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Zenyatta heads off the track after her first trip over Churchill Downs since arriving yesterday.

World Championships
Breeders' Cup Workouts

Date: 11/03/2010

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

Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs was dark and overcast with temperatures in the low 40's but without the chilling breeze felt on Tuesday. The track was crowded with Breeders' Cup contenders, as many arrived yesterday including a large contingent from California aboard the Tex Sutton shuttle with Zenyatta and Lookin at Lucky. Here are photos of 32 horses, almost all different from Monday and Tuesday, with comments. They are mostly in alphabetical order except the Classic horses are first.

Click the small picture to see a larger version.

Zenyatta schooling in the paddock on Thursday
Thursday workout photos   (28 horses)
Zenyatta on Wednesday
Zenyatta arrives on Tuesday afternoon
Tuesday workout photos   (36 horses)
Monday workout photos   (27 horses)
Breeders' Cup Entries and Post Positions - for all 14 races with morning line odds


Zenyatta stood at the back of the mile chute to relax before galloping twice around the main track under exercise rider Steve Willard. The defending champion in the Classic then returned to the barn to graze. Trainer John Shirreffs said, "She did fine. 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." Willard added, "She's terrific. 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. She drives off it. It doesn't have the trampoline effect like the synthetics."

Lookin At Lucky galloped over the main track in preparation for the Classic, under exercise rider Jorge Alvarez. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "There's good and then there's super good. 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."

Haynesfield jogged on the main track in preparation for the Classic. Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "His win in the Discovery last year showed us what he could be. His Suburban victory this year, and in his Jockey Club (Gold Cup) after that, he showed us that he's a top class horse. Speed holds if you're fast. 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 arrived late Tuesday afternoon and jogged 1 mile on the main track on Wednesday. He goes in the Classic next. Trainer Derek Ryan said, "He seems to get into trouble here but he finds trouble everywhere. We need a clean trip in this race. He should have won (the Monmouth Cup). 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."

Espoir City, the Japanese entrant in the Classic, worked 4f in 49 4/5 under regular rider Tetsuzo Sato. Trainer Akio Adachi said, "Today was sort of the final touch-up. 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. In his recent races, he has been up front. I'm quite certain that he has the speed to keep up with the pace here. Also, I'm not concerned with the distance."

First Dude galloped 1 1/2 miles on the main track and then stood on the track "to get a good look at Zenyatta". Trainer Dale Romans said of his Classic horse, "He just needed the time to mature and I think he's finally coming around. I honestly believe he thinks he won (the Pennsylvania Derby) because ever since that race, he's been real cocky. He's never been like that before."

Workforce returned to the turf for a mile gallop on Wednesday under jockey Ryan Moore, this time with trainer Michael Stoute in attendance. "He's in great form right now. The track is in wonderful shape, and it has good cover. It's firmer than we'd like, and there has not been enough rain. We'll monitor it each day." Stoute carried a stick to test the turf while he walked on it. There is still talk of him scratching out of the race if the turf does not improve by Saturday to Stoute's satisfaction.

Dakota Phone is a 30-1 outsider in the Dirt Mile and blew out 3f in 36 2/5, ouut 4f in 48 4/5 on Wednesday. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee will break from the rail under jockey Joel Rosario on Saturday. Hollendorfer said, "He's doing really good right now. He's a decent miler and he has the speed to set that up well. He's earned more than $700,000."

A Z Warrior went out with stablemate Lookin at Lucky for a lap of the track under exercise rider Peter Hutton. Trainer Bob Baffert said of the Juvenile Fillies favorite, "You have to at least give her a lot of consideration. Nothing bothers her, she's got a great mind, and all of her siblings can run. None of them have won going two turns but she's by Bernardini, so I don't see why she can't. She's coming into this race training as well as she did at Belmont so I think she'll run a big race."

Alcomo goes next in the Marathon on Friday for trainer Neil Howard. Robby Albarado will break from the inside post 1 aboard the 20-1 Brazilian-bred outsider.

Awesome Gem will become the first 4-time Breeders' Cup participant when he goes in the Marathon on Friday. He galloped 1 1/4 miles on Wednesday morning. Trainer Craig Dollase said, "He's a deserving favorite in his 4th start in the Breeders' Cup. He'll be in a good place all the way around there and the long stretch and the dirt will be a big plus for him. He's ready to roll and so is (jockey) David (Flores)."

Believe in A.P. went out for a gallop on Wednesday in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies. Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said, "She was ready to run a week after she got to our barn in the beginning of the summer and she's wanted to go long on the dirt from day one. We ran her on the turf because I couldn't get a spot on the dirt going long for her. I figured the turf races would give her some great experience as a racehorse and we would get back on the dirt when we could."

Big Drama went out for a 1 mile gallop in preparation for the Sprint. Trainer David Fawkes said, "It's tough. This will be his toughest race yet, but I think he's doing super. He doesn't need to take his track with him. He runs over anything."

Biondetti galloped a whopping 3 miles in preparation for the Juvenile and came back all lathered up. Trainer Mahmoud al Zarooni said, "Today we did stamina training, He went around twice, rested and then did one more. He was really looking good. He's better than he was two days ago. After traveling, his head was down a bit. Today he's much better and he looks bright. The rider said he's moving better, he's more keen. The way I train horses, I'm always doing slow works and longer distances. I don't go fast. Most trainers do one or one and a half rounds and they go at a good pace. I'm not doing that. I'm going slower, longer to save the legs. It's worked for me. I've been doing it a long time."

Boys At Toscanova arrived at Churchill Downs on Tuesday and galloped 1 mile on Wednesday. Richard Dutrow Jr. said of his Juvenile entrant, "The Hopeful was a small field, but we still wanted to teach him something and see how he would do sitting a little off the pace. He did everything Ramon (jockey Dominguez) asked of him and you can see yourself how nice he shut himself off early on. I watched the whole field on the gallop out and the others didn't make the clubhouse turn, they stopped. Ramon couldn't pull our horse up. That was a very good sign to me. He's got plenty of speed and when he ran at Belmont he was close to setting a track record without any real effort. "

Cool Coal Man drew the outside post 13 in the Dirt Mile. The 20-1 outsider will have Julien Leparoux in the irons for trainer Nick Zito. Zito said, "13 is pretty far out but I'd rather have that than 1. Julien's a great rider, I'm sure he'll have a chance to place him, he's good at that. Julien loves this track, he's the leading rider."

Deciphering Dreams goes next in the Juvenile Turf on Saturday. Trainer Rick Dutrow said, "He's a horse that's training great. He's handled a couple of different turf courses getting a very firm turf at Saratoga and then running big on the yielding turf in the Pilgrim. I see no reason why we shouldn't take a shot."

Eldaafer drew post 4 in the Marathon for trainer Diane Alvarado. John Velazquez will be in the irons on Friday. Alvarado said, "He can be a pink sometimes. He'll gallop 1 3/4 miles without getting tired. He'll run all day but he does what he wants to do."

Fancy Point went to the track Wednesday morning after the break for a jog and will school in the paddock Thursday afternoon, trainer Will Phipps said. The Juvenile Fillies Turf contender won the P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 1, then ran third in Belmont's Miss Grillo on Oct. 3. Kent Desormeaux gets the call.

Flood Plain cantered on the main track Wednesday morning. "We're very happy with her," said Danny Harrap, trainer John Gosden's assistant. "She's eating well and very content. The rider cantering her was happy enough. She handled it. She wasn't green or anything. She's handled it real well. That was probably the first time she ever went left-handed. It's new, but what she learns now is what's going to happen in the race. She learned hopefully enough." She goes in Friday's Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Harlan's Ruby schooled in the starting gate and then galloped 1 1/2 miles. Trainer Ken McPeek said of the Juvenile Fillies entrant, "She's doing good; they all are."

Hot Cha Cha galloped under jockey James Graham in preparation for the Filly and Mare Turf. Graham said, "I've been galloping her the past couple days and she feels good. This is her first time across dirt in quite a while and she actually enjoyed herself this morning. She feels happy, she's comfortable, enjoying herself, I guess. I can see in her ears that she is."

Jaycito arrived from California on Tuesday and was out on Wednesday to school in the paddock and gallop 1 1/4 miles. Trainer Mike Mitchell said of the Juvenile contender, "He was sort of mean and unruly early but he has grown up quite a bit. He was just like a big, dumb kid early, but he has really impressed me the way he has progressed. He now acts like he's got a pretty good head on him but he still bites. He got me once yesterday after we got here."

Kathmanblu galloped 1 1/2 m on Wednesday following the renovation break in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Trainer Ken McPeek explained that on Monday the filly got a little keyed up with all the commotion on the track early, so they've been waiting to bring her out until the track is quieter. He reports the filly has been doing very well.

Million Seller drew post 3 for Friday's Marathon. She galloped 1 5/8 miles under exercise rider Heather Craig. Jeremy Rose will be in the irons for trainer Graham Motion aboard the 50-1 outsider. Motion said, "It's a crazy race, I couldn't resist it. She almost beat the boys at 2 miles last year at Saratoga."

Miss Keller went out to jog 1 mile and gallop 1 1/2 miles with assistant trainer Sue Lorimer in the irons. The Roger Attfield trainee finished second in the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine on Oct. 16. She has won three times in seven starts this year, most recently taking the Canadian Stakes on Sept. 19.

Moontune Missy went out for a gallop in preparation for the Filly and Mare Sprint. Trainer Eoin Harty said, "This filly has never disappointed me. She turned in a big effort in that race. This race is super tough, but if you're not in it, you can't win it. Off her effort (in the Gallant Bloom) she certainly deserves a shot. I couldn't have asked for better. This is a very big filly and she's also a very sensible filly. She is easy to train and is a pleasure."

My Jen galloped 1 mile under exercise rider Nickola Ward. Trainer Eddie Kenneally said of her last start, the Victory Ride at Saratoga, "The race unfolded nicely. She sat in a nice stalking position and ran a good race to finish second off an eight-month layoff." She goes next in the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Rightly So went out for a gallop on Wednesday in preparation for the Filly and Mare Sprint. Trainer Tony Dutrow said, "She's very fast and she's going to be in front. She's in excellent form. She's doing great, couldn't be better. I'm very happy."

Rogue Romance stood in the starting gate and then galloped 12f on Wednesday. When asked about the decision to run Rogue Romance in the Juvenile over the Juvenile Turf despite the fact that the colt has never raced on the main track, trainer McPeek replied "It came down to his pedigree, the added distance and the added money of the Juvenile."

Sweet August Moon went trackside Wednesday morning under exercise rider Colleen Hartford, visiting the Churchill Downs paddock prior to galloping 1 1/2m around the track at approximately 8:45, in preparation for the Filly and Mare Sprint. Trainer Brian Koriner said of post 8, "That post is a good one for her. She's got enough natural speed that she can take up a good spot from there and come at them late. We're good to go."

Utley cantered on the main track Wednesday morning. Danny Harrap, assistant to trainer John Gosden, said the Juvenile Turf entrant traveled well from England. . Gosden was traveling Wednesday and is expected to be at the track on Thursday morning.

Winchester arrived on Tuesday evening and galloped once around under Christophe Lorieul on Wednesday. The assistant to trainer Christophe Clement said of the Turf contender," Everything is perfect. Winchester worked very well last Sunday on the turf at Belmont and he will train up to the race."

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