STONETASTIC LOOKING GOOD

With Breeders’ Cup 2014 now less than a week away, there was no shortage of action at the host site with more than 25 potential Breeders’ Cup starters turning in official works over both the main and turf tracks at Santa Anita on Saturday morning.

The main track was, as usual, on the quick side Saturday and likely fastest of all following the final renovation break as a result of the maintenance crew watering the strip for the one and only time during training hours shortly before 9 a.m. The dogs were set out approximately 45 feet from the inside rail on the turf course.

Work of the Day

Stonetastic (three furlongs in 34.08 seconds): What was essentially a three-furlong blow-out turned into work of the day honors for this Grade 2 winner, not so much for her swift final clocking but more so for the manner in which she galloped out upon completion of the drill and the overall impression she made in the process. Stonetastic flew away from the pole, shading 11 seconds for her opening eighth. In fact, she was going so fast, she wound up fanning about five or six paths wide leaving the bend. But once straightening she continued strongly to the wire without need of urging, after which she kept going another solid three-eighths with her rider up in the irons, completing a half-mile in 46.29 and five- eighths in 59.36 before pulling up six furlongs in 1:12.95. With Midnight Lucky now on the sidelines, Stonetastic may stand some catching in the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Candy Boy (seven furlongs in 1:25.35): Classic hopeful was a bit rank approaching the pole but quickly settled into a nice stride while reserved about three lengths behind workmate Candy Anniversary. Candy Boy relaxed through a 49.01 opening half, drew alongside his target midway on the turn, and then easily pulled away from his mate down the stretch. Candy Boy did appear to get a little tired while perhaps loafing a bit without company at that point although he did continue on well into the turn, galloping out a mile in 1:38.51.

Prayer for Relief (five furlongs in 59.55): Trainer Dale Romans’s Classic contender was allowed to roll throughout by exercise rider Tammy Fox, picking up the pace following a 12.03 opening eighth to post internal splits of 23.88 and 35.37 for the quarter and three-eighths before coming down the stretch in 24.18 under some additional urging. He galloped out an average six furlongs in 1:13.24 while working late over a bit of a chewed up track shortly before the start of the second renovation break.

Tiz Midnight (six furlongs in 1:11.93): Distaff candidate Tiz Midnight broke off at the 5 ½-furlong pole and turned in a sharp work shortly before dawn, completing her final quarter under just some light urging past the wire to the 7 1/2-furlong marker in 23.69. She then continued on very willingly under some additional encouragement into and around the turn, getting seven-eighths in 1:24.64 before pulling up a mile in 1:38.25.

Valiant Emelia (five furlongs in 1:00.09): The second of the Distaff contenders to breeze on Saturday, she had jockey Rafael Bejarano up, broke about a half-length behind her workmate and had to work just a bit before finally surging late to finish a half-length best after posting a 35.42 opening split. She galloped out okay, not great, in 1:13.38.

Rich Tapestry (five furlongs in 1:01.24): Among the candidates for work of the day honors, this Hong Kong invader gave every indication this morning he may not regress off his victory over Goldencents and Secret Circle in his U.S. debut in the BC Sprint. With exercise rider Vincent Sit aboard and working in blinkers, Rich Tapestry cruised through an opening three-eighths in 38.12, relaxing behind one inadvertent target and despite being passed leaving the backstretch by a second. Rich Tapestry responded readily to one light tap of the stick in early stretch to pass one rival, and then made up about four to five lengths on the second when asked to finish near the sixteenth pole, completing his final quarter in 23.22 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.62.

Big Macher (four furlongs in 47.40): Had Tyler Baze up, turned in a half-mile maintenance-type breeze following a series of much swifter works dating all the way back to his disappointing effort in the Pat O’Brien; galloped out well enough, five-eighths in 1:00.23, in preparation for the Sprint.

Fed Biz (five furlongs in 59.11): Broke off at the 4 1/2-furlong pole outside and about a half- length behind stable mate Declassify, stuck his head in front entering the stretch, and then maintained a narrow advantage passing the finish line, both horses under little encouragement to the wire. Fed Biz was finally able to edge 1 1/2 lengths clear concluding the drill at the 7 ½-furlong marker before pulling away, albeit through just an average gallop-out.

Texas Red (five furlongs in 1:02.40): Began four lengths behind a workmate and went a leisurely opening three-eighths in 38.62 with Kent Desormeaux up. Finally drew on even terms with his partner, who was purposely taken wide and in hand waiting on the Juvenile hopeful entering the stretch, approaching the eighth pole and then was under some pressure to finally forge about a head in front at the end of a very average looking move.

Cristina’s Journey (five furlongs in 1:00.44): Worked late over a well chewed up surface right before the final renovation break and looked good going an easy five-eighths under Tammy Fox in 1:00.44, shading 25 for her final quarter before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.99.

Golden Ticket (five furlongs in 59.36): Does not have the prettiest way of going, but he breezed over a tighter track after the third break, was extended much of the way, responded to late urging to post a 23.81 final quarter over the swift going, galloped out an average six furlongs in 1:13.15.

Turf Works

Obviously (five furlongs in 58.66): Mile entrant has always been a swift worker but he was extremely sharp this morning around the wide dogs, flashing big speed from the pole under Joe Talamo; completed his opening three-eighths in 35.07, still had plenty left, continuing on with good energy down the stretch and galloping out into the bend.

Harlanate/Conquest Tycoon (five furlongs in 1:00.47): Team of Mark Casse-trained 2-year-old turf runners both looked very sharp testing the local course for the first time this morning. Harlanate, with Corey Nakatani up, worked inside her mate, benefited a bit when cutting the corner turning for home, finished up on even terms with the pair striding out extremely well, both shading 23 for their final quarter with neither ever really extended at any juncture.

Ambitious Brew (five furlongs in 1:00.09): Another very nice-looking grass move, he cruised through a strong five-eighths under Mike Smith, completed the final quarter in 23. 66 without any encouragement, galloped out with good energy into the turn.

Kaigun (five furlongs in 1:00.37): The final turf worker of the long morning, the Casse trainee followed his juvenile mates with an equally impressive five-furlong breeze, shading 24 for the final quarter without being asked.

Luck of the Kitten (four furlongs in 49.92): Relaxed through an opening quarter in 25.45 under jockey Mike Smith, finished decently enough while going easily throughout, but with not much gallop-out into the turn.

Nickys Brown Miss (four furlongs in 48.50): Out in 24.72, home in 23 and change under some moderate pressure.

Lawn Ranger (five furlongs in 1:03.45): Walked early through a 40.08 opening three-eighths under Brice Blanc, was hard pressured from the eighth pole to the wire to complete his final quarter in respectable 23.37, and continued out nicely into the turn.

Big John B (five furlongs in 1:02.54): Just an average-looking move, came home his final quarter in 24.29 under mild urging.

Marchman (four furlongs in 48.79): Only a moderate response when set down hard from the sixteenth pole to the wire going an even half-mile.

Danny Boy (five furlongs in 1:00.20): Had Tammy Fox aboard; she let him roll pretty much from start to finish, did have some run at the finish and on the gallop-out into the clubhouse turn.

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