The biggest story when it comes to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita might not be who will run in the race, but who won’t. The list of potential no-shows among the elite of the division could start with two-time reigning champion Roy H, who defeated Imperial Hint by a length at Del Mar in 2017 and Whitmore by 3 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs a year ago. Roy H has not started since a four-length victory in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes on Jan. 19 at Santa Anita. Roy H shipped to Dubai for the Golden Shaheen during the spring but was withdrawn from the race due to a foot abscess. :: BREEDERS’ CUP 2019: See DRF’s top contenders Roy H was given a long break to recuperate from his injury, finally returning to the work tab on Saturday breezing an easy three furlongs in 38.40 seconds at San Luis Rey Downs. “It’s unlikely he’s going to make it to the Breeders’ Cup,” trainer Peter Miller said. “It’s going to be tough. We don’t want to push him. He can’t have any setbacks.” Cistron, another top sprinter, also appears questionable to make the race. Cistron was guaranteed a free berth into the Sprint by virtue of his half-length victory over Desert Law in the six-furlong Bing Crosby on July 27 at Del Mar, one of five Breeders’ Cup Challenge races for the Sprint. But he has not worked since Sept. 7. On Wednesday, trainer John Sadler said Cistron would “definitely not” have a prep for the Sprint and his status for the race was “undetermined.” Sadler said he has other Sprint candidates, including recent allowance winner Flagstaff whom he plans to start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship a week from Saturday. Already ruled out as potential starters for the Sprint are World of Trouble, X Y Jet, and Mind Control, listed as fifth, sixth, and ninth in Daily Racing Form’s divisional rankings this week. Catalina Cruiser, who also is trained by Sadler and is third in the sprint rankings, will most likely return to the Dirt Mile. The good news is the two division leaders, Mitole and Imperial Hint, are still on target for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Mitole, whose seven-race winning streak was snapped when he finished third in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga, got back on track with a one-length decision over Firenze Fire in the Grade 1 Forego on Aug. 24 at Saratoga. He has not worked since and is expected to have all his major preparations for the Breeders’ Cup next month at Santa Anita. Imperial Hint won the Vanderbilt and received a 114 Beyer Speed Figure. He will be the overwhelming favorite to earn an automatic berth into the Sprint in Saturday’s Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park. While X Y Jet has only recently returned to training and thus is not under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup, his lightly raced 3-year-old stablemate Shancelot is on target for the race. Trainer Jorge Navarro plans to send him across the country to have his final prep in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 5. “The Breeders’ Cup is at Santa Anita, so we felt it was in the best interests of the horse for him to have his final prep there, too,” Navarro said. “He’s doing super.” – additional reporting by Brad Free and Steve Andersen