Tuesday was chilly and overcast, but no wind. The main track was rated fast and the turf course was rated good and even more horses came out on the turf today, including Enable. There was only one Breeders' Cup horse who had a timed works today: Soldier's Call. The special Breeders' Cup training time was much busier than yesterday, plus there was extended paddock schooling time after the turf works were over and lots of the Breeders' Cup horses came over for that.
The weather for the next two days continues to look dire, with 1-3 inches of rain expected on Wednesday and Thursday. You can check the latest forecasts here.
Here are photos for 81 of the horses on Tuesday morning. All Breeders' Cup contenders must be on the grounds 72 hours prior to their race. Click the small picture to see a larger version.
Accelerate (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles and stood in the starting gate under exercise rider Javier Meza. Trainer John Sadler said, “(Post 14 is) a perfect spot for him. He shouldn't be bothered out there and he'll be able to move into whatever slot best works for him going into the first turn.”
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Axelrod (Classic) jogged once around under exercise rider Nikki Diodoro. Trainer Mike McCarthy is hoping for “a clean break and a good spot. The way we do things, means he'll most likely be forwardly placed at (the first turn).”
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Collected (Classic) arrived from California this morning.
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Discreet Lover (Classic) jogged 1 1/2 miles and galloped 1 1/2 miles. Owner-trainer Uriah St. Lewis said, “It really hit me this morning when I came in at 5:45. It was dark, but all the lights were on and horses were on the track. Where I am stabled at Parx Racing, we have to wait for daylight to train. I think the race will set up the same as the Jockey Club Gold Cup. I love the post (13) we drew. We just have to break and get position and make one run.”
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Gunnevera (Classic) galloped 1 mile under exercise rider Victor O'Farrel. Trainer Antonio Sano said, “He had a slow gallop. Tomorrow he will pick it up. Never in my life did I think my horse wouldn't be in the field. When the Breeders' Cup called me that he was in, I was so happy. The mile and a quarter will be good for my horse. There is speed in the race. I told the jockey there's no need to rush my horse. His best chance to win the race is to close."
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Lone Sailor (Classic) schooled in the paddock and galloped 1 mile under exercise rider Maurice Sanchez. “I am satisfied with it,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “He is going to tuck in and save ground and make one run. I don't think (post 14) will be a problem for (favorite Accelerate).”
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McKinzie (Classic) flew in from California. Trainer Bob Baffert said, “McKinzie is a horse that I always felt at the beginning of the year was going to be my Derby horse. He got hurt and fortunately I had that little red horse come along, Justify, that picked up the slack. I think it was a blessing in disguise that he hurt his hock and didn't have to run against Justify. Now he's come back and run unbelievable off the layoff in the Pennsylvania Derby. We know he's a fast horse, but he's still a little bit lightly raced. The way he's been training – we'll see how he goes over the track here – he looks great. We're looking forward to him.”
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Pavel (Classic) galloped 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Amir Cedeno.
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Roaring Lion (Classic) was the first of the Europeans to take to the Churchill Downs track this morning. The son of Kitten’s Joy did a gentle canter around one circuit of the track and appeared happy on the surface before heading back to the barn.
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Thunder Snow (Classic) galloped including an easy blowout through the stretch. “The horse is ready and in good form,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor said. “He came back well from his last race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont. Thunder Snow, he's looking very good mentally and physically looking really good and heavy. He's fresh and today he did a little exercise and looked in good shape. He's ready to go.”
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West Coast (Classic) arrived by plane Tuesday. Trainer Bob Baffert said, “I think he's going to get a lot of action. He looks good. I really like him coming into this race. He's doing really, really well. I expect a big race from him.”
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Catalina Cruiser (Dirt Mile) undefeated morning line favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, took a 1 1/4 mile turn around Churchill Downs’ main track. Juan Leyva, a former jockey who now serves as trainer John Sadler’s assistant, was up for the exercise. Sadler was extremely happy with Catalina Cruiser’s post position draw Monday afternoon. “It’s ideal for him,” Sadler said. “Being on the outside [10 post in a 10-horse field] should keep him away from trouble and will let Drayden [Van Dyke] do what he needs to do.”
