ARCADIA, Calif. – When Art Sherman went to the Kentucky Derby as the exercise rider for Swaps in 1955, he rode in a railroad boxcar. Now, six decades later, he has jetted to places like Dubai and London as the celebrated trainer of a celebrated horse, California Chrome. But as that run nears its end, Sherman reflected on what California Chrome has meant to him, marveling at the good fortune that came his way so late in his training career.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Dale Romans has been telling anyone who will listen that he believes Not This Time could be the best horse he has ever trained.

Not This Time certainly will have to bring his best to win Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita, a race that has brought together a most-accomplished group of 2-year-olds who have combined to win 15 stakes, nine graded.

“If you hit the board in this race, you’re a good horse,” said Jose Pinchin, the trainer of the undefeated Florida-based Three Rules. “If you win this race, you’re a great horse.”

ARCADIA, Calif. – Eighteen horses – 17 from Ireland, England, and France and one from Japan – were shipped overseas in the last week to start in Saturday’s four Breeders’ Cup turf races. If history is any guide, they will win at least one of them. Not since 2007 at Monmouth Park has the Saturday Breeders’ Cup program passed without an international winner.

So, from Seventh Heaven, the No. 3 horse in Saturday’s first turf race, to Cougar Mountain, the No. 14 in the last of them, here’s a look at the international invaders.

Filly and Mare Turf

ARCADIA, Calif. – The $1 million Turf Sprint on Saturday may be the most wide open of any of the 13 Breeders’ Cup races this weekend at Santa Anita, with a full field of 14 flying about 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside course.

Among the many questions for handicappers to ponder in analyzing the Breeders’ Cup Classic is the following: Can Frosted be effective at 1 1/4 miles against horses of this caliber? Let’s examine his race record and pedigree in search of an answer.

First, his record. In four starts at 1 1/4 miles, he has yet to run better than third. Granted, some of those losses were fine efforts, such as a fourth in the 2015 Kentucky Derby and a third in the 2015 Travers. Less encouraging were a seventh in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic and a fifth in the Dubai World Cup.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Lady Eli spent the first part of the year getting healthier. She has spent the second half of the year getting faster.

Overshadowed by her battle to overcome laminitis is the fact that Lady Eli has run faster Beyer Speed Figures this year at 4 than she did when she won her first six starts at ages 2 and 3. Lady Eli will have to keep that ascension going when she takes on some of the world’s top turf fillies and mares in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – A cool, crisp morning for Breeders’ Cup horses training at Santa Anita on Wednesday was marred at the very end when Metaboss was pulled up by his rider near the quarter pole during a routine gallop over the turf course and was vanned off with a career-ending injury.

The entire contingent of Breeders’ Cup runners is now on the grounds, several making their first appearance on the track Wednesday since arriving from out of town. Only two horses worked Wednesday, Melatonin over the main track for the Classic and Nuovo Record on grass for the Filly and Mare Turf.

Kids to the Cup (KTTC), the organization founded by the late owner and breeder Trudy McCaffery to expose children and teens to the racing industry, is being relaunched under new leadership.

KEY CONTENDERS

California Chrome, by Lucky Pulpit
Last 3 Beyers: 112-113-111

◗ He used his sharp speed to flee the rail in his last two starts. He is drawn in post 4 this time, with Melatonin and Arrogate both drawn farther out, setting up an interesting positional chess match in the opening furlongs.

Arrogate, by Unbridled’s Song
Last 3 Beyers: 122-99-103

Daily Racing Form Inc. has launched an app that allows customers of its betting platform to place bets on an iPhone, the company announced Wednesday.

The updated DRF Bets app was made available on the App Store two days prior to the Friday Breeders’ Cup card at Santa Anita and offers customers the ability to make bets on iOS devices like the iPhone for the first time. The app is compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices, although the devices must run on an 8.0 version of iOS or a later version for the app to work.