Thursday's Breeders' Cup Classic Notes

Zenyatta – The reigning Breeders’ Cup Classic champion left Barn 41 at 9:15 a.m. and was followed by hundreds of adoring fans, including owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs. 

With regular exercise rider Steve Willard aboard, the 6yo mare was led with a pony to the back of Churchill Downs’ 1m chute where she stood for approximately 10 minutes before making her way to the main track for a 1 ½ m gallop.

“She galloped beautifully,” Shirreffs said. “She’s very happy. On the second day of taking her to the track, you might think she’d be a little flat but she was full of energy. Steve said he could have gone around another time, and as the trainer, that’s what you look for - the enthusiasm and good energy.”

Asked about what the experience of training Zenyatta has meant to him, Shirreffs said, “This is a great celebration. She’s the love of our lives. She’s the fantasy. She’s everything we ever could have wanted and to share her with everybody is just incredible. 

“I don’t know how to describe the feeling when you bring her over for a race, you can feel the anticipation and energy,” he added.  “So many people adore her so you feel a lot of love, too.  Your chest swells with pride and you’re so proud to be with them at that moment.”

Blame – The Al Stall Jr. trainee jogged one circuit of the Churchill Downs oval and galloped the same on Thursday morning before the break. Everything was in order for an upcoming start in Saturday’s Classic.

“The way he’s been for the past couple days is the way he’s been for the past couple years,” said Stall. “He’s the same every day, which is a good thing. He’s his normal self – laid back, quiet, eating. He trains very kind.”

The barn where Blame is stabled, number 47, runs parallel to the main track chute. It proved to be a fine vantage point for Stall on Wednesday, when the unbeaten Zenyatta made her way to the track for the first time.

“I stood back here and watched her and avoided all the crowds at the gap; I had an exclusive,” the trainer said. “She looked awesome. I couldn’t imagine how big she is and how much she weighs because it’s hard to grasp, but she’s in fine flesh. It seemed like she took up the whole chute.”

Lookin At Lucky – The 3yo son of Smart Strike went to the track along with Juvenile Fillies morning-line favorite A Z Warrior immediately after the renovation break on Thursday, jogging a circuit and galloping 1m under exercise rider Jorge Alvarez.

“He looks good, so far so good,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. “He’ll run his race. We’re all going to find out how tough we are; it’s a great race, really good top horses in there. I think he’s up to it. He’s still a young horse so I don’t know how he fits in right now going a mile-and-a-quarter. He’s tough, though, 2-year-old champion and going to be 3-year-old champion. He keeps going and going.”

Baffert said there are no plans to retire Lookin At Lucky at the end of the season, although offers have been made to buy the colt for stud duty.

“So far we haven’t made any plans,” he said. “There’s people that have been trying to buy him for a stallion, but these owners just enjoy racing. You get a good horse like that, you want to watch him run.”

Reporters asked Baffert for his thoughts on Zenyatta’s likelihood of receiving Horse of the Year honors after the Breeders’ Cup.

“She has to win,” he said. “Only because they sort of stayed in California with her and didn’t really venture out. She has to win here on the dirt – she did it last year, she was phenomenal, but she did it on a synthetic track so there’s always going to be that question mark. If she does it here on dirt, on these grounds, that’s what it’s all about. But she’s supposed to win, so I don’t think they’re worried about it, they’re pretty confident. It’s going to be a great race. There’s always, ‘Well, maybe this time,’ and eventually they all get beat, but she’s just amazing. Win, lose, or draw, she’s a great mare that’s been so good for the business. We have a lot of respect for her.”

Quality Road – His rivals might have gotten a bit of a break in last year’s Classic when the Todd Pletcher-trained 3yo became frazzled at the Santa Anita starting gate and ultimately was scratched, but there are no signs of a repeat of that kind of incident in this year’s big race. 

“It was the ultimate letdown,” Pletcher said Thursday after the son of Elusive Quality returned from a morning gallop. “He’s been perfect ever since.”

 Pletcher turned to former NYRA starter Bob Duncan after the incident and asked him to work with the colt.

“We schooled him at Belmont right after the Breeders’ Cup,” Duncan said. “Basically, before we even started schooling him at the gate, Todd and I spent a little time with him around the barn, the paddock and the backside and just put him through a few exercises to kind of get connected to him – just moving him around and trying to get some leadership issues settled. Within 15 minutes he was following us around. Todd and I looked at each other and said ‘Geez, where’s the problem?’ He was that good.” 

He has since won all but one race in five 2010 starts, a head loss to Blame in Saratoga’s Whitney. He’s been “a perfect gentleman” in the gate all year, according to Pletcher.

“We took him over to the gate the next day and we took our time because it was his first time after the Breeders’ Cup,” Duncan recalled. “We didn’t know what to expect. He walks right into the starting gate. We added things each time. Will he go in the gate with the open door? Will he go with it closed? Next time around, will he go in next to another horse? He just did everything by the book. Eventually we did the dress rehearsal over at Aqueduct, which went very well, and he’s been good all year.” 

Pletcher said he believes Quality Road is still in line for a shot at Horse of the Year, and now he isn’t worrying too much about what happens before Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup finale. 

“The one thing we learned is it wasn’t about the starting gate,” Duncan said. “Like a lot of good horses, he’s an ‘Alpha horse.’ He wants to lead. He wakes up in the morning and says I want to see if I moved up in the pecking order today. If you can just do a little to something every day to re-establish your leadership, then he’s perfectly happy.  He’s the kindest, gentlest horse to be around. He couldn’t be any nicer.”

Espoir City – The 5yo Japanese horse was hand-walked in the quarantine barn Thursday, the morning after he breezed 4f in 49 3/5 under jockey Tetsuzo Sato.

 Trainer Akio Adachi said Espoir City came out of his work in good order. The horse is likely to jog Friday morning. 

