Wednesday morning was sunny for the morning works at Santa Anita, with temperatures in the upper 50's, but warming up into the 80's after sunrise. We got to the track around 6:30am today when the sun wasn't up yet. After training ended we stayed for the paddock schooling session before leaving around 11:30. The post positions were drawn Monday evening, so check out all the entries, post positions, and morning line odds here.
Here are photos for 43 of the horses on the track Wednesday morning. Note that we are trying to avoid repeats except for the Classic so if your favorite horse wasn't featured today check the other days. Click the small picture to see a larger version.
Arabian Knight (Classic) trotted once around clockwise after the second break. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "He came out of his work (Monday) good and continues to do well. He's ready."
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Bright Future (Classic) galloped approximately 1 1/4 miles and visited starting gate under exercise rider Hector Ramos. He will gallop the same distance tomorrow. Trainer Todd Pletcher said, "He has settled in very well. He's a very professional laid-back type of horse. Nothing seems to really upset him."
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Clapton (Classic) galloped twice around and then schooled in the paddock. Trainer Chad Summers said, He is a throwback horse, he is a dude. Some of these horses run four times in their lives. He just wants to keep on going." The Classic will be his 25th career start, most in the field. "He just tries, he always shows up. He is one of those blue collar horses; he always brings his lunch pail and always gives an honest effort."
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Dreamlike (Classic) galloped approximately 1 1/4 miles and visited starting gate with exercise rider Humberto Zamora. Trainer Todd Pletcher said, "He's a pretty straight-forward kind of a horse. He seems to have adapted into these surroundings very nicely. I do think he has galloped over the track pretty nicely."
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Proxy (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles as the sun rose in draw reins, bowing his neck noticeably. He then promptly returned to his stall in Barn 48 and remained relaxed. Trainer Mike Stidham said, "He's a really laid back horse and has shipped well. He's been here before, so that helps. I am happy with him."
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Saudi Crown (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles and later schooled in the paddock for trainer Brad Cox and is scheduled to gallop again Thursday.
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Senor Buscador (Classic) stood in the gate and then galloped 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider and retired quarterhorse jockey Dennis Means. Means said, "I have been getting on him for the past two years here, in New Mexico and in Texas. He's doing good, better than he ever has. I like him a lot … he's no 30-1 shot."
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Ushba Tesoro (Classic) started off with an easy hack canter at the finish line, maintained that easy pace until the 3/8 pole, where he picked it up noticeably and then blew out 2f down the lane to the finish line. Pulling up eventually at the 5/8, he turned around and then gate schooled, where all went well enough and he finished up his morning with about 10 laps of the parade ring. JRA representative Kate Hunter said, "Gate schooling went really well second time around. We tried him in both the padded and non-padded one. Turns out the second go he liked the non-padded one better."
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White Abarrio (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles and visited starting gate under exercise rider Emily Ellingwood. Chip Dutrow, assistant to his brother Richard Jr. said, "My brother thinks he's got the best horse in the world. He's going to tell you like it is when he's got a good one and he's got a good one. You've got to deal with this guy. I'm trying to stay focused on our horse. I just know that we're good. We're very happy with our horse. We just love our chances. We believe in this horse. He's doing everything right at the right time, right now. Anything else that is going on around us I'm not listening to or reacting to. They better (take the horse seriously. He is the real deal, this guy."
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Zandon (Classic) galloped a circuit of the Santa Anita dirt and appeared slightly calmer in his action than Tuesday, his first day galloping since his Saturday morning breeze. He is scheduled to repeat the exercise Thursday. Trainer Chad Brown said, "I'm really happy with all of my horses and Zandon is looking really well."
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Adare Manor (Distaff) had an easy gallop of one mile, then exited the track via the tunnel and around the walking ring. She is scheduled to repeat the work tomorrow. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "I'm happy with her right now. She's doing really well."
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Clairiere (Distaff) galloped 1 1/2 miles for trainer Steve Asmussen, and will repeat the exercise Thursday.
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Desert Dawn (Distaff) galloped 1 1/2 miles and later paddock schooled. Trainer Phil D'Amato said, "She continues to just get better and better. It looks like she'll have a realistic pace to run at on Saturday."
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Pretty Mischievous (Distaff) ponied up to the track with Brendan Walsh aboard the pony and then had an easy jog and gallop of the dirt course before being escorted back by her conditioner. Walsh said, "She's not going to look out of place on Saturday, whereas three months ago, she may have with these fillies. She's done so well, gotten stronger, bulked up and filled out. That's kind of why we thought ‘why not' because she looks on paper that she's good enough to win the race and she's doing as well as she's ever done."
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Gold Phoenix (Turf) schooled in the paddock.
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Mostahdaf (Turf) galloped on the turf under jockey Jim Crowley. Crowley said, "Mosthadaf just did an easy canter, one lap round on the turf. He felt fantastic, very happy with him. He was his usual vocal self, so all is good. Regarding the race, he's drawn in gate nine but there'll be plenty of pace in the race, so I'm not too concerned about that really. At this stage, we couldn't be happier with him."
