Not long after McKinzie dropped a nose decision in the Santa Anita Handicap on April 6, trainer Bob Baffert opined that McKinzie’s second consecutive loss was not reflective of his actual standing, as Baffert firmly believed he was the best horse in the country.

Since that race, McKinzie romped in the Alysheba at Churchill Downs, was a tough-luck second to the high-class Mitole in the Met Mile at Belmont Park, and won the Whitney at Saratoga – earning Beyer Speed Figures of 107 or better in all three races – putting him back in play for year-end honors.

ARCADIA, Calif. – With the absence of the top female turf horse in California and a lack of true Grade 1 performers, the Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday is a Grade 1 in name only.

Vasilika would have been favored to win her second Rodeo Drive on Saturday, but Santa Anita has barred trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer. Vasilika, the top female turf runner in California, will travel to Kentucky for her next start.

Daahyeh and Jezebel’s Kitten are stabled on different continents and appear to be on the same career path this fall.

The 2-year-old fillies each won her stakes debut – Daahyeh the Group 3 Albany Stakes against 24 rivals at Royal Ascot in England in June, Jezebel’s Kitten in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Turf on Aug. 31.

They are being prepared for important stakes that could lead to a trip to Santa Anita for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile on Nov. 1.

In a world of Juvenile Turf uncertainty, at least Decorated Invader looks pretty good.

The Christophe Clement-trained, New York-based colt ran a strong losing race making his career debut at Saratoga, won a maiden there in decisive fashion, and returned Sept. 15 at Woodbine to capture the Grade 1 Summer Stakes, ridden out to a 1 3/4-length victory.

“As of today, the Breeders’ Cup is the plan,” Clement said Wednesday morning from Belmont, where he plans to get Decorated Invader back on the work tab with an easy Sunday drill.

When Sistercharlie won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, she did so following a 12-week layoff over soft turf, ground that is not particularly to her liking.

This year, when Sistercharlie seeks to become the first repeat winner in the 21st running of the $2 million Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, she is expected to do so with four weeks between starts and over firm turf, the type of ground over which she thrives.

While we wait to see whether the connections of Bricks and Mortar decide to run their horse in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, it might be a good time to wonder if there’s not another North American horse better suited to winning the race.

The filly Got Stormy finished second to outsider La Tormenta on Sept. 21 in the Woodbine Mile, but don’t let that defeat obscure the signs she figures to be a major player in the Mile.

“I don’t like to sound cocky, but we’ll be going out to Santa Anita with the utmost confidence,” trainer Mark Casse said Tuesday.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Midnight Bisou is coming back to where it all began, back to Santa Anita as presumptive favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Undefeated this year in six starts, with 11 wins overall and $3.2 million in earnings, Midnight Bisou will be heavily favored Saturday in the Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont Park, after which another low-odds scenario is likely for the Distaff.

Bast, the runaway winner of the Del Mar Debutante in her last start, looks to solidify her position as the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies when she seeks her second straight Grade 1 triumph on Friday in the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes, which helps kick off the fall season at Santa Anita.

The Chandelier will mark Bast’s first try around two turns, and it should bring clarity as to whether she’s the one to beat come Nov. 1, as the Chandelier is run at the same distance – 1 1/16 miles – and track as the Juvenile Fillies five weeks hence.

Perhaps, now is the time.

Three years ago, owner Dennis Albaugh and trainer Dale Romans brought Not This Time to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. At that time, Romans said Not This Time had the potential to be the best horse he ever trained.

Not This Time was beaten a neck by Classic Empire in the Juvenile, emerged from the race with an injury, and never raced again.

This year, when the Breeders’ Cup returns to Santa Anita for the 10th time, Albaugh and Romans also will be returning with another top contender for the $2 million Juvenile in Dennis’ Moment.

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.