Parading to skip Breeders' Cup

While some horses ran their way into the Breeders' Cup in last Saturday's at Santa Anita, Parading ran himself out by tiring to finish fourth. Trainer Shug McGaughey said Wednesday that Parading had been shipped from Santa Anita to Keeneland and is out of Breeders' Cup consideration.

Since winning the Grade 3 Ben Ali easily at Keeneland in the spring, showing an affinity for racing over a synthetic track, Parading had been a Breeders' Cup possibility. But a fifth-place finish in the Hollywood Gold Cup and a pair of fourth-place finishes in the Pacific Classic and Goodwood have McGaughey thinking more conservatively.

"I want to take a step back," he said.

Running in the Grade 2, $150,000 Fayette Stakes on closing day of the Keeneland meet, Oct. 31, is an option if "everything goes right" in the coming weeks, McGaughey said.

One horse still being considered for the Classic is Bullsbay. Winner of the on Sept. 5.

While at his base at Fair Hill Training Center last month, Bullsbay injured the bottom of his right front foot. He has since resumed training and a workout is scheduled for the weekend, trainer Graham Motion said.

If Bullsbay can get enough foundation under him to make the Breeders' Cup, Motion's preference is to run him in the Classic, rather than the Dirt Mile.

Cherokee Artist, winner of the on Sept. 13, is his Dirt Mile hopeful.