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breeders cup horse racing
Wise Dan, the morning line favorite in the Mile, makes his way down the main track to the turf course on his first morning at Santa Anita.

World Championships
Breeders' Cup Workouts

Date: 11/01/2012

Thursday morning at Santa Anita Park started with overcast skies that didn't clear up until later in the morning. Wednesday afternoon, the east coast horses who had been delayed by Hurricane Sandy, finally arrived and most went out to the track today, along with European horses that cleared quarantine. With only one day to go before the Breeders' Cup World Championships, this was was the last chance for horses in the Friday races to get one final gallop in over the track. We got there early, before dawn, hoping to get as many of the ones who just arrived as possible, so please forgive the poor quality of some of the photos as it was just too dark to get a decent picture until 7:30 or so.

Here are photos for 50 of the horses on the track this morning. Click the small picture to see a larger version.

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Mucho Macho Man galloped 1 1/2m under Nick Petro Jr. before visiting the starting gate. "He just floats (over the track)," said trainer Kathy Ritvo, who accompanied Mucho Macho Man on the flight from Newburgh, N.Y. "He was very professional today. Everything's fine. It's been unbelievable. He's just a great horse. He's a nice horse to be around. He's got a nice personality"
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Flat Out galloped 1 3/8m very early on Thursday morning and walked through the paddock in preparation for the Classic. "We haven't changed anything," trainer Bill Mott said. "The trainer that had Flat Out last year did a very good job and I guess I was the lucky recipient of him because the people wanted him in New York."
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Fort Larned made his initial appearance on the track at Santa Anita very early on Thursday morning, backtracking to the wire and then galloping a mile under exercise rider Kate Merritt in preparation for the Classic. "I just wanted to give him a light day today," trainer Ian Wilkes said. "The plan was to ship Tuesday and then have a walk day here Wednesday. It is just one day and if one day makes a difference, then we are in trouble. I am very happy with where he is and he is doing very well."
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Wise Dan morning-line favorite for Saturday's Mile, made his first trip to the Santa Anita turf Thursday morning, jogging one time around accompanied by a pony and then galloping easily once around under exercise rider Damien Rock. "He is better now than he was before the Shadwell, but I say that after every race," trainer Charles Lopresti said. "He's a good one and hopefully he will prove it Saturday. He will have to run the race of his life to win, but then whoever wins will have to, too."
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Shanghai Bobby got his first glimpse of picturesque Santa Anita Thursday morning after arriving on the Tex Sutton flight Wednesday. "It's good to be here," Pletcher said after 'Bobby' galloped over the main track and later was schooled in the paddock for the Juvenile. "The horse has been perfect so far. He seems to be handling everything we throw at him. He steps up in class and steps up in distance, so we'll try one more time."
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Beholder stood in the training gate under exercise rider Janeen Painter Thursday morning before galloping 1 1/2m. "She's doing good," trainer Richard Mandella said. "I know there is a lot of speed in the race, especially (Kauai Katie). But I think they'll have to respect my filly's speed and I'm hoping nobody will think it is worth their while to try to take her on. I've got (Garrett) Gomez riding and he's a pro. You always like to turn it over to a pro. He'll know what to do."
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Belle of the Hall got her first glimpse of Santa Anita Thursday morning after arriving from New York Wednesday. Trainer Tom Albertrani said, "We realize (the Filly and Mare Sprint) is a big step up in class, but she's been doing really well and we're hoping she has another big race in her. She's coming off a really good race (Valor Lady at Belmont), so we hope she is ready for this."
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Chosen Miracle Sprint galloped 1 1/2m, walked through the paddock, and stood in the gate on his way back to the barn Thursday morning in preparation for the Marathon. The routine was overseen by Christina Jelm, who was in charge in Hollendorfer's absence. Hollendorfer spent Wednesday checking in on his Northern California operation at Golden Gate Fields and was expected to return to Santa Anita later Thursday morning.
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Contested, who was pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint but had to drop out at entry time due to a lung infection, was back on the track today for the first time since her illness 3 weeks ago. She had to miss a week of training and was still coughing on entry day, so trainer Bob Baffert decided not to enter her. Baffert said, "I felt she needed one more week. She's fine now. She returned to the track this morning and just had a nice, easy jog."
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Delegation galloped in preparation for the Dirt Mile. "Delegation galloped this morning and then went back to school in the gate because he was a little antsy there yesterday," said trainer Mark Casse. "He was much better today and I'm pleased with him."
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Dreaming of Julia galloped over the main track Thursday morning with trainer Todd Pletcher supervising. "Dreaming of Julia is very straightforward, what I would consider the perfect blend of her sire and dam," Pletcher said. "She's by A.P. Indy out of a dam (Dream Rush) that was very good at sprints and middle distances, so she's got a combination of speed and stamina. I would anticipate two turns would be even better for her."
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Dust and Diamonds was among a group of Breeders' Cup starters that trainer Steve Asmussen sent to the starting gate to school and then out for a gallop in the pre-dawn darkness. The Filly and Mare Sprint starter also was scheduled to school in the paddock with her stablemates later in the day. "We have a good group of horses," said Asmussen. "They're all sound physically and mentally."