            There have been three previous runners from Japan before this year – Agnes World (eighth in the 2000 Sprint); Personal Rush (sixth in the 2004 Classic); and Casino Drive (12^th in the 2008 Classic). Red Desire is scheduled to run in the Friday’s Filly & Mare Turf making Espoir City the fifth Breeders’ Cup starter from Japan. He has won two Group 1 races in the last 12 months, the Japan Cup Dirt, a 9f race, and the 1m February Stakes. He has been on course toward the Breeders’ Cup since late spring. Adachi said that he and the owners feel the horse is a contender.  

“We wouldn’t have come this far, with all the expenses, if we weren’t thinking that we have a good chance,” Adachi said through interpreter Mikki Tsuge, West Coast Representative for the Japan Racing Association, who has been serving as the connections’ liaison at Churchill Downs.

Etched – The 5yo son of Forestry made his first appearance on the Churchill Downs track Thursday morning, galloping 1 ½ m under exercise rider Pat Correa. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Classic hopeful walked on Wednesday morning when he arrived following the long van ride from Saratoga Springs. 

“He can be a little difficult at times. We went out before the break. It was nice and quiet. He threw a couple of bucks and kicks starting off and got into his gallop,” assistant trainer Neil McLaughlin said. “He’s a bit of a character, so we were trying to get a quiet track for him and things worked out well.”

 His connections have no worries about Etched’s behavior on race day. 

“No problem. He’s really good at the races. It’s more in the morning that he gets a little testy at times and has a mind of his own,” McLaughlin said. 

Regular rider Alan Garcia will be returned to the saddle aboard Etched, who was ridden by Eddie Castro in his Monmouth Cup victory last time out.

First Dude/ Paddy O’Prado – Both of trainer Dale Romans starters in the Classic galloped 1 ½ m Thursday morning and the conditioner said they’re continuing to do great and they’re ready for their Saturday engagement. 

First Dude, a 3yo Stephen Got Even colt, is looking for his first win since breaking his maiden in January at Gulfstream Park.  The runner-up in the Pennsylvania Derby in his last start will break from post 4 in the Classic and will be ridden by Robby Albarado. 

Paddy O’Prado, a 3yo son of El Prado, will be making his second start against older rivals in Saturday’s Classic after finishing second to Turf hopeful Winchester in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park in his last start.  Regular rider Kent Desormeaux has the mount aboard Paddy O’Prado who starts from post 2.

Fly Down – The Nick Zito-trained 3yo colt galloped 1 ½ m under Carlos Correa Thursday morning at Churchill Downs over the track that he proved to his liking last fall. Fly Down broke his maiden at Churchill last November, scoring a half-length decision over Classic hopeful First Dude in his second lifetime start. 

The Hall of Fame trainer is hopeful that conditions will once again be suited to son of Mineshaft. 

“I’m hoping Fly Down gets a great chance to run his race. I’m hoping there are legitimate fractions,” Zito said. “As long as that happens, I think he’ll have a legitimate chance to run.” 

Of course, legitimate fractions should also benefit Zenyatta, the undefeated 8-5 morning-line favorite for the Classic.

“You have to say she’s the horse to beat, because you are what your record is, and that’s what it says. Whether it’s the colts, the dirt, she’s still the horse to beat. You have to give her that distinction. You have to,” said Zito, acknowledging that this year’s Classic will be Zenyatta’s biggest challenge. 

Julien Leparoux will ride Fly Down for the first time Saturday.

Haynesfield – Looking purely at the pedigree of Turtle Bird Stable’s Haynesfield, one might assume that he would be best suited to the Sprint, but of the nine wins Steve Asmussen’s Classic contender has on his resume, eight have come at distances of 1m or greater. 

“It’s funny, he’s by Speightstown, who is a Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner (2004), so you’d think he might want to stay short,” Asmussen said. “But Haynesfield is a big tall, long jumping horse who obviously has ability over longer distances. Over time, you let them tell you. It’s about finding what they’re capable of doing and where they can have success.” 

In his only previous start over the Classic’s 1 ¼ m distance, which came in his most recent start, Haynesfield wired the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont.

Musket Man – The 4yo son of Yonaguska galloped 1 ¾ m on the main track Thursday morning, and trainer Derek Ryan said the colt is good to go Saturday. 

“He’s doing great,” Ryan said. “He’s never been better. I expect him to be right there.” 

Musket Man has a history on the Churchill Downs main track. He ran third after being bumped hard in deep stretch in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, and this year on Derby Day, he ran into severe traffic problems and finished third in the Churchill Downs Stakes. 

The Classic will be Musket Man’s sixth start of the year, which was the plan all along, Ryan said. 

“It looks like he has gaps in his past performances, but that’s by design,” the trainer said. “I wanted to get him to the Met Mile in the spring (finished second to Quality Road), and then give him most of the summer off. 

“He hates the heat, so we sent him back to the farm for three weeks during the summer, and then brought him back for the Whitney (third behind Blame and Quality Road). I used the Whitney and the Monmouth Cup (second to Etched) as his Breeders’ Cup preps. 

“He’s coming into the race in great shape. Now if there’s a legitimate pace, and if the rider (Rajiv Maragh) reads the pace right, and if he fires, I expect him to be right there at the finish.” 

Musket Man, owned by Eric Fein and Vic Carlson, won the Tampa Bay Derby and Illinois Derby on his way to the Kentucky Derby last year. This season, he’s won just once in five starts, taking his seasonal debut in an overnight stakes at Tampa Bay.

Pleasant Prince – With a Saturday date with Zenyatta in the offing, Pleasant Prince tuned up again with a 1 ½ m gallop over the main, continuing his progress toward the Classic.           

“He’s as good as I can get him,” trainer Wesley Ward said Thursday morning. “I’m expecting a good effort from him. He’s been eating the bottom out of his feed tub and sleeping all night.” 

            Where does Ward see Pleasant Prince going down the backstretch of the 1 ¼ m race? 

            “He’ll probably be teamed up with Zenyatta at the back of the pack,” said the trainer. “He usually drops back right after the start.”

