Breeders' Cup: Havre de Grace 'ready to go' for Classic

October 25, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. Havre de Grace, the leading lady of the 2011 Breeders Cup, worked five furlongs in 58.57 seconds over the very glib Polytrack surface Monday morning at Keeneland in her penultimate work prior to her appearance in the Breeders Cup Classic on Nov. 5.Trainer Larry Jones said he expected owner Rick Porter to pre-enter Havre de Grace later that morning in both the Ladies Classic and Classic, but that there was little doubt in his mind that the main goal for his filly is the Classic.Havre de Graces workout came one day after her chief rival in the Classic, Uncle Mo, worked six furlongs in 1:13.22 over the Belmont Park training track. Uncle Mo, Stay Thirsty. and the rest of trainer Todd Pletchers New York-based Breeders Cup contingent arrived safely at Churchill Downs late Monday morning.Ramon Dominguez is Havre de Graces regular jockey, but it was Gabriel Saez, Joness first-call rider, who was aboard for Mondays workout. Saez was equipped with a video camera on his helmet to record the workout from the riders perspective. He said the video would be posted on YouTube and Havre de Graces Facebook page later in the day.Havre de Grace posted splits of 11.56 for the opening eighth, 23.28 for the quarter, 35.12 for three-eighths, and 46.83 for a half. She completed her final quarter in 23.45 under some late urging by Saez before galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.86.It went good, Jones said as Havre de Grace cooled out back at the barn. She was blowing a little bit when she came back, but were ready to go. Shes been ready. The only thing that can happen between now and the race would be in the wrong direction.Havre de Grace had never worked or raced over an artificial surface prior to Monday.I dont know if this is her favorite surface, Jones said, referring to the Polytrack. I could tell she was glad to do a little something different, but shes ready to get back to dirt and do her thing.Jones said Havre de Grace would ship to Churchill Downs on Saturday and have her final Breeders Cup prep, weather permitting, next Monday.Havre de Grace was the first of five potential Breeders Cup starters to work at Keeneland on Monday. She was followed by Pleasant Prince (Marathon), who sizzled three furlongs in 33.08 over the main track, and turf workers Turallure (Mile), Great Attack (Turf Sprint), and Holiday for Kitten (Filly and Mare Sprint or Turf Sprint). Turallure was the best of the turf trio, all of whom worked five furlongs, completing the distance in 59.44 under jockey Julien Leparoux. Great Attack went in 1:04.26 and Holiday for Kitten in 1:00.90.