Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select Winner Leinster Tunes Up For Breeders Cup Run

Amy Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables and Jean Wilkinson’s Leinster began serious preparations for a second run in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) by working a half-mile in :49.40 over a turf course labeled good Thursday morning at Keeneland.

Working on his own with Crystal Conning aboard, Leinster recorded fractions of :11.60, :24.80 and :37.40, according to Keeneland clockers.

“Looked good to me,” trainer Rusty Arnold said of Leinster’s first work since winning the Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select on Oct. 3. 

Leinster finished seventh last year in the Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

“Compared to last year at this time, he’s doing much better,” said Arnold, who has had 13 Breeders’ Cup starters with his first coming in 1996.

“In retrospect, I ran him too much last year. He won the race in New York (the Troy-G3) and that would have been enough to get him in (the Breeders’ Cup). Then I ran him at Kentucky Downs and then BACK here in the Woodford, which I shouldn’t have done. He didn’t run bad (finishing second), but I just think he had lost his edge a little bit.”

In other Thursday works by Breeders’ Cup hopefuls:

Ranlo Investments’ Golden Pal, who figures to be one of the main players in the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) on Nov. 6, worked 5 furlongs on the turf in 1:02.80 in company with Hat Creek Racing’s Illegal Smile (IRE). Golden Pal started 3 lengths in back of Illegal Smile, who is two-time stakes-placed on the turf at Woodbine, and finished a length in front. Both are trained by Wesley Ward.

Working on the fast main track was DARRS Inc.’s Extravagant Kid, who covered a half-mile in :47.80 for trainer Brendan Walsh. Runner-up to Leinster in the Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select, Extravagant Kid also is under consideration for the Turf Sprint.

Also working for Walsh was The Cool Silk Partnership’s Midnight Sands, who covered 5 furlongs in 1:00.80. Midnight Sands is under consideration for the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

David Bernsen and Jeffrey Lambert’s Lasting Legacy, under consideration for the $2 million Sprint (G1), worked a half-mile in :47.60 for trainer Bob Hess.