Wednesday's Breeders' Cup Classic Notes

Zenyatta – The undefeated, reigning queen of Thoroughbred racing had her first gallop over the Churchill Downs track at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday, one day after arriving from California. A large crowd, including owners Jerry and Ann Moss, followed Zenyatta to the track and watched her gallop under regular exercise rider Steve Willard. Prior to the gallop, she was led to the back of the mile chute and allowed to stand and relax before her gallop.

“She did fine,” said trainer John Shirreffs with big smile on his face. “She seems very happy and really got over the track good.  They say that the Churchill track is a lot like the Oaklawn track. That’s what I’ve heard, but I’m from California. She seems to like it just fine.”

“I love seeing all the people come out to see her,” said Shirreffs. “I think that’s what makes her so special and how she will be remembered. Everyone that sees her becomes a fan. We’ve all become her fans.”

“She's terrific,” added Willard. “She couldn't be training any better. She loves the dirt. I knew it two years ago and I knew it going into Hot Springs (for the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park). She drives off it. It doesn't have the trampoline effect like the synthetics. The crowd was great. They were mostly quiet, a couple yelled, but for the most part very accommodating.”

 Zenyatta will school in the paddock with the horses running in the second race Wednesday.

Lookin At Lucky – The nation’s top 3yo contender got his first tour of the Churchill Downs track under exercise rider Jorge Alvarez on Wednesday morning after the renovation break, and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert declared it a “super good” trip.

“There’s ‘good,’ and then there’s ‘super good’,” Baffert said around 8:30 a.m., as the Smart Strike colt galloped once around. “I like it when it’s super good. He looks so different on dirt; he looks like he’s happier, he enjoys himself. He moves so much smoother over the dirt than he does on synthetics. He’s doing well.”

In spite of a sixth-place finish in the May 1 Kentucky Derby in his last visit to Churchill Downs, Lookin At Lucky has stamped his credentials in the division with his latest win in the Oct. 2 Indiana Derby, a score in the Haskell Invitational, and a Preakness victory earlier this spring. According to Baffert, he’s still going strong in the second part of the year.

“The Indiana Derby showed a dimension we didn’t know he had, of really having the worst of it and still coming through in such an easy manner,” Baffert said. “I thought for sure down the backside that he was finished, you know, there’s no way he’s going to run the way the track was playing that day. And he went around there and came back like it was nothing for him. Even in the Kentucky Derby after getting wiped out, he still was trying to get there. And that’s the thing about this horse – he has so much determination. So it’s exciting to come into the race the way he’s doing right now.”

Lookin At Lucky arrived at Churchill on the same Tex Sutton charter flight that brought the unbeaten Zenyatta. He’ll tangle with older horses for the first time in the Classic.   

“I think a lot of us trainers, we’re all in the same boat, none of us have ever faced this kind of competition before,” Baffert said of taking on Zenyatta. “But it’s still worked out to be one of those Breeders’ Cup Classics where all the good horses have shown up, and it’s going to be a good race. It’s hard to get really excited about it because the mare’s in there, so I don’t want to get too excited. I just want to see a good run. Turning for home, I’d like to be in a spot to get a good run because every time he gets a chance to get in a good run, he wins.”

Quality Road – The third betting choice on the morning line went out for a leisurely gallop Wednesday morning, and trainer Todd Pletcher said he was much more concerned by his star’s post position (1) than the memory of last year’s starting gate issues that resulted in a late scratch from the Classic.

“We haven’t seen any indications it will be a problem,” Pletcher said. “I would say as far as disappointments go you could rank that one pretty high, but he’s been great ever since. When we laid out a program last fall this is what we had in mind this year.  Other than finishing a head short in the Whitney, everything has gone exactly the way we planned.”

The son of Elusive Quality has lost twice at the Classic distance of 1 ¼ m, but Pletcher doesn’t believe his 4yo has distance limitations.

           

“This is the kind of race where you worry about everything,” he said. “If you watch his race in the Donn and the Florida Derby, I can’t see a mile-and-a-quarter being an issue as strong as he finished his mile-and-an-eighth races. Even at a mile and an eighth, you’d be concerned just with the quality of the field. There’s no margin for error. I think you have to be ready to run your best race.”

Pletcher said he has never lost confidence in the colt.

“We felt like all along we’ve got the best horse in training,” said Pletcher, who have the rare opportunity of winning the Kentucky Derby (Super Saver)  and Classic at Churchill in the same year. “I think the Donn is the strongest race any horse has run this year.”

Blame – The 9-2 second choice for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic took to the track Wednesday morning for an easy jog. Trainer Al Stall Jr. said everything was as it should be with the 4yo son of Arch, who will make the final start of his career against Zenyatta on Saturday before being retired to stud at Claiborne Farm.

Blame’s last work was turned in on Monday, an effortless 4f in 49 4/5 under jockey Garrett Gomez.

Espoir City – Jockey Tetsuzo Sato breezed the 5yo horse 4f in 49 3/5 Wednesday morning.

Rather than using the Japanese style of breaking off at the finish line and working around the first turn, as he had done Sunday, trainer Akio Adachi had Sato work the two-time Group 1 winner to the wire, the conventional approach in North America.

“Today was sort of the final touch-up,” he said through interpreter Mikki Tsuge, West Coast Representative for the Japan Racing Association, who has been serving as the connections’ liaison at Churchill Downs. “We had the jockey on him. There were no instructions, no specific fractions requested. I just wanted the jockey to feel how the horse was.” 

            Adachi was pleased with the work. 

“I’m quite satisfied,” he said, adding the son of Gold Allure can handle whatever develops in the Classic. 

 “Espoir City is quite versatile,” he said. “No instructions will be given to the jockey. We will leave it to him. If he breaks well, he can settle wherever. If he doesn’t break well, he can cover ground. I’m not concerned.” 

The Japan Cup Dirt and February Stakes winner drew post 11 in the 12-horse field. 

“I actually like it,” Adachi said. 

The trainer said his horse can deal with the American style of racing, with a quick early pace.

