Vasilika will have to take the circuitous path to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

A winner of 11 of 12 starts at Santa Anita, Vasilika has to go to Keeneland for Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady Stakes to try and get a race in before the Breeders’ Cup. Vasilika is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who last June was banned by The Stronach Group from stabling and racing at tracks they own, which includes Santa Anita, site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1-2.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bolo had a spring to remember and a summer to forget.

After missing all of 2018 because of injury, Bolo won the most prestigious race of his career in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 27 at Santa Anita, but had only one start at Del Mar, finishing eighth of 10 in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 18.

While the field for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile will pick up a few starters this weekend, the race did lose a significant player when the connections of Hopeful winner Basin revealed their horse will miss the race and the remainder of the year.

Basin has an issue with his right hind ankle, according to Ryne Poncik, the son-in-law of Terry Green, whose Jackpot Farm owns Basin. Poncik said Basin will be getting 60 days off and be pointed to the series of 3-year preps at Oaklawn Park next year.

“It’s just bad timing,” Poncik said.

In 2001, the 2-year-old filly Tempera won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Belmont Park at 11-1 after a nine-week gap from her third in the Del Mar Debutante.

This year, Eoin Harty, who trained Tempera, is hoping to follow a similar plan with Fair Maiden in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. Fair Maiden was third in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 15. She will not race again until the Breeders’ Cup.

“With fillies on the turf, you can get away with a lot,” Harty said.

English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck is expected to make his next start in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 after being withdrawn from Sunday’s $5.47 million Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp by trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Anthony Van Dyck, third in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sept. 14, is considered better on good or firm turf than soft turf. Rain hit Paris earlier this week, which is likely to result in a softer turf course for the Arc, which is run at 1 1/2 miles.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The temperamental Paradise Woods is like a roller coaster. Sometimes she goes up, other times down.

Trainer John Shirreffs has the best seat on the ride, but all year an element of uncertainty has shadowed Paradise Woods. Sometimes she dazzles, other times she fizzles.

When she minds her manners, Paradise Woods makes it simple. Sunday at Santa Anita, she scored a solid, pace-pressing victory in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes to emerge as the top California candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

The West regional to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies was won last week by the race’s pro-tem favorite, Bast, and this weekend finalists will emerge from races in Kentucky and New York, with top contenders set to go in the Alcibiades on Friday at Keeneland and the Frizette on Sunday at Belmont Park.

The chance of securing not only the 3-year-old male title but also having a shot at Horse of the Year are among the reasons cited by trainer Shug McGaughey to send Code of Honor to California for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

MIAMI – In Reality winner Chance It isn’t the only locally based 2-year-old who may have earned a trip to the Breeders’ Cup after winning a stakes last Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

The connections of both Onyx, who captured the $75,000 Our Dear Peggy to remain undefeated on turf, and Graceful Kitten, who remained unbeaten after his victory in the $75,000 Armed Forces, also are strongly considering tossing their hats into the Breeders’ Cup ring for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Juvenile Turf, respectively, on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

Imperial Hint earned himself yet another trip to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with his hard-fought victory over Firenze Fire in Saturday’s Grade 1 Vosburgh.

But Imperial Hint may not be the only horse going back to the Sprint for a third straight year. On Friday, Whitmore will try to earn his way back to the race for the third straight time when he faces 10 rivals in the Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland, which awards the winner a berth in the Sprint.