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Trainer Christophe Clement, who arrived at Santa Anita from his New York base Tuesday, got a first hand look at his three Breeders' Cup entrants - Filly & Mare Turf starters Mauralakana and Vacarfe, plus Sprint runner In Summation Wednesday morning as they each galloped 1 1/4m and he pronounced all in fine form.
The French-bred Mauralakana, winner of the Beverly D. this summer, also competed in the 2006 Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs when she was conditioned by trainer Patrick Biancone, but fared no better than seventh after a troubled trip. This year may be a different story.
“She was a very good filly in France as a two-year-old,” Clement said. “She had a nice career with Mr. Biancone last year and I’m just lucky they sent her to us.
“She’s just a very nice filly. She was a 3-year-old when she ran in the Breeders’ Cup last time, and now she’s a 5-year-old mare. She’s a bit stronger now and she’s more settled.”
Vacare may be 10-1 in the morning line, but when she last raced against 3-1 favorite Wait a While here on Sept. 27 in the Yellow Ribbon, Vacare only missed by ¾ of a length when finishing second.
“When she ran against Wait a While she ran very well,” Clement said. “It’s a bit ambitious (to run her back against the favorite in the race), but you have to be ambitious; it’s the Breeders’ Cup.”
In Summation galloped 1 ¼ m and the trainer said that In Summation is very deserving of his spot in the starting gate.
“He’s been consistent all year and he seems to be one of the very good sprinters on the Polytracks,” said Clement.
The synthetic surfaces seem kinder to the horse, who has been plagued with foot problems in the past and was declared from the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last year after Clement was displeased with his final workout over Belmont Park ’s dirt track.
In Summation has been stabled in Southern California since July and has performed very well in three graded stakes at Del Mar and Santa Anita, after winning the 2007 Arlington Sprint.
When asked if being here over the past couple of months will be an advantage in the race, Clement smiled and said, “I don’t know. I’ll let you know on Sunday morning.”
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A full-brother to 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Dreaming of Anna, a multiple graded stakes performer on turf as well, it’s taken this 5yo son of Rahy a little more time to “get it”, according to his trainer Wayne Catalano.
He was just a big old playboy early on,” Catalano explained. “There’s no question he’s learned a lot from year to year. He’s more mature. He knows his job now.”
Lewis Michael’s final major move leading up to his third Breeders’ Cup appearance came on Oct. 17 at Keeneland. He worked a handy 7f in 1:25 3/5.
“He worked good and finished up real well,” Catalano said. “He’s happy. We’re getting him there fit and ready.”
Regardless of the outcome, Lewis Michael will not race next year. He’s scheduled to stand at Three Chimneys Farm.
“If he comes out of it (Saturday’s $1 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile) in good shape, we might run back in the Cigar (Mile at Aqueduct).”
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Since morphing into a turf sprinter this spring, a win streak spanning five starts, the speedy 4yo Mr. Nightlinger has been in front past the opening quarter, at the wire, and at every call in between. Saturday’s draw of post 14 will put that string to the test.
“I never thought it would be a problem for him to run from off the pace, he’s just never been in a race where anyone has been faster than him early on,” trainer Bret Calhoun said.
Mr. Nightlinger has won over three different turf courses, and Calhoun is confident he will handle Santa Anita’s downhill configuration without raising a hair.
“Nothing bothers him,” Calhoun said. “He’s handled everything we’ve thrown at him.”