Magnitude Accelerates at Keeneland with Dreams of the Breeders' Cup Classic
With Flavien Prat aboard, the son of Not This Time posted one of the sharpest morning breezes Saturday over 1000 meters. Chad Brown also worked several of his marquee stars, while Stradale impressed with his speed heading toward the Sprint
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— The countdown to the Breeders' Cup is entering its decisive stage, and Saturday saw another morning of intense activity at Keeneland, with several of the top contenders for the World Championship races putting in significant moves. Among them, Magnitude proved to be one of the headline acts, reaffirming his sharp form ahead of the $7,000,000 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the centerpiece event of the upcoming meeting.
The Not This Time colt, trained by Steve Asmussen, covered 1000 meters in 1m60/100, matching the fastest time among 24 horses working that distance. He accomplished the move following the first track harrow, working on the outside of his company Publisher (American Pharoah), a graded stakes winner with G1 placings.
The presence of Flavien Prat was another notable detail. The French rider traveled specifically from New York to guide Magnitude in his second consecutive breeze after being confirmed as his jockey for the Classic, following José Ortiz's decision to maintain his commitment to Golden Tempo (Curlin), winner of two legs of the American Triple Crown.
"It was a very good breeze. Practically identical to last week's. Magnitude is doing extremely well and moving beautifully," said Prat, well satisfied with the colt's effort.
Stationed at Keeneland since late September, Magnitude has now completed four works over the main track. His previous move on October 10 was also a 1000-meter breeze in 1m60/100, that time alongside two-time winner Preside. The consistent nature of his morning trials continues to fuel growing expectations around one of the key names heading into the Classic.
Chad Brown's powerhouse barn also experienced a particularly active morning. Fully Subscribed (Tiz the Law), fresh off her victory in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) on October 4, recorded her first exercise since that win, going 800 meters in 49s80/100 with her sights set on the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).
Among his candidates for the Filly & Mare Turf (G1), Kathynmarissa, a recent arrival to Brown's Keeneland string, covered 800 meters in 50s20/100. The 5-year-old American Pharoah mare arrives backed by back-to-back major victories in the Diana Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and the Flower Bowl (G2) at Belmont Park.
Her stablemate Segesta, a daughter of Ghostzapper and winner of the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1) during Keeneland's spring meet, clocked 49s80/100 for the same distance. She will look to bounce back from a ninth-place finish in the First Lady Stakes (G1) on October 3.
Brown also sent out Zulu Kingdom (Ten Sovereigns), another of his stable stars, who worked 800 meters in 49 seconds flat. The Irish-bred colt, winner of the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) in April, is coming off a fifth-place effort in the Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) and aims to regain his winning form in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).
Among the sprinting division, the standout work came from Stradale, another Asmussen trainee. The 3-year-old colt by Yaupon covered 800 meters in a blistering 47s80/100, setting the fastest mark among 81 horses working at that distance. Winner of the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) at Parx Racing in his last outing, he shapes up as a dangerous threat for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
Also targeted for the Sprint, Hymn returned to the track after sitting out the Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. The McKinzie gelding, trained by Ron Moquett and winner of the Forego Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, completed 800 meters in 49s40/100 shortly after the track opened at 5:30 a.m.
In the 2-year-old ranks, Coach Pope (Tapit), runner-up in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, worked 1000 meters in 1m2s20/100 with José Ortiz up for trainer Kenny McPeek. His objective will be the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
Meanwhile, How’s Al Today, trained by Riley Mott, posted 1m1s80/100 for 1000 meters. The son of Munnings heads to the Juvenile Turf (G1) after stringing together two victories at Kentucky Downs in under two weeks, including the Juvenile Mile (L).
Finally, East Avenue, a son of the late Medaglia d’Oro and winner of the Salvator Mile (G3) in June, worked 1000 meters in 1m2s40/100 for Brendan Walsh. Following consecutive fourth-place finishes in G3 company, he will aim to return to prominence in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
With major stables refining details and horses entering the final phase of their preparations, Keeneland is fully immersed in the Breeders' Cup atmosphere. Saturday's workouts delivered highly encouraging signs, particularly for Magnitude, whose consistency and seamless adaptation to the local surface keep him firmly among the most anticipated contenders for the main event.