            “In his recent races, he has been up front,” he said. “I’m quite certain that he has the speed to keep up with the pace here. Also, I’m not concerned with the distance. This will be his first time going a mile-and-a-quarter, but I’m quite confident that he will handle the distance as well. I really don’t have any major concerns.”

Etched – The 5yo son of Forestry arrived at Barn 40 on the Churchill Downs backstretch at 3:30 Wednesday morning after leaving his Greentree Training Center in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. at 1 p.m. Tuesday. 

“Everything went well,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin from his Belmont Park base. “He just walked this morning and will train tomorrow.” 

Etched, who has won both his starts this year, will be making his Grade 1 debut while taking on Zenyatta and 10 other males in the Classic. 

“We have never run against Zenyatta. I have a great deal of respect for her. Obviously she’s the one to beat,” McLaughlin said. “It would be great for racing if she could retire undefeated, but for my family, I’d like to beat her. But if we don’t win, I’d hope she does win. If we do win, I can tell you I won’t feel bad for long.”

Alan Garcia has the mount on Etched.

First Dude/ Paddy O’Prado – First Dude galloped 1 ½ m on Wednesday and was then made to stand on the track “to get a good look at Zenyatta.”

The Dale Romans-trained First Dude enters the Classic off a runner-up finish in the Pennsylvania Derby and Romans feels that race was key to him finally reaching a level of maturity.

“He just needed the time to mature and I think he’s finally coming around,” said Romans. “I honestly believe he thinks he won that race because ever since that race, he’s been real cocky. He’s never been like that before." 

Paddy O' Prado, the El Prado colt who finished third in the Kentucky Derby, galloped 1 1/2 m over the main Churchill track on Wednesday in preparation for his return to dirt in the Classic after three wins and a second on turf.

“He's never trained better than he did this morning,” said Romans. “Both my horses are coming around at the right time. We're definitely not going to have any excuses if we lose.”

Both First Dude and Paddy O'Prado will gallop up to the Classic. 

Fly Down – The 3yo son of Mineshaft galloped 1 1/2m at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning under exercise rider Carlos Correa.

Fly Down, who broke his maiden at Churchill Downs last fall, has demonstrated a strong late kick that has powered him to victory in the Dwyer and second-place finishes in the Belmont Stakes and the Travers Stakes, which he lost by just a nose to Afleet Express.

“It’ll be an interesting race. I just hope the horses that are supposed to go…go, for our horse,” said Zito, obviously hoping that Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Haynesfield, Woodward victor Quality Road and others will set a strong early pace to complement his colt’s late-running effort. Zito acknowledged that Zenyatta would also be a beneficiary of a solid early pace.

“Naturally all eyes are on Zenyatta,” Zito said. “You are what your record is, and she has a perfect record. Obviously, this is her biggest test, win, lose, or draw.”

Julien Leparoux will be aboard Fly Down for the first time.

Haynesfield – In Saturday’s Classic, Turtle Bird Stable’s Haynesfield will attempt to become the first New York-bred to capture a Breeders’ Cup race. He has nine wins on his resume from 13 starts, with four of those coming against restricted company, but in his final start of 2009 the connections realized they might have something special. 

“His win in the Discovery last year showed us what he could be,” Asmussen said. “His Suburban victory this year, and in his Jockey Club (Gold Cup) after that, he showed us that he’s a top class horse.” 

Haynesfield has traditionally done his best running on the lead, or from just off the pace. A dry track that’s tough to close over would work to his advantage.   

“Speed holds if you’re fast,” Asmussen joked. “It’s a very fair racetrack. The track was very slow opening day (Sunday), but with racing the next few days, it should tighten up a bit.”

Musket Man – The 4yo colt stretched his legs with a 1m jog over the Churchill Downs main track Wednesday morning, going out for the first time since arriving late Tuesday. 

Trainer Derek Ryan, who arrived in Louisville at midnight, was on hand to supervise the colt’s training. Musket Man is stabled in Barn 41, in the same stall he occupied when he ran third in the 2009 Kentucky Derby and third in the Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby Day this year. Musket Man found traffic trouble in both races or he might have fared better. 

“He seems to get into trouble here,” Ryan said, “but he finds trouble everywhere. We need a clean trip in this race.”

This year, the son of Yonaguska, owned by Eric Fein and Vic Carlson, has won just once in six starts, with three seconds and two thirds. He was second to Quality Road in the Metropolitan Handicap and third behind Blame and Quality Road in the Whitney Handicap. 

Last out, Musket Man was the 1-2 favorite in the Monmouth Cup, but was beaten a neck by Etched, another Classic rival. 

“He should have won that race,” Ryan said. “I said he would only go to the Breeders’ Cup if he won, but I know he was much the best that day and unlucky to lose by a neck. I know he’ll run well here.” 

Musket Man gets another change of riders for the Classic, with Rajiv Maragh taking over again. Maragh rode the colt in the Whitney, when he was closer to the pace than usual. 

“Rajiv knows the horse,” Ryan said, explaining the switch from last out.  “He chased the speed in the Whitney because he didn’t want Quality Road to steal the race on the lead.”

Pleasant Prince – The 3yo son of Indy King galloped 1 1/2m on the main track after the mid-morning break and trainer Wesley Ward continues to be encouraged about the colt owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey.           

“He’s been training awesome for quite a while, and that’s why Mr. Ramsey paid the $100,000 to nominate him for the Classic,” Ward said Wednesday morning. “He’s just doing awesome and I think he’s going to run big enough to warrant that extra fee.”           

Pleasant Prince drew post 9 at Tuesday’s post-position draw, but Ward said he’s not concerned about that. “He’ll get good position up fairly close,” the trainer said.

Monday's Classic Notes

Zenyatta – The defending Breeders’ Cup Classic champion jogged on the training track at Hollywood Park at 9:00 PT Monday morning with exercise rider Steve Willard aboard ahead of her trip Tuesday morning aboard the Tex Sutton Forwarding charter carrying the final contingent of California-based Breeders’ Cup contenders, tentatively scheduled to arrive in Louisville by noon or early afternoon.