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Eldaafer starts in his fourth consecutive Marathon on Friday and as he tries for his second win of the endurance test, he'll step into the starting gate for the 41st time. Trainer Diane Alvarado hopes there is more left in the gelding's tank, in both the short and long terms. "God willing, he'll race next year," she said of the 2010 Marathon winner who was bred in Kentucky by Shadwell Farm. "He's doing really good, and he's the soundest horse in my barn."
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Emcee prepared for a scheduled start in Saturday's Dirt Mile by galloping 1 1/2m at Santa Anita Thursday morning. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said, "Any figures you look at – the Daily Racing Form Beyer Figures, Rags (Ragozin) Sheets, Thoro-Graph, anything you want to look at – he's much the best on all figures," McLaughlin said. "Now we have to work out a great trip and hope he can go two turns and go a mile. But I don't think that should be too difficult."
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Excelebration jogged on the main track in preparation for the Mile. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "There was nothing out of the ordinary there, I'd be more concerned if they hadn't."
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Fame and Glory cantered on the main track in preparation for the Marathon.
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Fortify galloped 1 1/2m Thursday morning at Santa Anita for a rematch with morning-line favorite Shanghai Bobby in Saturday's Juvenile. "He's a big, powerful horse. He looks like a 4-year-old. He's just a little bit slower than Shanghai Bobby," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "We just have to hope things for some reason go in our favor, whether it's the mile and a sixteenth or no Lasix for them. We've never been on Lasix."
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Gantry jogged in preparation for the Sprint. Trainer Ron Faucheux said, "He's training kind of the same way here as he was going into the Calder race. We did the same thing; shipped in a little early to get a work over the track and have a similar strategy. And I have the same feeling about him now that I did then. I really like the way he's been training. He's gotten really strong once we got him on the surface. That's a good sign."
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George Vancouver cantered on the main track in preparation for the Juvenile Turf.
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Grace Hall will leave after the Ladies Classic and be shipped to Kentucky where she is consigned through the ring at the Fasig-Tipton November sale on Monday. "I hope that whoever buys her will send her back to us," said Carol Fisher, the assistant to Dutrow, after she galloped the 3yo filly 1m and jogged her the same distance on Thursday morning. Fisher, who flew on the last plane out of New York with Grace Hall, has worked the 2011 Juvenile Fillies runner-up and taken care of her since she arrived in the Dutrow barn as an unraced 2yo.
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Hamazing Destiny galloped Thursday in preparation for his third attempt at the Sprint. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, "He eats well, he sleeps well and he's good to himself. Longevity is an asset and time is an ally. Every time he goes to race he's perfectly professional."
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I'm a Dreamer was out before dawn and stepped up on her work from Wednesday and having cantered a circuit of the track picked up the pace and did a very nice breeze in the hands of Laura Pike in preparation for the Filly and Mare Turf.
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Include Me Out jogged 1 1/4m under exercise rider Manny Rotella. Owner Samantha Siegel said, "I think they're all going to have to bring their 'A' games. You don't get too many eight-horse fields with seven grade I winners and two unbeaten horses."
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Infanta Branca jogged on the main track under jockey Ryan Moore. She is an also-eligible for the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
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Jeranimo galloped 1 mile in preparation for the Mile under exercise rider Jesus Medillin. "All systems are go," said trainer Mike Pender. "He shipped over yesterday (from Betfair Hollywood Park) and cleaned up his tub. He will school in the first race tomorrow."
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Jersey Town jogged once around the track Thursday in preparation for the Dirt Mile, the morning after arriving at Santa Anita following a flight from New York. "He traveled well. He ate well. He's ready," said groom Norbel Lebron, who reported that the Kelso winner's trainer, Barclay Tagg, was scheduled to arrive in Southern California in the afternoon.
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Joha stood in the gate and then galloped once around the Santa Anita main track Thursday in preparation for the Juvenile Turf. Assistant Lazzaro Guerro remarked how different Joha, whom they call "Joe," around the barn, is compared to the barn's 2011 Juvenile winner Hansen. "Hansen was a big nervous colt," said Guerro. "This colt is very laid back." Trainer Mike Maker was expected to arrive in California Thursday afternoon.
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John Scott galloped on the main track in preparation for the Dirt Mile.
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Justin Phillip went to the gate to school and then galloped once around the main track in preparation for the Sprint. He was going to school later in the day with his five stablemates that are also running in Breeders' Cup races. "He's such a cool horse," said trainer Steve Asmussen. "Nothing bothers him. We have a good group of horses. Everyone is sound both physically and mentally."
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Kauai Katie galloped over the main track Thursday morning with trainer Todd Pletcher supervising. "We kind of liked the way she rated last time," Pletcher said. "That's always a good sign with these young horses. This is going to be a tough race. We knew that coming in."
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Kitten's Point prepared for a scheduled start in Friday's Juvenile Fillies Turf by galloping 1 1/2m under exercise rider David Nava Thursday morning at Santa Anita.