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Up to the Mark (Turf) galloped twice around.
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American Theorem (Sprint) galloped on the main track.
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Elite Power (Sprint) schooled in the paddock.
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Three Technique (Sprint) galloped once around the main track.
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Astronomer (Mile) galloped 1 1/2 miles and later schooled in the paddock.
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Masteroftheseas (Mile) galloped on the turf. Trainer Charlie Appleby said, "All is well with both horses (stablemate is With the Moonlight). The team has been happy with them so I'm looking forward to the races on Saturday. We understand how hard it is to have winners over here as the races are so competitive, but we'll give it our best shot and see how we get on."
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Songline (Mile) galloped on the main track.
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Muth (Juvenile) an easy gallop, then walked once around the walking ring en route back to the barn, and later returned for paddock schooling, showing that he clearly needed it! Trainer Bob Baffert said, "He's had the experience of running two turns, so we kind of know what to expect. This is an outstanding horse."
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Prince of Monaco (Juvenile) had an easy gallop, then walked once around the walking ring en route back to the barn, later returning for paddock schooling. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "I've put some good works into him. He's got a good foundation. He's a horse with a great mind."
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Timberlake (Juvenile) galloped 1 1/2 mile and schooled in the paddock. Elliott Walden of owner WinStar Farm said, "He's had a really good 2-year-old year. We thought a lot of him when we sent him to Brad (Cox). His first race didn't go as planned, but ever since then, he's put it all together. He was unlucky in the Hopeful (G1), but he still got second. He's had four races that have built on each other and hopefully he can carry that into the Breeders' Cup."
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Esprit Enchante (Juvenile Fillies) schooled in the paddock.
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Inspiral (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped on the turf under jockey Frankie Dettori. Dettori said, "She felt good. I struggled with the low sun at the end of the stretch, so it was hard to see exactly where we were going and who was around us but luckily, she seemed to know where to go so everything was fine." Trainer John Gosden added, "She's flown to France before, but this is the longest journey for her. She's taking it all well, but she did get very bored in quarantine and was itching to get out. She's a little bit like a caged lioness, but she's fit and doing well."
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With the Moonlight (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped on the turf. Trainer Charlie Appleby said, "All is well with both horses (stablemate is Masteroftheseas). The team has been happy with them so I'm looking forward to the races on Saturday. We understand how hard it is to have winners over here as the races are so competitive, but we'll give it our best shot and see how we get on."
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Kirstenbosch (Filly and Mare Sprint) went to the starting gate and then galloped. Trainer John Sadler said, "That was a post I was glad to get (the 5). I didn't want the 1. She is pace dependent but I think she is on the upswing. She is a true late-running sprinter."
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Cody's Wish (Dirt Mile) looked at the grandstand first time through the stretch. His namesake Cody Dorman was trackside for the work. Later he schooled in the paddock with his Bill Mott stablemates.
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National Treasure (Dirt Mile) schooled in the paddock.
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Stage Raider (Dirt Mile) went out for a 1 1/2 mile gallop.
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Zozos (Dirt Mile) schooled in the paddock.
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Buchu (Juvenile Fillies Turf) galloped once around.
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Buttercream Babe (Juvenile Fillies Turf) galloped on the main track.
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Carla's Way (Juvenile Fillies Turf) galloped in company with stablemate Big Evs (Juvenile Turf Sprint) on the turf. Jockey Tom Marquand aboard Big Evs said, "Big Evs felt absolutely fantastic this morning to be perfectly honest. It looks like he has taken the travel really well and got over any tiredness he may have had over the weekend. He's settled into his surroundings good. He spun round the bend and felt balanced which was reassuring as obviously on Friday it will be his first time running round a bend which will be tough, but he felt like he cottoned onto it pretty quick so hopefully he can show that trademark gate speed that he's shown in the UK over here and get us in a good early position and fingers crossed he can go well."
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She Feels Pretty (Juvenile Fillies Turf) schooled in the paddock.
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Arzak (Turf Sprint) galloped 1 1/2 miles on the main track.
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Gear Jockey (Turf Sprint) galloped 1 mile and then schooled in the paddock.
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Nobals (Turf Sprint) galloped on the main track.
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Roses for Debra (Turf Sprint) galloped on the main track.
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Shards (Juvenile Turf Sprint) galloped 1 1/2 miles and will repeat the exercise tomorrow. Trainer Kelsey Danner, making her Breeders' Cup debut as a trainer, said, "He's doing really well. He shipped in good. He's been training good, seems to like it here. No problems. He's gotten a lot sharper. He did everything very easy as a baby. Mentally, I think he's just now catching up. In his first few races I thought he was further along than he actually was. But, now he's mentally on it. He's stronger to gallop. He's more focused. He came out of that race at Keeneland (a third in the Indian Summer on Oct. 8) really well. There's a little bit of concern with the distance (5 furlongs) being shorter than his other races, but I do think he's sharper than he was a couple months ago."
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