Classic Notes: Mott Pair Exit Breezes Well, War Of Will Enjoying The Weather

October 28, 2019 : Breeders’ Cup Classic entrant War of Will, trained by Mark E. Casse, exercises in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California on October 28, 2019. Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders’ Cup/CSM

Code of Honor – William S. Farish’s 3yo chestnut colt Code of Honor left Belmont Park on schedule Monday morning for cross-continent flight to Santa Anita, trainer Shug McGaughey said.

Elate/Yoshida (Bill Mott) – Assistant trainer Riley Mott reported “all good” with their Breeders’ Cup Classic duo one day after the two Bill Mott trainees put in their final serious works in advance of Saturday’s test.

While Yoshida visited the track under exercise rider Juan Quintero around 7 a.m. after working 4f in 50 flat Sunday, Elate walked the shedrow following her 3f breeze in 36 4/5. The two, along with stablemate and Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf contender Channel Maker, are all slated to return to galloping Tuesday.

Higher Power – The Pacific Classic winner Higher Power turned in an easy jog under exercise rider David Pineda two days after working 6f in 1:12 3/5 for trainer John Sadler.

Sadler captured the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year with Accelerate and a win by Higher Power would give him the distinction of joining Jay Robbins (Tiznow – 2000 and 2001) and Bob Baffert (Bayern – 2014, American Pharoah – 2015, and Arrogate – 2016) as the only trainers to saddle Breeders’ Cup Classic winners in consecutive years.

Math Wizard – Pennsylvania Derby winner Math Wizard returned to the track at Gulfstream Park Monday morning, two days after breezing 5f in 1:01.32 over a muddy track and the day before the son of Algorithms is scheduled to ship to Southern California for a scheduled start in Saturday’s Classic.

“He going to leave the barn at 6 a.m., his plane leaves at about 8 a.m., and he’s supposed to arrive in California at about 5:35 California time. He’s probably not going to get to the barn until like 7:40,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who is booked to arrive by plane midmorning Tuesday.

Math Wizard is owned by John Fanelli, Khalid Mischref, Cash Is King LLC, LC Racing LLC, Collarmele Vitelli Racing Stables LLC, Ioannis Zoumas and Bassett Stables.

McKinzie – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was upbeat Monday morning after watching likely Classic favorite McKinzie turn in a bullet 5f work of 1:00.20 at Santa Anita Park.

Baffert was in radio contact with the work rider, J.C. Avila, and congratulated him minutes later as he brought the 4yo colt back down the stretch back to the barn.

“I had him in :48 3/5 (for the half), out in a minute and out (six furlongs) 1:14 and then I slowed him down.

“It was nice, nice and smooth. He got into a nice rhythm. It was just enough. I wanted to give him something light. He’s had two pretty stiff works. It was just perfect and he handled it well. He should come out running.”

McKinzie has two wins and four seconds in six starts this year and earned $1.2 million. He won the “Win and You’re In” Whitney at Saratoga Aug. 3, but was second as the 1-5 favorite in the Awesome Again on Sept. 28 at Santa Anita. Baffert subsequently made a jockey change, replacing Hall of Famer Mile Smith with Joel Rosario.

Mongolian Groom – While Mongolian Groom came out of Sunday’s 5f work in fine shape, trainer Enebish Ganbat said Monday that he was not pleased with the time under exercise rider Jesse Cardenas.

“I was unhappy with it because the saddle moved back,” Ganbat said, “so he went very slowly, 1:02.”

Mongolian Groom was a surprise winner of the Awesome Again at 25-1 Sept. 28. The son of Hightail led from gate to wire in the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge race and earned a berth in the Classic.

“His last breeze before the Awesome Again, he went an easy one minute (1:00.80). Yesterday I told the rider I wanted between 1:00 and 1:00. The 1:02 was slow.”

Mongolian Groom walked Monday morning and will return to the track Tuesday to jog.

Owendale – Rupp Racing’s Owendale trained Monday morning at trainer Brad Cox’s Churchill base and is scheduled to fly to California Tuesday with a large contingent of Kentucky horses, including four stablemates.

Cox plans to arrive Tuesday with his horses.

Seeking the Soul – Charles Fipke’s Seeking the Soul, who has remained in California since finishing fourth in the Awesome Again Stakes Sept. 28, made a strong appearance Monday morning as he galloped, two days after working 5f in 1:01 2/5.

Vino Rosso – Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Vino Rosso is scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita Monday following a flight from New York.

The 4yo son of Curlin is trained by Todd Pletcher.

War of Will – The classic-winning son of War Front emerged around 6:50 a.m. under Steve Tripp and galloped a mile straight off before heading back through the paddock.

“He’s doing great. He seems to really be enjoying this weather,” Tripp said of War of Will.

Gary Barber’s Preakness Stakes winner has been at Santa Anita Park since mid-October and has turned in two works over the main track, the latest being a 4f breeze in 47 2/5. Trainer Mark Casse is slated to arrive in California Monday.