A more detailed report on Zenyatta will follow separately.

Blame – One of the top contenders expected to take on the unbeaten Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Al Stall Jr. trainee turned in an easy final workout on Monday morning at Churchill Downs when he breezed 4f in 49 4/5 under jockey Garrett Gomez.

The 4yo son of Arch came onto the track accompanied by a pony around 6:10 a.m. and jogged the wrong way down the stretch to the far turn before coming back and breaking off from the pony just past the wire. He appeared eager to run and on the muscle, but settled nicely into a smooth gallop before being set down to the task along the backside. Clockers caught him galloping out 5f in 1:03 1/5.

“It was just a little maintenance work,” Stall said. “He started out comfortable, did his job, pulled up with a little buck and a squeal, and came on home. That’s him. Garrett said he’s becoming like a movie star; he loves all the cameras and attention out there. When he cut loose from the pony he tried to take off a little, but he settled down well.”

“The last time I went to work him at Saratoga before the Whitney, I had trouble getting him to the pole, he was pulling that hard,” Gomez said. “This morning he started out like that, but I was able to kind of con him around there and play with him and get him into a nice little gallop and kind of trick him that he was just going to gallop around there. Then, when we got to the backside, he started pulling and I actually broke him off at about 4 ½ furlongs. I just kind of tried to let him hit his stride and pick it up as we went along like he does in all his races. His work was just what we were looking for, just enough to open his lungs and get him a little more on edge getting closer to race day.”

Stall had talked of potentially breezing the runner, a homebred owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, on Sunday. But he decided early last week to wait until after Churchill Downs’ opening day and scheduled the work for Monday instead.

“I thought the track would be in really pristine shape after all the harrowing of opening day, and it looked really good this morning,” he said.

In his last start, Blame was runner-up to fellow Classic contender Haynesfield by four lengths in the Oct. 2 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Before the recent loss, he carried a four-race win streak toward the Breeders’ Cup, with 2010 victories in the Aug. 7 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga, the June 12 Stephen Foster here at Churchill Downs, the May 15 William D. Schaefer Stakes at Pimlico, and a 2009 score in the Clark Handicap here last November.

Blame will be retired to stand at Claiborne Farm following his start in the Classic. 

“I’m glad were considered one of the top horses,” said Stall. “It’s a tough race but I feel like we belong.”

All of the colt’s wins this year came under Gomez.

“He did what he was supposed to do and turned into a really good racehorse, and hopefully now he can turn into a great one,” the jockey said.      

Lookin At Lucky – Lookin at Lucky walked the shedrow at Hollywood Park Monday morning after working 5f in 59 3/5 Sunday.

“I asked Bodie (his son), ‘Who is the fastest in the world?’ and he said, ‘Zenyatta,’ so I guess it’s all uphill,” said trainer Bob Baffert.  “Seriously, he’s doing great.  We just need some racing luck.”

Quality Road –It was a quiet morning for the Woodward winner, who walked the shedrow  after his final work on Sunday over the main track at Churchill Downs. The son of Elusive Quality went 4f and was timed in 48 3/5, seventh-best of 60 on the tab.

“I thought it was a very good work and he galloped out well,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who had the colt ready for last year’s Classic only to suffer the misfortune of having him scratched at the gate when Santa Anita’s assistant starters were unable to get him loaded.

“That was disappointing, but we were fortunate that he didn’t get injured and we’re able to come back and try again.” said Pletcher, who sent his formerly high-strung star to former NYRA starter Bob Duncan after the Breeders’ Cup to get him to learn how to relax before racing.

“Bob worked with him shortly after that, and there haven’t been any problems this year,” said Pletcher, who pre-entered 11 Breeders’ Cup runners. John Velazquez, who has been aboard in all but two of Quality Road’s 12 starts, will ride the Edward P. Evans color bearer.  

Espoir City – The 5yo Japanese Classic hopeful was walked in the shedrow Monday morning, the day after he worked 4f in 48 3/5.

            “All is well. He came out of his breeze in good condition,” said Mikki Tsuge, West Coast Representative for the Japan Racing Association, who has been serving as the connections’ liaison at Churchill Downs.

            Trainer Akio Adachi and trainer Tetsuzo Sato are scheduled to arrive in Kentucky on Monday and be at the track for training Tuesday morning. Tsuge said it is possible that Adachi may work the son of Gold Allure again on Wednesday.

            Espoir City has won 11 of 20 career starts, including two Group 1 races, the 2009 Japan Cup Dirt and the 2010 February Stakes, and has purse earnings of $5.9 million  

Etched – The Monmouth Cup winner galloped 1 3/8m over the Polytrack at Darley USA’s Greentree Training Center in Saratoga Springs Monday, the morning before he is scheduled to board a van bound for Churchill Downs and is expected to arrive early Wednesday.

“He’s stabled at Greentree at Saratoga, so it’d be a four-hour van ride down here and then he’d have to be boarded onto a plane,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin from Belmont Park. “We figured it would be easier for him to put him in a box stall and van him down there.”

Etched, a 5yo son of Forestry, will be ridden by Alan Garcia.

           First Dude/Paddy O'Prado – First Dude,  Donald Dizney’s Stephen Got Even colt who has held his own against the top 3yos this year, was feeling good Monday  morning as he went to the track to jog 2m on Monday with exercise rider Tammy Fox aboard. It was the colt’s first time to the track since his 5f workout on Saturday in 1:01 1/5.

“He was saying ‘Hi ho silver and bucky, bucky, bucky’,” said Fox, a former jockey and the longtime partner of trainer Dale Romans.

“He was just playing out there,” said Romans. “He’s feeling good. He came out of the work really well.”

Jockey Robby Albarado, who was aboard Romans’ first Breeders’ Cup winner, Tapitsfly last year in the Juvenile Fillies, has the mount on First Dude in the Classic.

Paddy O’Prado, Donegal Racing’s multiple stakes-winner walked the shedrow of Romans’ barn on Monday and will return to the track on Tuesday to jog. The El Prado colt completed preparations for the Classic on Saturday with a 5f workout in 1:01 on Saturday.

Paddy O’Prado had been pre-entered in both the Turf and Classic, but his connections have opted for the Classic.

“It was a breeding decision,” said Romans. “He’s already proved he can run on turf. If he proves can run well in here on dirt, it will really increase his stud value. He ran well on the dirt in the Kentucky Derby and it’s not like the Turf was going to be an easier race. Realistically, we felt he has as good a chance in the Classic as we would have in the Turf.”

Regular rider Kent Desormeaux keeps the mount in the Classic.

Fly Down/Morning Line – Assistant trainer Stacy Prior attended to the training of Fly Down and Morning Line Monday morning at Churchill Downs as trainer Nick Zito was en route to Louisville.

“Everything’s good. Both horses galloped 1 ½ miles,” said Prior, reporting that exercise rider Carlos Correa was aboard both Classic hopefuls.

Gio Ponti – Gio Ponti, who finished second in last year’s Classic, galloped over Belmont Park’s main track this morning.  Gio Ponti was pre-entered in both the Classic and Mile this year.

            “He’s doing great, really excited about running him Saturday,” trainer Christophe Clement said.  “He’s leaving (for Kentucky) Tuesday.”

            Jockey Ramon Dominguez has the mount.

            “I’ve never had a horse like him,” Clement said.  “He’s been top class at two, three, four and five.  He’s a pleasure to be around.”

Haynesfield – Turtle Bird Stable’s Haynesfield, who breezed 4f in 50 on Sunday in his final major move prior to Saturday’s Classic, is “very sharp right now” according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

“The horse is doing well, I’m very pleased,” he said. “With him, it’s all about the gate and how he acts in it, and if he doesn’t lose his race there.”

Such was the case in the Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 7 when Haynesfield broke through the gate pre-start, and wound up finishing fourth behind Blame. He would turn the tables on that Classic foe seven weeks later, wiring the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont by four lengths.

“He schools very well in the morning, it’s just the afternoon,” Asmussen said. “The gate setting on the front side is a huge concern.  Ironically, you are able to school at the quarter-pole here, exactly where the gate is set for the race. Hopefully that will be the difference for him.  He has given a few performances away in the past.”

Haynesfield hasn’t run in a race at Churchill before, but he’s worked three times over the track in advance of the Classic.

“We got him in here early because of his quirks, and the horse has responded extremely well,” Asmussen said.  “He’s comfortable with his surroundings, and I’m very happy with the way he travels over this racetrack.”

Asmussen confirmed that Jockey Club Gold Cup winning rider Ramon Dominguez retains the call for the Classic

Musket Man – The 4yo colt, who ran third in his two starts at Churchill Downs, was scheduled to get on a van at Monmouth Park late Monday night for the trip to Kentucky, trainer Derek Ryan said. He is scheduled to arrive Tuesday afternoon.

“He had his final work at Monmouth Saturday (5f breeze in 1:00 4/5),” Ryan said, “and he’ll gallop up to the race at Churchill Downs.”

Ryan said he’ll arrive at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.

Musket Man, owned by Eric Fein and Vic Carlson, will be housed in Barn 41 on the Churchill backside, taking the same stall he occupied when he ran third in the 2009 Kentucky Derby and third in the Churchill Downs Stakes this year on Derby Day.

In his recent starts, Musket Man was third behind Blame and Quality Road in the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga in August, and last out was second by a neck behind Etched in the Monmouth Cup on Oct. 9.

He’s had two breezes since, 6f in 1:17 at Monmouth on Oct. 23, and then his 5f breeze last Saturday, which was fifth best of 21 works at the distance.

Rajiv Maragh, who was aboard for the first time in the Whitney, gets the call again for the Classic.

Pleasant Prince –  With a solid 5f  workout in 1:01 3/5 on Sunday at Churchill Downs, trainer Wesley Ward’s Pleasant Prince jogged 1m Monday as he continued preparation for Saturday’s Classic at 1 ¼m on the main track.

            Ward said from his Florida base that the 3yo chestnut colt continues to train well and he’s encouraged about how he might run in the race.  The son of Indy King, owned by Kentuckians Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, broke his maiden at Churchill Downs as a 2yo and returned to finish third the track’s Derby Trial April 24.

            Pleasant Prince will be ridden in the Classic by Southern California-based Joel Rosario, who was in the irons in the colt’s victory in the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in his most recent start Oct. 10.

Breeders' Cup Race Order

Here is the final race order  for both days of the Breeders' Cup. There were two changes from the initial schedule released in September. On Friday, the F&M Turf and Juvenile Fillies switched places and the Dirt Mile and Sprint swapped positions on Saturday.

Friday, November 5 – ALL TIMES EASTERN

1.          Allowance           2:00 pm                     

2.          Allowance           2:30 pm                                 

3.         Stakes                3:00 pm         

4.         Stakes                3:30 pm                                   

5.  $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon (gr. III)     -   4:10 p.m.

6.  $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. II) - 4:50 p.m.    

7.  $1 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) – 5:30 p.m.

8.  $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) – 6:10 p.m.

9.  $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. I) – 6:50 p.m.

10. $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) -7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 6 – ALL TIMES EASTERN

 1.   Allowance               12:05 pm         

 2.  Stakes                    12:35 pm                                 

 3.  Stakes                      1:15 pm                                 

  4. $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. II) -1:50 p.m.

  5. $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) - 2:30 p.m.

  6. $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. II) -3:15 p.m.

  7. $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) - 3:55 p.m.

  8. $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. I) - 4:40 p.m.

  9. $1 Million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) -5:20 p.m.

 10. $3 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. I) – 6:00 p.m.

 11. $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) - 6:45 p.m.

Prospective Breeders' Cup Fields

Thanks for our friends at Churchill Downs, here's a list of horses that can potentially run in each of the Breeders' Cup Championship races.

CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY

MARATHON

A.U. Miner (trained by Clark Hanna), Alcomo-BRZ (Eduardo Caramori), Atoned (Neil Howard), Bright Horizon-GB (Aidan O’Brien), Eldaafer (Diane Alvarado), Falling Knife (Tom Amoss), Precision Break (Paul Cole), Tastahil-IRE (Barry Hills) and Temple City (Carla Gaines). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Marathon some consideration: Dansant-GB, Gabriel’s Hill, Giant Oak (Clark Handicap), Prince Will I Am (Turf), Wade Giles-IRE, Where’s the Remote (Hollywood Turf Cup) and Whispering Gallery-GB.

JUVENILE FILLIES TURF

Arch Support (trained by Gary Contessa), Forest Legend (Victoria Oliver), Kathmanblu (Ken McPeek), More Than Real (Todd Pletcher), New Normal (Mark Frostad), Quiet Oasis-IRE (Brian Meehan), Tale Untold (Richard Hannon), Together-IRE (Aidan O’Brien), Winter Memories (Jim Toner) and Wyomia (Juvenile Fillies). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Juvenile Fillies Turf some consideration: Cloneylass-IRE, Fancy Point, Harlan’s Ruby, Hooray-GB, Jazzy Jessy, Jordy Y (Juvenile Fillies), Singapore Lilly-IRE, Street Chimes, Theyskens’ Theory (Juvenile Fillies) and Tiger Girl.

FILLY & MARE SPRINT

Champagne d’Oro (trained by Eric Guillot), Dubai Majesty (Bret Calhoun), Evening Jewel (Jim Cassidy), First Passage (Marty Wolfson), Informed Decision (Jonathan Sheppard), Jessica Is Back (Marty Wolfson), Moontune Missy (Eoin Harty), My Jen (Eddie Kenneally), Qualia (Robert Ribaudo), Rightly So (Tony Dutrow), Rinterval-IRE (Eric Reed), Sara Louise (Saeed bin Suroor), Secret Gypsy (Ronny Werner), Sweet August Moon (Brian Koriner), Switch (John Sadler) and Tidal Pool (D. Wayne Lukas). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Filly & Mare Sprint some consideration: Gabby’s Golden Gal, Nicole H and Rapport.

FILLY & MARE TURF

Changing Skies-IRE (trained by Bill Mott), Eclair de Lune-GER (Ron McAnally), Forever Together (Jonathan Sheppard), Harmonious (John Shirreffs), Hibaayeb-GB (Saeed bin Suroor), Midday-GB (Henry Cecil), Plumania-GB (Andre Fabre) and Red Desire-JPN (Mikio Matsunaga). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Filly & Mare Turf some consideration: Ave-GB, Hot Cha Cha, Keertana, Miss Keller-IRE, Shared Account and Turning Top-IRE.

JUVENILE FILLIES

A Z Warrior (trained by Bob Baffert), Awesome Feather (Stan Gold), Delightful Mary (Mark Casse), Harlan’s Ruby (Ken McPeek), Izshelegal (Terry Knight), Jordy Y (Wayne Catalano), Joyful Victory (Tony Dutrow), R Heat Lightning (Todd Pletcher), Soundwave (Ronny Werner) and Tell a Kelly (John Sadler). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Juvenile Fillies some consideration: Honey Chile (Pocahontas), Indian Gracey, Tale Untold (Juvenile Fillies Turf), Theyskens’ Theory, Together-IRE (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Wyomia (Juvenile Fillies Turf).

LADIES’ CLASSIC

Acoma (trained by David Carroll), Acting Happy (Rick Dutrow Jr.), Blind Luck (Jerry Hollendorfer), Funny Moon (Christophe Clement), Havre de Grace (Tony Dutrow), Life At Ten (Todd Pletcher), Malibu Prayer (Todd Pletcher), Persistently (“Shug” McGaughey), Seeking the Title (Dallas Stewart) and Unrivaled Belle (Bill Mott). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Ladies’ Distaff some consideration: Always a Princess, Evening Jewel (F&M Sprint), Milwaukee Appeal, Third Dawn (Chilukki) and Zardana-BRZ.

CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY

JUVENILE TURF

Air Support (trained by “Shug” McGaughey), Banned (Tom Proctor), Cozy Kitten (Wesley Ward), Klammer-GB (Jane Chapple-Hyam), Pluck (Todd Pletcher), Soldat (Kiaran McLaughlin) and Typhoon Slew (Mike Maker). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Juvenile Turf some consideration: Biondetti, Deciphering Dreams, J.B.’s Thunder (Juvenile), Major Gain, Mantoba-GB, Powhatan County, Rerouted, Rockin Heat, Rogue Romance (Juvenile), Rough Sailing, Titus Mills-IRE, Treasure Beach-GB, Utley and Willcox Inn.

DIRT MILE

A Little Warm (trained by Tony Dutrow), Aikenite (Todd Pletcher), Awesome Gem (Craig Dollase), Crown of Thorns (Richard Mandella), Dakota Phone (Jerry Hollendorfer), Gayego (Saeed bin Suroor), Here Comes Ben (Charlie Lopresti), Hurricane Ike (John Sadler), Mine That Bird (D. Wayne Lukas), Thiskyhasnolimit (Steve Asmussen), Tizway (Jim Bond), Twirling Candy (John Sadler) and Vineyard Haven (Saeed bin Suroor). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Dirt Mile some consideration: Bribon-FR (Sprint), Duke of Mischief, Jeranimo, Mad Flatter, Morning Line (Classic), Redding Colliery (Clark Handicap) and Warrior’s Reward (Sprint).

