NEWS
Quality Road breezes for Woodward
Posted: Sunday, August 22, 2010 3:07 PM
QUALITY ROAD WINNING MET MILE
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
by Phil Janack
Overnight rain and a local power outage did not keep Quality Road or Life At Ten from making the workout tab on Sunday morning at Saratoga Race Course.
In his first breeze since being beaten by a nose as the favorite in the Whitney Handicap (G1) on August 7, Quality Road drilled a half-mile in :51.86 under exercise rider Patti Krotenko on the Oklahoma Training Track.
Trainer Todd Pletcher went ahead with the scheduled 6 a.m. EDT workout for the multiple Grade 1-winning Elusive Quality colt on a track rated as sloppy. About two hours earlier, an auto accident on Union Avenue, which separates the main track and training tracks, knocked down a utility pole, causing a partial blackout.
Quality Road won his first three starts this year, including the Donn Handicap (G1) and Metropolitan Handicap (G1), before losing to Blame in the Whitney. He is being pointed to the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on September 4.
“[The track] was sloppy, but we caught it really early and it was smooth, and he seemed to get over it real well,” Pletcher said. “Looking at the forecast for the next three days, I thought the track was probably as good as it’s going to be for the near future. He seemed to handle it fine and came back good. We didn’t want to go off schedule.”
Pletcher also sent out Life At Ten for her final workout prior to the $300,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on August 29. Working in company with two-year-old filly Stopspendingmaria, the five-year-old mare breezed five furlongs in 1:02.82 on the training track.
Life At Ten will put her six-race win streak on the line in the Personal Ensign against reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.
“I thought she went really well,” Pletcher said. “Anytime you’re running in a Grade 1 at Saratoga, you expect to have to run against somebody good. In this case, it’s Rachel Alexandra. We’ll give it our best shot.”
Also among the few horses working on Sunday morning was Withers Stakes (G3) winner Afleet Again, who is being pointed to the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on August 28. Trained by Robert Reid Jr. for Cash is King, the three-year-old Afleet Alex colt completed four furlongs in :48.10, the fastest of eight timed moves at the distance on the main track.
Phil Janack is a Saratoga-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Leonard, Lawndale, CA on August 23, 2010 at 01:26 PM
I totally agree with you Mimi, it will be an exciting race to watch(Personal Ensign), and let's hope that no-one get's injured and everyone return's to race another day. We would not want rachael not to get her chance again(Apple Blossom no show) to race against QUEEN ZENYATTA. LIFE AT TEN WILL WIN THE PERSONAL ENSIGN.....
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Posted by: Mimi, San Antonio, TX on August 22, 2010 at 08:21 PM
Todd Pletcher seems to always be good-minded and kind. I'm glad Super Saver gave him his first Derby win this year. I think Quality Road'll win the Woodward, which is a great choice for him. And, the Personal Ensign will definitely be exciting! I hope Rachel Alexandra wins but Life At Ten would also deserve to get 1st. Of course I'll be a little sad no matter which one wins, because it's going to be sad to see either of them lose. Good luck to these horses, and let's hope they stay injury-free.
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