Defending Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint champion Chamberlain Bridge tuned up for a repeat bid at Churchill Downs with a tremendous trial this week.

The War Chant gelding worked a bullet 1000 metres under the Twin Spires in 59s with jockey Jamie Theriot aboard.  He was clocked 1.50s faster than the next best time.  “You can’t do any better than that,” Theriot said.  “I think he’s a big, big chance to double up.”

Theriot rode the Bret Calhoun-trained Chamberlain Bridge to victory in last year’s Breeders’ Cup.  “The field doesn’t look as a deep as last year,” Theriot claimed.  “There were some tough horses in there last year.”

Bred in Kentucky by Eugene Melnyk, Chamberlain Bridge enters his second Turf Sprint with 17 wins in 36 starts for earnings of $1.68 million.

He is a son of Yarradale Stud shuttler War Chant who is standing his initial first southern season for a $22,000 (inc gst) fee.