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City of Light (Dirt Mile) schooled in the paddock after training ended.
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Giant Expectations (Dirt Mile) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Abel Tasman (Distaff) arrived from California. Trainer Bob Baffert said, “I think she will run well. She’s a horse you have to be aggressive with. Mike (Smith) wasn’t aggressive with her the last time. She fell back and never really got in the race. She was flat. Now she’s on the inside. I like her when she draws the inside because he has to force the issue a little
bit and she wants to get running early. If you let her fall back it’s hard for her to get going again. Mike was telling
me, if he asks her to go, after she takes off if there is a horse in front of her he’s afraid she’s going to run over the
top of horses. He’s going to have to be aggressive with her.”
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La Force (Distaff) galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Helen Isler. Sabine Gallagher, assistant and wife of trainer Paddy said, “That’s a good spot for her (post 3). We’re hoping for a lively pace. She usually picks her spot in the race and closes well.”
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Mopotism (Distaff) galloped 1 1/4 mile Tuesday morning under exercise rider Amir Cedeno. “She’s sort of under the radar,” trainer Doug O’Neill said, “But she has come back from her break with renewed energy and stamina. She seemed pretty tired after her last race (sixth in the Delaware Handicap), so we sent her to the farm for a little freshening. She’s looking good and acting good right now.”
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Vale Dori (Distaff) stood in the starting gate at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning and galloped about 1 mile under exercise rider Dana Barnes. In the Distaff, she will start from post eight with Joe Talamo, who was up for the Zenyatta victory.
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Verve's Tale (Distaff) galloped a mile under Heather Smullen, and schooled in the paddock after training ended. “I love the post. She a tough mare. She’s gotten better with age. She’s a step below Grade 1 probably, but she tries hard every time. She’s a nice sound filly,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. “I love her. I’ve had her all along.”
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Wonder Gadot (Distaff) added some joyful leaps into her gallop in what trainer Mark Casse calls her Wonder Woman imitation. “He said, "We know she loves Churchill. The best race she ever ran was when she was second to
Monomoy Girl in the Kentucky Oaks. After she worked on Oct. 25 I was walking her and five minutes later
she was jumping with all four feet off the ground and kicking. She has a lot of energy. That is just her. It is not
something you can train into them. They either have it or they don’t. She is a rare individual.”
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Wow Cat (Distaff) got her first look at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning for trainer Chad Brown, galloping one mile around the dirt course shortly after 9 o’clock and promptly returning to the barn. “She’s coming into the race well,” Brown said. “She seems to have gotten better the longer she has been with us. I couldn’t be happier with the way she’s training. Hopefully there’s a good, strong pace in front of us.”
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Dream Pauline (Filly and Mare Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Finely'sluckycharm (Filly and Mare Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Happy Like a Fool (Filly and Mare Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Highway Star (Filly and Mare Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Kirby's Penny (Filly and Mare Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Marley's Freedom (Filly and Mare Sprint) arrived from California.
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Miss Sunset (Filly and Mare Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Shamrock Rose (Filly and Mare Sprint) galloped once around and then schooled in the paddock.
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A Raving Beauty (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Fourstar Crook (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Paved (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Santa Monica (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Sistercharlie (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Smart Choice (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Thais (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Code of Honor (Juvenile) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Complexity (Juvenile) got his first feel for the Churchill Downs main track Tuesday morning for trainer Chad Brown and then schooled in the paddock. “He has a lot of natural speed as we have seen in both of his starts,” Brown said. “Two turns can be a
question mark for him, but he relaxes nicely in the mornings and afternoons and Jose (Ortiz, jockey), gets along
with him really well. I’m confident the horse is going to settle and give it his best going a mile and a sixteenth.”
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Derby Date (Juvenile) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Dueling (Juvenile) galloped once around and then schooled in the paddock.
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Game Winner (Juvenile) arrived from California. Trainer Bob Baffert said, “He’s the kind of horse that could maybe get his name on that sign right there, hopefully, one day. He’s that kind of horse.”
