Breeders' Cup Clocker Report: Shanghai Bobby outshines older workout mate

ELMONT, N.Y. - The rain was long gone and the main track had dried out nicely and was very fast but the majority of activity from potential Breeders’ Cup starters still came over the training track on a cool but beautiful Sunday morning at Belmont Park.

Brilliant Speed, who will make the final start of his career in the Classic, Eclipse Award winner Awesome Feather, and trainer Todd Pletcher’s trio of undefeated 2-year-olds, Shanghai Bobby, Dreaming of Julia, and Kauai Katie, were among the nine possible Breeders’ Cup starters to work on Sunday, all but Awesome Feather and her stablemate Corporate Jungle conducting their business over the training track.

WORK OF THE DAY was Shanghai Bobby (four furlongs in 47.01 seconds): This son of Harlan’s Holiday showed why he’s perfect in four starts after getting the better of the older, Grade 3 winner San Pablo going a half- mile in company after the second renovation break. Shanghai Bobby was about a length behind San Pablo as the pair eased into their work going at a two-minute clip from the five- to four -furlong marker and was on even terms before the duo reached the quarter pole. Through the final furlong, it was the older San Pablo who had to be pushed the hardest to keep up, Shanghai Bobby posting nearly identical 23.50 and 23.51 quarter splits while finishing in hand before galloping out a solid five-eighths in 1:00.75 and pulling up six furlongs in 1:14.36. Perhaps just an easy maintenance move coming out of his victory in the Grade 1 Champagne but an indication there is even further upside here.

Other workouts

Dreaming of Julia (four furlongs in 48.02): The first of all the Breeders’ Cup runners to work, the Frizette winner breezed in company with the Grade 2-placed older mare Maristar and proved a head the best at the end while just cruising to the wire although her opening split of 23.77 was a bit faster than her final quarter of 24.25. Maristar did gallop out the stronger of the pair into the turn. This was just an easy maintenance move for this extremely talented Dreaming of Julia, who exits a gut-wrenching win two weeks earlier.

Awesome Feather (six furlongs in 1:12.22): Working on a faster than average main track after the renovation break, the undefeated champion broke off at the five-eighths pole and went to the wire in 59.79, completing her final quarter in 24.23 with a mild tailwind at her back. She was then urged some once passing the finish line to work another furlong down the stretch before galloping out seven-eighths in 1:25.32. Nothing spectacular here, little more than a relatively routine, stamina-enhancing type of drill two weeks out from her much anticipated match with Royal Delta in the Ladies’ Classic.

Corporate Jungle (four furlongs in 47.46): Corporate Jungle appeared to be out near the center of the course as he galloped past the five-furlong pole before angling sharply to the rail when set down to begin his drill after which he busted off an opening quarter in a blistering 22.16. That pace took its toll down the stretch as he became noticeably leg weary approaching the wire and did not have much left for the gallop out, pulling up five-eighths in 1:01.32. Not the manner in which one might have expected a late-running, one-mile turf specialist to work over the main track.

Turbulent Descent (five furlongs in 1:01.02): The two-time Grade 1 winner had the younger Kauai Katie for a workmate and was certainly the stronger of the pair immediately after the second break at the training track. Although the two fillies were on even terms throughout, Turbulent Descent was going much easier down the stretch than her company before galloping out a couple of lengths clear after six furlongs in 1:14.48. She may be the forgotten member of Pletcher’s Breeders’ Cup team going into the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Kauai Katie (five furlongs in 1:01.02): Unbeaten and yet virtually untested juvenile filly was able to finish on even terms with the older Turbulent Descent through a final quarter-mile in 24.17 but had to be well urged to do so then could not keep up during the gallop out, completing six furlongs about two lengths behind her partner in 1:14.88. Not as visually impressive as her other Breeders’ Cup bound stablemates who breezed during the course of the morning but was matched with a Grade 1-caliber, older partner.

The Lumber Guy (four furlongs in 48.41): Coming off a career-best performance returning from a 4 1/2-month layoff in the Vosburgh just three weeks earlier, The Lumber Guy was given another fairly easy maintenance run although he did shade 24 for his final quarter while pretty much being eased up once getting to the wire, galloping out five-eighths, by design, in a relatively average 1:02.30.

Brilliant Speed (five furlongs in 1:00.54): This move may have rivaled Shanghai Bobby for the work of the day as the turf specialist was going easy throughout but finished very willingly sans pressure, his final three-eighths in 35.62, before galloping out a crisp six furlongs in 1:13.51 and pulling up seven-eighths in 1:27.54. He made a big impression but is facing a daunting task switching to dirt for the Classic.

Belle of the Hall (four furlongs in 49.71): Recent stakes winner was going easily to the wire, galloped out willingly enough but like her stablemate Brilliant Speed will be trying to climb a big mountain in the Filly and Mare Sprint.