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Lines of Battle jogged on Thursday in preparation for the Juvenile Turf.
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Moonwalk galloped Thursday and was scheduled to school in the paddock later in the day in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
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Mr. Commons was fractious and dumped dumped exercise rider Jacqueline Gomez on the homestretch, but Gomez remounted and completed the 1 mile gallop in preparation for the Mile. Owner Ian Banwell said, "He continues to progress to be a really fine racehorse, We're in a proper world championship, minus Frankel, and think he is a horse of that caliber. His advantage is that he likes Santa Anita quite a bit and only has to walk to the track out of his own barn but it's a fantastic field. We'll find out Saturday."
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Musical Romance was out Thursday in preparation for her title defense of the Filly and Mare Sprint. Trainer Bill Kaplan said, "She's really a unique mare. Not only is she a Breeders' Cup champ, she is just an amazing animal. She has run 40 times and is a world-class sprinter, and that just doesn't happen; horses like that don't last. She runs on anything, and she is as sound today as she was back in her first race. She's one of a kind."
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Not Abroad galloped on the main track in preparation for the Marathon.
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Optimizer went through trainer D. Wayne Lukas's normal routine of a 1 1/4m gallop over the main track in the pre-dawn darkness. Owned by Brad Kelley's Bluegrass Hall, the 3yo Optimizer will be making his second Breeders' Cup start. He was eighth in the 2011 Juvenile.
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Oscar Party arrived in California Wednesday on the final Tex Sutton charter that originated in New York and stopped in Kentucky en route, where the daughter of Dixie Union boarded. "We're happy with her," trainer Wayne Catalano said of his Juvenile Fillies Turf entrant. "We had her out to stretch her legs a little bit this morning."
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Royal Delta galloped 1 3/8 miles on the main track at 7am, about 10 minutes before sunrise in the pre-dawn gloom. Trainer Bill Mott said, "I think (Ladies Classic is) very competitive. You have to respect a lot of the horses in there. It looks like a good, fast pace. And it looks like some horses have speed and good quality. There is no shortage of talent."
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St Nicholas Abbey loosened up with a gentle walk and a trot, he put in a nice steady canter around the main track under regular rider Joseph O'Brien in preparation for his Turf title defence.
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Slim Shadey galloped 1 1/2 miles in preparation for the Turf. "He'll be close to the lead, but he doesn't necessarily have to be on it," trainer Simon Callaghan said. "If he finds himself on the lead it would be all right, but Little Mike will probably be the one in front. (The Turf field) is very solid. (Shareta) is very good and Point of Entry is possibly the best route turf horse that's been around in several years."
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Starspangledbanner cantered on the main track, off a fourth place finish at Dundalk on Friday. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "We wanted to get him back into the sprinting habit and felt a race would be better for him than a series of workouts. Five furlongs is on the short side for him now, and from a bad draw I thought he ran well. I am not sure his draw here (14) is ideal, but a strongly run race over 6 1/2 on this ground should suit him."
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Suggestive Boy worked 3f on the turf in 36.20 under jockey Mike Smith in preparation for the Mile. "He just needed to stretch his legs. We're weren't looking for any fast times," said Dan Landers, assistant to Ron McAnally. "We pretty much had to start from scratch with him, getting him fit to be ready to race all over again," he said. "Now he has good energy and he feels good all of the time. He's a pretty nice horse and I hope that we all get to see the best of him on Saturday."
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Sum of the Parts went out for a gallop Thursday before dawn in preparation for the Sprint.
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Tapizar schooled in the gate and then had an easy gallop Thursday morning. Trainer Steve Asmussen said the Dirt Mile contender had some trouble in the gate early in his 3yo year, but does not expect any issues on Saturday. "We have a good group of horses," Asmussen said. "They're all good mentally. Tapizar is a big, physical horse, so you expect him to get a little hot in the post parade, but he's never been a problem."
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Teddy's Promise jogged on the Santa Anita main track Thursday under exercise rider Manny Segundo for trainer Ron Ellis. She goes in the Filly and Mare Sprint.
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Trailblazer walked for a while in the barn area close to the Receiving Barn before going to the track and galloping a circuit. Speaking on behalf of Team Japan, interpreter Mikki Tsuge reported all to be well with the Turf contender, and that his connections were pleased with the way the horse was coming into the race.
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Treasure Beach cantered on the main track in preparation for the Turf.
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Turbulent Descent was aboard the last plane of horses that shipped from New York after being delayed by Hurricane Sandy. "She came in really well," Pletcher said. "It was a nice win at Saratoga, and she's been touting us in her training since the Gallant Bloom that she's in her best form." She goes in the Filly and Mare Sprint.
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Up cantered on the main track in preparation for the Filly and Mare Turf.
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Upgrade jogged Thursday in preparation for the Turf Sprint.

Full info on all the Breeders' Cup races:

Friday: Marathon   Juvenile Sprint   Juvenile Fillies Turf   Juvenile Fillies   F&M Turf   Ladies Classic  
Saturday: Juvenile Turf   F&M Sprint   Turf Sprint   Dirt Mile   Juvenile   Mile   Sprint   Turf   Classic

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