The Puma, Golden Tempo, and Englishman Accelerate the Dream Heading Toward the Breeders' Cup
The three G1 winners worked on Friday at Keeneland, site of the 14 world championship races on October 30 and 31; Javier Castellano was delighted with the breeze by the Gustavo Delgado trainee
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— The countdown toward the Breeders' Cup has entered its decisive stage, and Keeneland is beginning to feel the buzz of a grand occasion. On Friday, several of the top contenders targeting the various World Championship races hit the main track, which was labeled fast, with The Puma, Golden Tempo, and Englishman headlining a action-packed morning.
One of the main attractions was The Puma, the Gustavo Delgado trainee coming off the most important victory of his campaign in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), now targeting the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at 2000 meters.
With Javier Castellano aboard, the son of Essential Quality covered 1000 meters in 1m2s60/100 under the watchful eye of Delgado and his son and assistant, Gustavo Delgado Jr., who monitored the move from the grandstand.
The exercise left the veteran Venezuelan rider thoroughly pleased, particularly highlighting the way the horse completed his move and the composure he brings into his preparation.
“It was a beautiful work. We were looking for maintenance, a long exercise with a strong gallop-out. Gustavo is not the type of trainer who wants to work in 59 seconds or a minute. He has been bringing him along with times of 1m2s or 1m1s. The race is a mile and a quarter, and what we are looking for is consistency,” Castellano explained.
He added: “He is a horse that comes from off the pace. Look how relaxed he is. It was a brilliant work. He is happy, and that is what matters most.”
With that exercise, The Puma officially joined the list of probable runners for the Classic, where he will attempt to confirm the step up in class demonstrated in his latest performance.
Another major protagonist was Golden Tempo, winner this year of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Belmont Stakes(G1), who is also preparing for the Classic under the care of Cherie DeVaux.
The son of Curlin worked 800 meters in 48s40/100, partnered by So Sandy (Omaha Beach) with José Ortiz in the irons. He then galloped out to 1000 meters in 1m1s20/100 and completed 1200 meters in 1m13s60/100.
“He did it very well, exactly what we wanted. We are very happy with him and we are just aiming to keep him happy,” Ortiz commented.
Golden Tempo has now logged five breeze sessions at Keeneland since finishing third in the Travers Stakes (G1) on August 29 at Saratoga, and he will look to regain his finest form in his most demanding commitment of the season.
Also drawing significant attention was Englishman, another DeVaux representative aiming for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
The multiple G1 winner, a son of Maxfield, posted the fastest mark of the morning for 800 meters, stopping the clock in a blistering 47 seconds flat. His intermediate fractions were 12s60/100, 24s40/100, and 35s80/100, galloping out through 1000 meters in 59 seconds and 1200 in 1m13s40/100.
The morning's activity also included Brilliant Berti (Noble Mission), a candidate for the Mile, who worked 800 meters in 47s60/100, and Emphatic (Nyquist), recent winner of the Darley Alcibiades (G1), who covered the same distance in 48s80/100 under Tyler Gaffalione.
“She is in great shape. We just wanted to do something simple, a routine and very easy work. We will repeat next week,” Gaffalione explained regarding the filly trained by Brendan Walsh.
Among other notable moves were those by Immersive (Bernardini), targeted for the Distaff, and Bless the Broken(Laoban), pointing toward the Filly and Mare Turf, both clocking 49 seconds for 800 meters, while Nakatomi(Firing Line), coming off a repeat victory in the Phoenix Stakes (G2), covered 1000 meters in 1m3s60/100.
On Monday, October 19, at noon, the pre-entry deadline will close for the 14 Breeders' Cup races, with the official lists scheduled to be announced on Wednesday, October 21.
Meanwhile, Keeneland has begun welcoming its star attraction. And with every fresh workout, anticipation for the World Championship continues to build.
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