Kip Deville trekking to Hong Kong

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It's a long way from Oklahoma to Hong Kong, the destination Monday for Kip Deville.

The 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile winner, Kip Deville will be heading halfway around the world to compete in the Hong King Mile on Dec. 14. He will be accompanied by exercise rider Michelle Nevin.

"I don't expect him to be any different because he is such a relaxed, easygoing horse," Nevin said. "Things don't bother him. I sure he'll adapt to whatever we put in front of him."

This is the latest challenge for the gray 5-year-old, who has far exceeded his humble Oklahoma roots. The biggest adjustment will be racing "the wrong way," running clockwise in Hong Kong.

"When we get him there, we'll train him every day the wrong way," said trainer Rick Dutrow. "I don't feel like we're under any kind of pressure. We're sure Kip will be up to it. If we didn't think that, we wouldn't be sending him because he is one of our buddies."

The Hong Kong Mile will be Kip Deville's first start since finishing second to the filly Goldikova in his bid to repeat as winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Dutrow has no complaints about the Breeders' Cup.

"Our horse ran his race," Dutrow said. "He got a good trip. We got outrun. I can live with that every day."

Kip Deville didn't take the loss so magnanimously.

"He was so ticked off," Nevin said. "I don't think he liked getting beat by the girl. I think that was enough to wake him up to come back for some revenge."

Since the Breeders' Cup, Dutrow has kept Kip Deville in his normal workout pattern.

"He's just been in his zone," Dutrow said. "I breeze him every six, seven days. He'll breeze again Sunday. He's been training great, feeling great."

Dutrow is scheduled to join Kip Deville in Hong Kong on Dec. 10.

Etched wins, then acts up

Etched, ever the handful, proved to be that again, following his win in the third race Thursday.

In his first start since February in Dubai, Etched got up to win by a half-length and remain unbeaten in three U.S. starts for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Then the fun began, as Etched bolted and ran off when Alan Garcia tried to pull him up.

"This is a really difficult horse," McLaughlin said of the 3-year-old Darley Stable runner, who won the 2007 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct. "Lorenzo Morales, the valet who saddled him, is also our exercise rider, and he's done a wonderful job with him. Without him, we wouldn't be here today."

A homebred son of Forestry, Etched has a world of talent that is often difficult to harness.

"We'll keep him here with us and see what's next," McLaughlin said. "He is a stakes horse but he needs to put all his efforts and focus on racing instead of everything else. He's a tricky horse with a mind of his own but can run, and he's got a great pedigree."

NYRA seeks to uncouple some entries

Charles Hayward, president and chief executive officer of the New York Racing Association, said that NYRA has applied to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board for a rule change to uncouple separate ownership entries in all races. If passed, the only remaining entries would be common ownership.

Hayward said the board is now in the process of compiling industry comment before considering rule adoption. He did not have a timeframe for completion.

w Trainer John Candlin has been suspended 45 days, Nov. 19 to Jan. 2, for a phenylbutazone positive in Kitty Nip, winner of the second race at Belmont Park on Sept. 13.