Ashado and Flower Alley worked for trainer Todd Pletcher on September 25 in final tune-ups for starts on Saturday on the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships preview program at Belmont Park.Ashado worked five furlongs in 1:01.76 over the Belmont main track in preparation for the Beldame Stakes (G1), which Pletcher elected to target instead of training her up to Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) on October 29 at Belmont.

The four-year-old daughter of Saint Ballado finished fourth as the heavy favorite in the Personal Ensign Handicap (G1) on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course in her most recent start. She came out of the race with a foot bruise.

"I thought about going straight to the Distaff, but as long as she keeps doing well, she'll run in the Beldame," Pletcher said on Monday. "She worked well, and the foot looks good today."

Travers Stakes (G1) winner Flower Alley worked a shade faster than Ashado, covering the same distance in 1:01.72. The three-year-old son of Distorted Humor will make his first start against older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1).

"He's doing very well," Pletcher said. "He worked great, and came out of it in good shape."

Jockey John Velazquez will ride both Ashado and Flower Alley.—Jeff Lowe