Tuesday Classic Contender Report

By Jessica Chapel


Edited Breeders' Cup Classic contender news compiled by the BC Notes Team:

Drosselmeyer – The 2010 Belmont Stakes winner was on the track for a “short gallop” Tuesday morning and was pronounced fit and ready by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Flat Out – The Jockey Club Gold Cup winner returned to the track Tuesday morning and jogged two miles under exercise rider Otto Aguilar after walking the shedrow on Monday following his Sunday breeze. Trainer Scooter Dickey reported that the 5-year-old son of Flatter was fresh and on the muscle.

“He got mad because we didn’t let him gallop,” Dickey said. “He went one round and started on the next round, and he started giving the rider a little trouble, just getting into the bit and wanting to go. So he’s fine.”

Flat Out will get his way on Wednesday, when he is expected to gallop about 1 1/2 miles.

Game On Dude – The 4-year-old Classic contender boarded a flight from California to Louisville Tuesday morning. Trainer Bob Baffert, Game On Dude is expected to go to the track along with his other contenders Wednesday morning.

Havre de Grace – One day after giving his star pupil a “D” for her 5f workout in 1:02 Monday, trainer Larry Jones upgraded it to a “B or B+.” In fact, Havre de Grace was feeling so good Tuesday morning that Jones took her to the track to jog in the chute and she was dragging Cindy Jones around the barn as she walked her.

“She’s ready to get it on,” said Larry Jones. “It would have been a long time between now and Saturday if we hadn’t taken her to the track this morning. It’s the first time we’ve ever had to do that with her.

“After going home and watching the workout, I realized it was a good workout. (Jockey) Gabriel (Saez) didn’t even move on her. I even sent (owner) Rick (Porter) a text saying that I thought it was a really good work. We know she’s fit enough.”

Headache – Claimed for $25,000 in September of 2009, Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey’s Classic contender Headache has proven to be quite a purchase. He won only two of his first 14 starts for the current connections, but has flourished of late by capturing three of his last four outings, including the Cornhusker in June at Prairie Meadows and most recently the Hawthorne Gold Cup.

“He’s always had talent,” trainer Mike Maker said of the 5-year-old gelded son of Tapit. “He’s just been a slow learner. He was a bit of a hanger earlier in his career, and would just have one excuse after another. Now he seems to have gotten over that bad habit and figured it out. He can win by a wide margin when he’s much the best, like he did at Churchill (in May by 7 1⁄2 lengths), or win a tough battle like he did in the Hawthorne.”

Ice Box – After shipping from New York on Monday, Ice Box had an easy gallop under exercise rider Carlos Correa at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning.

Prayer for Relief – Zayat Stables’ 3-year-old Prayer for Relief will not run in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic after developing a fever.

Rattlesnake Bridge – Rattlesnake Bridge is scheduled to fly to Kentucky on a flight that departs from New York Tuesday afternoon. He has drawn post seven with jockey Calvin Borel as a Classic longshot. “He’s going to get a serious pace in there,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said.

Ruler On Ice – Trainer Kelly Breen sent the 2011 Belmont Stakes winner to the track early for a 1 1/2 mile gallop before catching a flight back to his home base in New Jersey. He will return to Louisville again Wednesday night.

“He’s training great,” said Breen from the airport. “I’m very pleased with him. I’m just trying to get him to the best spot I can where everything else is out of my control.”

So You Think – The Aidan O’Brien-trained Classic challenger So You Think is expected to arrive in Louisville on Tuesday evening.

Stay Thirsty – One of two Classic entrants from Repole Stable, the Bernardini 3-year-old galloped 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

“He’s doing well here,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won six Breeders’ Cup races but is 0-for-9 in the Classic. “He ran a decent race (third) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but I don’t think he liked the off going that much that day.”

To Honor and Serve – The son of Bernardini will be taking on elders for the second time this season and could be one of the more attractive longshots despite drawing the outside post in a field of 13.

“I think he’s already proven himself as a top 3-year-old,” said Mott, who gave the colt four months off after a minor injury during the Triple Crown preps in Florida. “He’s come back very well. His last two races have been very good. The question is whether he’s ready to take on older horses, and we hope he is. He’s a much improving horse.”

The Pennsylvania Derby winner, one of the field’s confirmed front-runners, galloped Tuesday on the main track.

Uncle Mo – The 5-2 morning-line favorite walked the shedrow Tuesday morning, two days after his final breeze for his second attempt to beat older horses. Untested at the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, the Indian Charlie colt beat elders in the one mile Kelso at Belmont in his last start.

“He’s in excellent shape,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He really seems happy here. He’ll gallop tomorrow morning.”

Photos from the works at Churchill Downs on Tuesday: