CHURCHILL DOWNS Friday, Oct. 18    Weather: Clear   Temperature: 42   Track: Fast   LOUISVILLE, Ky. – If you like your weather cold and your horses fast, Churchill Downs was the place to be for tracking contenders on the Breeders’ Cup trail on Friday morning. A half-dozen potential Breeders’ Cup starters including the exciting 2-year-old prospect Dennis’ Moment worked under unseasonably chilly conditions Friday at Churchill Downs, with four of the six going within a hectic five- to six-minute span shortly after the track opened for training at 5:25 a.m. Trainer Dale Romans waited until 9 a.m., after the second renovation break, to bring out his talented Juvenile contender Dennis’ Moment to work under regular exercise rider Tammy Fox. The winner of the Grade 3 Iroquois, he showed no signs of slowing down in his final local breeze before shipping to Santa Anita on Sunday. Breaking off almost on top of the five-eighths pole, Dennis’ Moment was full of run from the start, posting splits of 23.43 and 35.10 seconds for the opening three-eighths with Fox simply sitting back and letting the speedster do his thing. Dennis’ Moment continued at a strong pace to complete five furlongs in a sizzling 58.52 while nudged just a tad as a reminder nearing the wire. He then galloped out with great energy into and around the turn, going out six furlongs in 1:11.61 before pulling up after seven furlongs in 1:25.82. Romans did all he could to contain his enthusiasm a short while later back at the barn. “That’s just him, it’s the way he works. It’s fast but it doesn’t look fast,” said Romans. “Working in 58 doesn’t make you a great horse, but the ability to do it that easy is amazing He just kept right on going. It’s pretty phenomenal. Of all the good horses I’ve had, I’d say so far, at this stage, he’s the best I’ve had. I’m pumped up about it.” Romans said Dennis’ Moment will have his final Breeders’ Cup work at Santa Anita on Friday. Covfefe (Filly and Mare Sprint) was the very first worker on a very busy morning, going solo under the lights six furlongs in 1:12.38. The winner of the Grade 1 Test, Covfefe broke at the five-eighths pole, posting splits of 24.70, 36.77 and 59.67 going easily to the wire before showing excellent energy when encouraged to keep about her business both into and around the turn, galloping out seven-eighths in 1:25.64. Covfefe was the first of three likely Breeders’ Cup runners trainer Brad Cox sent out to work during the morning. She was followed minutes later by the 2-year-old turf specialist Andesite (Juvenile Turf) who breezed five furlongs from the half over the main track in 25.20, 48.71, 1:01.65 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.95 in company outside stablemate Great Ulysses. Cox waited until after the first renovation break to work his undefeated Grade 2 Alcibiades winner British Idiom (Juvenile Fillies), who also went five furlongs from the half in company in 24.40, 48.70, 1:01.99 with Evil Lyn. British Idiom went out three-quarters in 1:15.57. Whitmore’s status for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint remains uncertain. But one wouldn’t know it from the way the speedster zipped four furlongs in 46.66 off a 23.09 opening quarter split going easiest while slightly best in company with Messiah. Whitmore then left his mate far behind, continuing out five furlongs in 1:00.76. Trainer Ron Moquett has dealt with Whitmore’s foot issues throughout the 6-year-old gelding’s career. Friday’s work was the first for Whitmore since he recovered from a slow start to finish a fast-closing second in his return from a four-month layoff in the Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland two weeks ago. Whitmore finished second in the 2018 BC Sprint and eighth in 2017. “I think that’s as good as he’s ever done for us,” Moquett said when asked about the work. “I’ve had problems with his feet since he’s been a baby, and then I had to give him time after he got stepped on and hurt in the [True North] at Belmont. I left his training shoes on for the Phoenix. He’s never run in them before, and it cost us the break because it caused the ground to break out from under him. Right now I just have to continue to play with his feet and make sure he’s happy. I’m still gathering information about the Sprint, but if we go, the way he’s doing now, he’ll be the best horse I’ve ever taken to the Breeders’ Cup.” Peace Achieved (Juvenile Turf), working for the first time since his narrow victory in the Grade 3 Bourbon at Keeneland two weeks earlier, he completed five furlongs in 36.01, 59.66 as a team with stablemate Lynns Map for trainer Mark Casse. Keeneland Maxfield, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on opening weekend at Keeneland, had the first of his two planned works at Keeneland before shipping to California for the Breeders’ Cup. Working immediately after a renovation break on the main track rated fast on a chilly morning, Maxfield went four furlongs in 48.60 seconds under Paul Madden. “He did it really easy,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “We just wanted a little maintenance work, and just to let him stretch his legs. He’s been looking to do something the last couple of days.” Maxfield is scheduled to fly to California next Saturday in advance of the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. Walsh said that “in a perfect world,” he would send the colt through his final breeze next Friday, with that plan dependent on weather and other factors. Maxfield, a Godolphin homebred by the operation’s stallion Street Sense, won his debut on Sept. 14 at Churchill Downs before making a sweeping move to win the Breeders’ Futurity by 5 1/2 lengths on Oct. 5 at Keeneland. That impressive victory made him the third choice on David Aragona’s early line for the Juvenile for Daily Racing Form, behind fellow Kentucky-based colt Dennis’ Moment (9-5) and California-based Eight Rings (2-1). Breeders’ Cup Distaff-bound Blue Prize worked four furlongs in 49.40 seconds under jockey Joe Bravo, her first move since scoring a repeat victory in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 6. Trainer Ignacio Correas said that Blue Prize, fourth in last year’s Distaff at Churchill Downs, would work again at Keeneland late next week before shipping to California. In other works for Breeders’ Cup contenders Friday morning at Keeneland, Grade 1 winner Perfect Alibi (Juvenile Fillies), most recently second in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes for trainer Mark Casse, went five furlongs in 1:02.60; Abscond (Juvenile Fillies Turf), winner of the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine for trainer Eddie Kenneally, went a half in 48.80; and Grade 1 Ballerina and Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America runner-up Dawn the Destroyer (Filly and Mare Sprint) worked a half in 48.80 for Kiaran McLaughlin. – Nicole Russo