Breeders' Cup: Churchill surface condition expected to improve through day

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Churchill Downs's main track was rated muddy for training hours on Friday morning, but track superintendent Butch Lehr said he thought it would be "close to good" by first post time at 2 p.m. Eastern for the first of two Breeders' Cup cards here.

Lehr said Churchill Downs absorbed approximately three-quarters of an inch of rain with the storm that first began Thursday morning. Although it was cloudy Friday morning, the clouds were dissipating.

Lehr said that the brisk, windy conditions Friday morning would help dry out the main track. He said he was using floats to try and remove the excess water.

The turf course was rated yielding Friday morning. Sea Moon, who was unable to train over the course on Thursday morning because it was closed when it began to rain, was allowed on the course Friday and breezed three furlongs in 41.20 seconds in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Turf on Saturday.