Breeders' Cup hopefuls putting in their final preparations for the World Championships at Keeneland led the work tab at Churchill Downs Friday morning, namely Breeders' Cup Sprint contender Built (Hard Spun), Juvenile Fillies-destined 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard' Foxiest (Gun Runner) and Scarlett Begonia (Life Is Good), and returning Champion Splendora (Audible).Built, pre-entered for the Sprint on a two-race win streak, went out for a half-mile breeze for trainer Wayne Catalano, and was clocked in :48.60 (27/64) before galloping out five panels in 1:01.60.“Really good work, just what you'd expect from a horse like this,” Catalano said. “He's been consistent all year and always shows up to run his race. He ran a big race in the [GII Alfred G.] Vanderbilt over the summer [defeating fellow Sprint contender Hymn (McKinzie)] and came back with another strong effort in the [Listed] Louisville Thoroughbred Society. Those were the kind of races we wanted to see heading into the Breeders' Cup.”Trainer Brad Cox sent out his duo of 'Rising Stars' together as Foxiest and Scarlett Begonia both went five furlongs in 1:00.80 (5/11) and galloped out six panels in 1:12.80. The former, a daughter of Breeders' Cup champion Covfefe (Into Mischief), earned the TDN's stamp of approval in her second jump Sept. 27 at Churchill. The latter, twice Graded-placed since her July 6 debut victory, has been facing salty company, including last out Sept. 12 in the GIII Pocahontas Stakes when she was run down by Manuka Honey (Upstart).“Foxiest is a little more laid-back than Scarlett Begonia, and you could tell that early in the work,” Cox said. “Once they got going, they finished really well and galloped out strong. They're both very nice fillies and we know they'll have to run career-best races in the Breeders' Cup. They're championship races for a reason.”Defending GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint champion Splendora was also out Friday morning to prep for a World Championship challenge of a different kind–either defending her Filly and Mare Sprint crown or trying to become the newest Breeders' Cup winner to claim two different events. She is pre-entered in both the race she won last year and the Distaff, but her team's first preference is for the latter.Splendora winning the 2025 Filly and Mare Spring | HorsephotosThe five-year-old clocked five furlongs in 1:00.60 (3/11) for trainer Bob Baffert with retired jockey Joe Talamo in the irons, who then went back to Keeneland after the work to complete his commitment for the 'Breakfast at the Breeders' Cup' show.“This is my fourth time working her and [the] goal was work in hand,” said Talamo. “With her, I emphasize keeping her slow early and gallop out really well. I know she can work :58 or :59, but when going a mile and an eighth, you definitely want to settle early and gallop out well.”Regardless of the race she draws into, Splendora will enter the contest on a three-race win streak, and is a fourth-place finish [in the GI Derby City Distaff Stakes] away from being on a nine-race win streak. She was last seen Sept. 12 dominating the local GII Locust Grove Stakes.Other Breeders' Cup contenders still based at Churchill Downs include Explora (Filly & Mare Sprint), Further Ado (Classic), Hughes (Juvenile), Miss Monica (Juvenile Fillies), Regaled (Distaff) and Salahudin (Juvenile).Entries for the 43rd Breeders' Cup World Championships will be taken Monday, Oct. 26. All domestic Breeders' Cup runners must arrive at Keeneland by 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27 ahead of the Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31 championships.The post Defending Champions, Fresh Faces Out at Churchill for Final Breeders’ Cup Preps appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.