Claiborne Breeder's Futurity Winner Maxfield, Juddmonte Spinster Winner Blue Prize (ARG) Head Breeders' Cup Workers

Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Maxfield and two-time Juddmonte Spinster (G1) winner Blue Prize (ARG) were among the five Breeders’ Cup hopefuls working over the fast main track Friday morning.

Godolphin’s Maxfield, who earned a spot in the $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) with his Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity triumph on Oct. 5, worked a half-mile in :48.60 with Paul Madden aboard for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Working on his own at 7:30 a.m., the undefeated Maxfield posted fractions of :12.60, :25, :48.60 and out 5 furlongs in 1:01.60. (Click here for a video of the work.)

“He was good and relaxed,” Walsh said. “It was just a little maintenance move to stretch his legs. You could tell he wanted to do something the last couple of days.”

Walsh said the plan now is for Maxfield to work an easy half-mile again next Friday, Oct. 25, and ship to Santa Anita early the following morning.

“If I had to put him on a plane tomorrow, I’d be real happy,” Walsh said. “Everything is positive. In business, he would be the perfect employee. No complaints; just does his job.”

Walsh also intends to send Dixiana Bourbon (G3) runner-up Vitalogy (GB) to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 1. Vitalogy is owned by the partnership of Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Bottle Rocket Stable.

“He is scheduled to gallop on the grass Sunday and pick it up a little down the lane,” Walsh said. “I hope to get out on the grass next Friday before shipping. I am sure there are a lot of us in the same shape.”

Merriebelle Stables’ Blue Prize, who earned a second trip to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita with her Juddmonte Spinster victory on Oct. 6, worked a half-mile in :49.40 with jockey Joe Bravo aboard for trainer Ignacio Correas IV. Fractions on the work at 9 a.m. were :25, :49.40 and out 5 furlongs in 1:02. (Click herefor a video of the work.)  

Correas said he wanted a “nice, easy breeze” for Blue Prize, who was fourth in the Distaff last year at Churchill Downs.

Working right after Maxfield was Tracy Farmer’s Perfect Alibi, who worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.60, galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:16. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione was up for trainer Mark Casse.

Runner-up in the Darley Alcibiades (G1) on Oct. 4, Perfect Alibi is being pointed to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to be run Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

“We were happy with that,” said Allen Hardy, who is overseeing Casse’s Keeneland string. “She likes this track and Mark said he would leave her here with me since I was with her this spring when she got to Churchill Downs.

“She will probably go over there (to Louisville) the next couple days and then fly out to California on the 26^th.”

Working a little after 8 o’clock was Apogee Bloodstock and Mike Anderson Racing’s Abscond for trainer Eddie Kenneally.

Winner of the Natalma (G1) at Woodbine in her most recent start Sept. 15, Abscond worked a half-mile in company with the undefeated 2-year-old Hop Kat in :48.80, galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:02.20.

“We are taking it day by day and today the track was in great shape,” Kenneally said of Abscond, who is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) on Nov. 1. “She went super. She will probably have one more breeze next Friday and fly out on the 26^th.”

Stonestreet Stables’ Dawn the Destroyer, runner-up in the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) on Oct. 5, worked a half-mile in :48.20 at 9 a.m. with Roger Horgan aboard for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. (Click here for a video of the work.)

Being pointed to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) on Nov. 2, Dawn the Destroyer posted fractions of :24.20, :48.20 and out 5 furlongs in 1:02.20.

“She did it the right way and had a nice, honest gallop-out,” Horgan said of Dawn the Destroyer, who is scheduled to ship to Santa Anita on Oct. 29. “Maybe she will have one more work next week. She is pretty fit.

“Kiaran asked me how she was doing and I told him she was doing well. He said to go ahead and work. If we have to, we can do something else next Friday or Saturday.”