Exaggerator, I’m a Chatterbox top Keeneland’s Saturday BC workers

Edited Press Release

No trainer has won consecutive runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) since the D. Wayne Lukas three-peat from 1986-1988 with Capote, Success Express and Is It True.

Keith Desormeaux, who won the 2014 BC Juvenile with Texas Red, is in that position this year. On a chilly Central Kentucky Saturday morning, the Kentucky portion of his expected two-prong Juvenile attack, Exaggerator, worked five furlongs in 1:03.20 over Keeneland’s fast track.

Exaggerator walked through the paddock to the main track at 7:15 a.m. (EDT), and with Florent Geroux aboard covered his first three furlongs in :37.80 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:16.80.

“I had him in 1:02 and change but it was hard to see and we had three watches on him,” said Julie Clark, who has worked for Desormeaux for three years and is overseeing his string at Keeneland. “I liked the work and thought he finished very strong.”

The work was the first for Exaggerator since finishing second in the October 3 Breeders’ Futurity S. That race marked the Curlin juvenile’s first start since winning the Saratoga Special S. on August 16.

Clark said Desormeaux is to arrive in Lexington, Kentucky, Thursday night from his Southern California base.

Scheduled to arrive on October 25 is Desormeaux’s other BC Juvenile prospect, Swipe. That Birdstone colt has finished second in his past three starts to likely Juvenile rival Nyquist in the Best Pal S., Del Mar Futurity S. and FrontRunner S.

Swipe took a spin around Santa Anita Park on Saturday, covering five furlongs in 1:01.20 on the fast main track.

Scheduled to come on October 25 for Desormeaux is Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies possible Decked Out. The Street Boss filly was fifth in the Pocahontas S. at Churchill Downs in her most recent start.

Also on Keeneland’s Breeders’ Cup worktab Saturday was I’m a Chatterbox, who put in the second of her three scheduled local works for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on October 30. The chestnut filly breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 under regular rider Florent Geroux.

“We knew three or four days ago that Florent was going to be riding at Woodbine Sunday,” trainer Larry Jones said. “Her last work was six days ago and it is no issue. In a perfect world, she will work again next Sunday unless there is some crazy weather that we could adjust for.”

Working on her own after the track reopened from the morning renovation break, the three-year-old Munnings filly produced fractions of :11.40, :23.40 and :47.80 with a six-furlong gallop-out time of 1:13.40.

“She was pretty rank last week as it was her first work since winning the Cotillion (on September 19 at Parx Racing),” Jones said of the best-of-40 half-mile in :47.20. “She was more agreeable today. She started a little high-headed and then she settled in. This was good.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher worked five candidates for the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday: Dame Dorothy (Filly & Mare Sprint), Mshawish (Mile), Red Rifle (Turf), Stopchargingmaria (Distaff) and Sweet Whiskey (Filly & Mare Sprint).

Working separately around 6:30 a.m., Dame Dorothy, Red Rifle and Sweet Whiskey each breezed four furlongs in their first timed moves over the track.

Grade 1 winner Dame Dorothy covered the distance in :49, with fractions of :25.80 and :49, and gallop-out times in 1:01.40 and 1:14.20.

Multiple Grade 2 victor Red Rifle went in :49 with fractions of :13, :25.60 and :49 before galloping out in 1:02 and 1:14.80.

Grade 3 heroine Sweet Whiskey was timed in :48.20 with fractions of :12.80, :25 and :48.20 and gallop-out times in 1:01.40 and 1:14.40.

After the renovation break, Mshawish and Stopchargingmaria worked five furlongs.

Grade 1 scorer Mshawish covered the distance in 1:00 with fractions of :35.80 and 1:00, and a gallop out in 1:14.60.

In company with two-year-old Uncle Vinny, multiple Grade 1 queen Stopchargingmaria recorded an official time of :59. Clockers caught her in :11.60, :23.40, :35.20 and :59.60, with a gallop out in 1:13.

Pletcher was pleased with the efforts, saying, “All in all, I thought we had a good morning.”

Trainer Chad Brown sent out defending Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint champion Bobby’s Kitten to post a half-mile on Keeneland’s main track in :49.40 Saturday.

Also working for Brown was Bourbon S. runner-up Camelot Kitten, who covered a half-mile in :49.60 in company with recent maiden winner Tweet Kitten. Camelot Kitten likely is headed to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on October 30.

Grade 2 hero Bradester, headed for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on October 30, breezed for trainer Eddie Kenneally, clocking five furlongs in a bullet :58.60 and galloping out in 1:12.80. The time was the fastest of 22 at the distance.

At Churchill Downs, Breeders’ Futurity winner Brody’s Cause turned five-eighths in 1:01.80 for trainer Dale Romans ahead of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct 31.

All photos courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Photography