Will train up to B.C. Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. - War Emblem, who finished sixth in his debut against older horses in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar last Sunday, will make his next start in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Arlington Park on Oct. 26, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

Baffert said that War Emblem will skip the major Classic preps in late September and early October in order to go into the Breeders' Cup Classic "with his A-game." The nine-week break between the Pacific Classic and the Breeders' Cup Classic will be the longest break for War Emblem since he was acquired privately by The Thoroughbred Corporation in mid-April before winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

"He's a light horse," Baffert said. "He doesn't need a prep."

If War Emblem wins the Breeders' Cup Classic without an autumn prep race, he will become the first Classic winner to have not started in a prep race in September or October.

In the Pacific Classic, War Emblem finished 4 1/4 lengths behind Came Home.

He did not take his customary place at the front. After becoming unsettled in the starting gate, he was taken out of his stall and loaded last. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, War Emblem did not break well, but quickly settled into third, chasing Sky Jack and Bosque Redondo.

Turning for home, War Emblem rallied wide to lead briefly, but was quickly passed by eventual winner Came Home. Through the final sixteenth, War Emblem faded from contention.

"Victor protected him," Baffert said. "Thank God, he came back fine.

"When you look back at everything, the odds were stacked against us. Everything went wrong. The fans came out to see him run but they didn't get to see the real War Emblem."

Prognosis good for Bosque Redondo

Bosque Redondo, who fractured the sesamoid bones in his right front ankle a few strides after the finish of the Pacific Classic, underwent surgery Tuesday evening to insert

16 screws and a plate in the lower leg to stabilize the injury.

The surgery was conducted by Dr. C. Wayne McIlwraith at a clinic near Los Alamitos Racecourse in Orange County. According to co-owner John Toffan, the 5-year-old Bosque Redondo has a good prognosis.

"It really went well," he said. "The surgery took half as long as they thought it would. I'm guessing, that's a good sign. He's eating and he has no temperature."

Toffan said that Bosque Redondo has good circulation in the lower leg, an important point for his chances for survival. He also said that Bosque Redondo has so far proven to be a good patient.

Toffan said that Bosque Redondo would remain hospitalized for at least a week. Once stabilized, he will be sent to Toffan's home in Bradbury, which has stable and paddock facilities. "We'll baby him for three or four months and see if I can find a home for him at stud," Toffan said.

Bosque Redondo won 6 of 17 starts and $478,470. He won two stakes, including the Grade 2 San Bernardino Handicap at Santa Anita last April.

Humorous Lady changes hands

Humorous Lady, the winner of two stakes this summer for California-bred 2-year-old fillies, has been sold by a partnership to David Plummer's Classic Star Stable, according to new trainer Mike Smith.

Humorous Lady was previously owned by a three-person partnership and trained by Jim Chapman. Terms of the deal were not revealed.

Smith said Humorous Lady will not start in Saturday's Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante because of illness.

"She's got that stuff that's been going around," he said, referring to a virus that has plagued many 2-year-olds in Southern California this summer.

By Distorted Humor, Humorous Lady has won 3 of 4 starts.

Crafty C.T. returns in allowance

Crafty C.T., 20-1 on the morning line for this weekend's Breeders' Cup Sprint Future Bet, makes his first start of the Del Mar meeting in a $65,000 allowance race over six furlongs in Friday's second race.

The 4-year-old Crafty C.T. has been third in his last two races - the Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park and Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder on July 13.

Trained by Howard Zucker, Crafty C.T. drew the outside post in a field of five that includes the undefeated Fleet Foot, and Mighty David, who ran the fastest six furlongs of the Hollywood Park meeting - 1:08.27 - in an allowance race on July 10.

Mighty David returned to finish fifth in an allowance race here on Aug. 1.

- Golden Apples, the winner of the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park on Aug. 17, worked a half-mile on turf in 49.40 seconds on Wednesday. She is being pointed for the $500,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on Oct. 5 as a prep for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

- Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on Aug. 1 to remove two bone chips from his right knee, is booked on one mount for Friday, Irish Muldoon in the fifth race.

- Golden KK, second to Humorous Lady in the CTBA Stakes, is out for the year with a knee injury, trainer Dean Greenman said. She was being prepared for a start in the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies on Sept. 4 when the injury occurred. Greenman said Golden KK will return in time for the winter meeting at Santa Anita.