TURF SPRINT

Awakino Cat (Linda Rice), California Flag (Brian Koriner), Central City (Ronny Werner), Chamberlain Bridge (Bret Calhoun), Due Date (Steve Margolis), Elusive Gift (Richard Vega), Fatal Bullet (Reade Baker), Grand Adventure (Mark Frostad), Little Nick (Anthony Quartarolo), Quick Enough (Doug O’Neill), Rose Catherine (Todd Pletcher), Silver Timber (Chad Brown), Stradivinsky (Rick Dutrow Jr.), Tropic Storm (Craig Dollase) and Unzip Me (Marty Jones). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Turf Sprint some consideration: A Unique Treasure, Bridgetown, Gilt Edge Girl (Sprint), Ravalo, Scenic Blast-AUS and West Ocean.

JUVENILE

Boys At Tosconova (Rick Dutrow Jr.), J P’s Gusto (David Hofmans), Jaycito (Mike Mitchell), Stay Thirsty (Todd Pletcher) and Uncle Mo (Todd Pletcher). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Juvenile some consideration: Astrology, Blue Laser (Delta Jackpot), Caleb’s Posse, Factum, J.B.’s Thunder (Delta Jackpot), Madman Diaries (Delta Jackpot), Major Gain (Juvenile Turf), Mountain Town, Murjan, Riveting Reason, Rockin Heat, and Rogue Romance (Juvenile Turf).

MILE

Courageous Cat (Bill Mott), Court Vision (Rick Dutrow Jr.), Delegator-GB (Saeed bin Suroor), Get Stormy (Tom Bush), Goldikova-IRE (Freddie Head), Paco Boy-IRE (Richard Hannon), Proviso-GB (Bill Mott) and Sidney’s Candy (John Sadler). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Mile some consideration: Beethoven-IRE, Enriched, Gio Ponti (Classic), Grand Rapport, Society’s Chairman, Starspangledbanner-AUS, Victor’s Cry and Yankee Fourtune (Commonwealth Turf).

SPRINT

Atta Boy Roy (trained by Valorie Lund), Big Drama (David Fawkes), Cash Refund (Steve Margolis), Cost of Freedom (John Sadler), Dancing in Silks (Carla Gaines), E Z’s Gentleman (Bob Baffert), Girolamo (Saeed bin Suroor), Hamazing Destiny (D. Wayne Lukas), Kinsale King (Carl O’Callaghan), Riley Tucker (Steve Asmussen), Smiling Tiger (Jeff Bonde), Supreme Summit (Mike Puype), Warrior’s Reward (Ian Wilkes) and Wise Dan (Charlie Lopresti). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Sprint some consideration: Bank Merger, Bribon-FR (Dirt Mile), Gilt Edge Girl (Turf Sprint), Hollywood Hit, Latigo Shore, Rule by Night, and Wildcat Brief.

TURF

Al Khali (trained by Bill Mott), Behkabad-FR (Jean-Claude Rouget), Champ Pegasus (Richard Mandella), Debussy-IRE (John Gosden) and Winchester (Christophe Clement). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Turf some consideration: Dangerous Midge, Gitano Hernando-GB (Classic), Joshua Tree-IRE, Paddy O’Prado (Classic/Japan Cup), Plumania-GB (Filly & Mare Turf), Prince Will I Am (Marathon), Redwood-GB, Tazeez, Telling and Workforce-GB.

CLASSIC

Blame (trained by Al Stall Jr.), Espoir City-JPN (Akio Adachi), Etched (Kiaran McLaughlin), First Dude (Dale Romans), Fly Down (Nick Zito), Haynesfield (Steve Asmussen), Lookin At Lucky (Bob Baffert), Morning Line (Nick Zito), Musket Man (Derek Ryan), Quality Road (Todd Pletcher) and Zenyatta (John Shirreffs). Known horses whose connections may be giving the Classic some consideration: Crown of Thorns (Dirt Mile), Gio Ponti (Mile), Gitano Hernando-GB (Turf) and Paddy O’Prado (Turf). 

Now What?

There was a time when it wasn't a matter if Rachel Alexandra would win; it was simply an issue of how badly she would beat her opponents. Now we wonder if she can beat the elite horses in the nation.

On Sunday at Saratoga, Rachel looked like she might capture her first Grade 1 and major race of 2010 as the field came down the home stretch for the final time. But in the final sixteenth of a mile of the Personal Ensign, she began to get very leg weary and a very ordinary horse named Persistently went right by Rachel in the final strides.

"After we put away Life at Ten at the quarter pole, I didn't feel any acceleration and I got worried," jockey Calvin Borel said. "She wasn't really there. I knew if anyone was running behind us, we were in trouble."

If she was defeated by Life at Ten in Sunday's race, it would not have been as big of a disappointment as Life at Ten entered the Personal Ensign with a six race winning streak. But Persistently had only won three times in 13 races and had trouble beating horses that weren't in the same league as Rachel or Life at Ten.

Now, what does the future hold for the defending "Horse of the Year?"

"I'm very disappointed that she lost but I am very happy with Rachel," Rachel's trainer Steve Asmussen said. "It hurts to lose and you're disappointed for it but if that's the case, just think how happy she's made you and all the things has done for us...If she isn't exactly where she was last year, hopefully she can get back there."

As for her next race, Asmussen said  "We want to evaluate who we are and who she is and where she is at. We're just worried about her well being."

One thing about her future is certain, she will not be a two-time Horse of the Year. What is almost as certain is that she will not run in the Breeders' Cup Classic against the best horses in the country. She would have little chance to beat the likes of Blame, Quality Road and the undefeated Zenyatta. The most likely spot for her will be the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic where she will have a chance to salvage a good year.

But a good year is not what everyone expected. We were counting on another great year with the hope that she and Zenyatta would meet to prove who was the best female horse in the country. Now her last shot to be in the spotlight will come in the Breeders' Cup.

Before all the Rachel bashers come out of the "wood works" we need to remember one thing; her 2009 campaign was still one of the greatest ever for a 3-year-old filly. Rachel was 8-for-8 last year including wins over the boys in the Preakness, Haskell and Woodward and a near 20-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks. Truly amazing.

What she has done this year should not take anything away from her accomplishments last year.

Rachel just appears to be a filly who peaked in 2009. That is very common in racing. We all just had reasonable expectations that her greatness would continue into 2010.