to run the last part, and don't release him too early. That's the key to him," Catalano told publicist Jennie Rees of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. Cox also will need a substitute rider for Bless The Broken and Further Ado in their Breeders' Cup races. The trainer said Ortiz was to ride them. Bless The Broken goes in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), and Further Ado is likely for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), though he was also pre-entered in the Dirt Mile (G1) and could run there. Those horses are expected to breeze Oct. 23, with the former at Keeneland and the latter at Churchill. Final race decisions and rider assignments must be made by Oct. 26. Post positions are drawn that afternoon. Similarly, Built was pre-entered in the $1 million Dirt Mile, though he is expected to contest the Sprint, which is worth double the purse. Most of his better races have come around one turn. Catalano, a four-time Breeders' Cup-winning trainer, previously won the Sprint in 2021 with Aloha West for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.