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Signalman (Juvenile) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Standard Deviation (Juvenile) schooled in the paddock.
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Topper T (Juvenile) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Baby Nina (Juvenile Fillies) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Bellafina (Juvenile Fillies) has been training at Churchill Downs under
exercise rider Serafin Carmona. Tuesday was just another day at the office, trainer Simon Callaghan said.
“She went out and stood and then we took her straight out and she galloped a mile and a half, which is her
normal routine,” Callaghan said. “I was really happy. She’s getting over the track well and switched leads
perfectly. It was a nice, regular gallop. She’s come back and looks good.”
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Cassies Dreamer (Juvenile Fillies) schooled in the paddock.
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Jaywalk (Juvenile Fillies) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Restless Rider (Juvenile Fillies) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Serengeti Empress (Juvenile Fillies) galloped Tuesday morning after the first renovation break under Chico
Herrera and visited the paddock. “I am satisfied with it,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “She was inside the last time she ran. It is no secret we are going to the front unless somebody really gets crazy. They are going to have to go fast to be in front of us.”
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Sippican Harbor (Juvenile Fillies) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Vibrance (Juvenile Fillies) schooled in the paddock.
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Concrete Rose (Juvenile Fillies Turf) galloped on the main track at 7:30
on her first day at Churchill Downs. Exercise rider Karine Cotinaud Lhuillier was aboard for trainer Rusty
Arnold. Concrete Rose drew post position one and will be ridden by Jose
Lezcano who has been aboard the undefeated filly in her two starts.
“The post doesn’t matter to me,” Arnold said. “It will be up to the jock to work out a trip.”
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Lady Prancealot (Juvenile Fillies Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Current (Juvenile Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Marie's Diamond (Juvenile Turf) will be trainer Mark Johnston’s first Breeders’ Cup runner, and followed Roaring Lion around the track at a similar pace.
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Opry (Juvenile Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Uncle Benny (Juvenile Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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War of Will (Juvenile Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Chelsea Cloisters (Juvenile Turf Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Comedy (Juvenile Turf Sprint) galloped on the turf.
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Legends of War (Juvenile Turf Sprint)
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Pocket Dynamo (Juvenile Turf Sprint) went out on to the dirt for the first time this morning and was very
much on his toes and took a while to adapt to the surroundings.
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Shang Shang Shang (Juvenile Turf Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Soldier's Call (Juvenile Turf Sprint) worked 3f in 37.20.
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Stillwater Cove (Juvenile Turf Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Almanaar (Mile) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Analyze It (Mile) schooled in the paddock.
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Firenze Fire (Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Imperial Hint (Sprint) continued to impress in his preparation for the 6f affair Tuesday morning with a jog and
canter the wrong way around the Churchill Downs oval in an attempt to subdue what was a visible fervor.
“I’m very confident,” said Luis Carvajal Jr, trainer. “I can’t ask for anything better with the way he’s
doing it. Health-wise and fitness-wise, the horse is doing great. He’s mentally doing really well and coming off
some very good wins in New York. I know this is the Breeders’ Cup, but we are going in with a good chance and he’s more mature, too, this time. I’m looking forward to racing Saturday.”
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Promises Fulfilled (Sprint) returned to the track on Tuesday after breezing 4f on Sunday 48 2/5. “He came out of his work great and went out there and trained good today,” trainer Dale Romans said.
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Seven Trumpets (Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Channel Maker (Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Enable (Turf), the even-money favorite in the Turf after winning her second Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), looked in great shape as she cantered around one lap of the turf.
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Hi Happy (Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Robert Bruce (Turf) galloped twice around and then schooled in the paddock.
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Sadler's Joy (Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Disco Partner (Turf Sprint) galloped once around and later schooled in the paddock.
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Rainbow Heir (Turf Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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Vision Perfect (Turf) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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World of Trouble (Turf Sprint) galloped on Tuesday morning.
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The paddock at Churchill Downs with Disco Partner schooling on Tuesday.
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Full info on all the Breeders' Cup races: