Cup Works (10/30)
 

From Calder: Big Drama (Sprint) 4F in :46 2/5 & galloped out 5F in :58 2/5. Thanks to Mike Welsch of DRF for update.

R Heat Lightning (Juvenile Fillies) 4F in :48 2/5. Splits: 12 2/5, 24, 36. Out 5F in 1:01 3/5.

Rinterval-IRE (F&M Sprint) 4F in :49. Splits: 12 1/5, 24 3/5. Out 5F in 1:03 2/5.

Life At Ten (Lad Clsc) 4F :48 1/5 w/ Colizeo (48 2/5). Start 1 back, finish head back. Outside. 12 1/5, :24 1/5, 36. Out 1:01 3/5, 1:16 2/5.

Seeking the Title (Ladies' Classic) 4F in :50 1/5 w/ Calvin Borel up. Splits: 12 4/5, 25 1/5, 37 3/5. Out 5F in 1:04.

First Dude (Classic) 5F in 1:01 1/5 at 7:05 a.m. w/ Tammy Fox. 11 4/5, 24, 36 1/5, 48 3/5. Out 6F in 1:15. Out 7F in 1:29 1/5.

A.U. Miner (Marathon) 4F in :48 3/5. Splits: 12 1/5, 24 1/5, 36 2/5. Out 5F in 1:01 4/5 & 1:17.

Slew of workers after the break incl. Paddy O' Prado, Champagne d'Oro, Tell a Kelly, More Than Real..

From Keeneland: Rogue Romance (Juv) & Harlan's Ruby (Juv Fil) 5F in :59 2/5 in co. 13, 24 3/5, 36 1/5, 47 4/5. Rogue out 6F in 1:12 4/5.

Post harrowing frenzy of activity with steady parade of workers...

Most positive impression, 'Work of the Day' kind of effort, came from Smiling Tiger who absolutely sizzled in his dirt initiation (:58.3) as part of what turned into a mini-race with 5 horses, including Steve Hobby Turf aspirant Telling, breaking off together immediately following the break. The Bonde Sprint runner was not being asked and couldn't have looked more comfortable and inhaled the pair that started ahead of him in the impromptu set...

Also looking very strongly was F&M Turfer Red Desire under Desormeaux who started slow (:25) but finished full of run (1:00.0)...

Paddy O'Prado probably was third best with his typical efficient drill that saw him go 5f in 1:01.0 and gallop out 6f in 1:13.4 under Tammy Fox. The Classic hopeful was under a static hold and was pricking his ears coming to the wire...

Champagne d'Oro (F&M Sprint) and Malibu Prayer (Distaff) both had solid half mile spins with the Guillot Acorn/Test heroine flashing especially sharp speed through the early portion of the work (:35.2) and Malibu Prayer efforting maintenance style under stout restraint (:49.0)...

One work leaving negative impression was that of Sadler F&M Sprint Switch...

There were tons more but these were the ones that I was able to watch best and notate...

Juvy Filly Turf action during turf spins as Pletcher pair More Than Real & Pluck (:49.4) pick up Contessa's Arch Support (6f in 1:118.3) en route to solid/unspectacular works..

Margolis' Due Date with a nice internal move as part of his :49.0 half mile prepping for the Turf Sprint..

Frantic morning of workers over!

That is insanely fast for Calder. I suspect they must have gotten some rain yesterday/last night and the track was wet and tight. If it was in normal dry and fast condition, yikes.

TVG about to show Blind Luck's work live as part of their "The Works" program. Such a great show.

First Dude's work looked really damn good.

Zenyatta didn't look good.

zenyattas work...good or bad?
 

so i watch the work live on TVG and amoss, simon, ellis etc say it's the usual great work blah,blah

and i switch to hrtv and j. jones and her co-host are saying it was horrible and the connections are going to be dissappointed because she didn't get by her workmate.

i tend to agree with jones analysis.

what do you think?

The complete idiots on TVG are incapable of saying anything negative about her.

She is a 6 year old mare does anyone really think getting by a work mates means anything at this point?

It probably matters if this was the first time it happened in 4 years, otherwise, it means nothing.

It was Ron Ellis, and I'm guessing that the HRTV people thought the work was over at the wire, and it ended either a half or full furlong after.

For what it is worth, Ellis just said it was the best work that he has seen of her, and that he watched most of them throughout her career.

Everything she does is the best thing she's ever done ever. Wake me up when someone from California says anything negative about her once.

Ellis is realistic though, but I understand your opinion.

I'm from California, originally.

I'll say something negative about her. Her fans are complete idiots. Her connections are full of shitt.

ZENYATTA HATER!!

I'm not so sure.

So she came home in 23 1/5 but had trouble getting by the horse who jumped into the work at the quarter pole (they went to the next pole past the finish) and that was not good enough?

Tough crowd.

She might win or lose but that work won't have a anything to do with it.

SUNDAY 10/31

Quality Road went an efficient half in :48.3 in company with Aikenite. Turned in splits of :12, :24.1, :36 and out in 1:02.

Robby Albarado spins an easy :50 half on Acoma for Davey Carroll.. Spinster winner has looked very good and spirited daily coming into her career finale in the Distaff..

Acoma is super talented and was always a favorite of mine, but I cant cover her in this spot. I read her last race was her last career start, she had to be primed to fire huge.... Now it seems like she is rushed to get to the BC and it never appeared to be part of the plan.

Acoma has no shot.

Just saw AZ Warrior work - looked very good and the Works folks were impressed.

Stay Thirsty and Uncle Mo both looked fine. According to the Works, Pletcher said they went slightly slower than he wanted, but it was the "right kind of slow" (not sure what that means)

Zenyatta workout video
 

Smooth as silk. Thanks for posting it.

Track was slower after the harrow break than in the early session.

Thanks, Steve!

She is 2 for 2 at Churchill Downs, she will hit the board in the Distaff

Since when is finishing 8th considered hitting the board?