Members of trainer Todd Pletcher’s Breeders’ Cup contingent arrived at Churchill Downs Monday morning.
Kelso Handicap winner Uncle Mo and Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes winner Stay Thirsty – both contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 – were greeted by a perfect, sunny day at the familiar surroundings of Barn 34.
Both 3-year-old colts worked at Belmont Sunday and are expected to have one work over the Churchill Downs surface before the Classic.
Also arriving were Stopshoppingmaria, possible for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies or Juvenile Sprint, and Finale, a contender for the Juvenile Turf.
Pletcher said Stopshoppingmaria’s work on Sunday was good, but he described the gallop out as “lackluster.” He said a decision won’t be made on the filly’s target race until she breezes at Churchill.
Stopshoppingmaria was second to My Miss Aurelia in her most recent start, the Frizette at Belmont on Oct. 8.
Finale, who was full of energy coming off the van, has won three straight races since switching from dirt to turf, including the Continental Mile Stakes and the Summer Stakes.
Trainer James Bond’s Classic contender, Met Mile and Whitney winner Tizway, is expected to arrive at Churchill on Oct. 31.
“He ships on Halloween, so I’ve got to put a mask on him,” Bond said. “Maybe I’ll dress him as a gray horse.”
