Two of California’s leading turf milers – Obviously and Tom’s Tribute – will pass the $200,000 City of Hope Mile on Oct. 4 and be trained to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile, their trainers said on Friday.

Tom’s Tribute, trained by Jim Cassidy, won two stakes at Del Mar – the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf on July 20 and the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 24.

Obviously, trained by Phil D’Amato, won the Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in June, but was only fourth in the Del Mar Mile.

“I want a nice, fresh horse for the Breeders’ Cup,” D’Amato said.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, back home at Los Alamitos, galloped on Friday for the first time since his disappointing performance in the Pennsylvania Derby, and his trainer, Art Sherman, said all systems were go for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – A few months ago, Big John B was a most improbable contender for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

In April, he was claimed by owner Michael House for $50,000 at Keeneland. On Aug. 23, Big John B won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, earning a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf through the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program.

A win in Sunday’s $200,0000 John Henry Turf Championship over 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita would send Big John B into the BC Turf as perhaps California’s best hope.

As quickly as Hardest Core burst into the national spotlight with his Arlington Million win, is as fast as he disappeared from it. A bright blip on the radar screen.

But not to worry, Hardest Core is doing just fine. Back on the van he went after the Million and 13 hours later he was in his stall at Runnymede Farm in Unionville, Pa. Trainer Eddie Graham has him galloping up hills and around various farms while making plans to use the free pass to the Breeders’ Cup Turf that Hardest Core earned in the Million.

ARCADIA, Calif. – When Sunset Glow left for Kentucky after winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 30, she left behind a 2-year-old filly division in California without a leader.

That will change after Saturday’s $300,000 Chandelier Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.

The field of 12 in the Grade 1 Chandelier has only one stakes winner in Sharla Rae, who took the Barretts Debutante at Los Alamitos on Sept. 13, but has several fillies capable of winning a key prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 1.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Saturday matches a battle-tested field of seven, many of whom are under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup. The $600,000 Hirsch is part of the BC Challenge Series, and the winner will earn a fees-paid berth in the Turf.

Favoritism in the 1 1/2-mile Hirsch is likely to go to Main Sequence, who has won Grade 1 races in both of his starts since being relocated from Britain. The Ken and Sarah Ramsey entry of Big Blue Kitten and Real Solution figures to be close behind in the betting.

With reigning two-time champion Groupie Doll retired, the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint will have a new winner when the seven-furlong race is run Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

Artemis Agrotera, Midnight Lucky, and possibly Judy the Beauty appear to be the early favorites for what is shaping up as another fascinating renewal.

There is no hotter horse in the division than Artemis Agrotera, who completed her prep schedule with back-to-back wins in the Ballerina at Saratoga and the Gallant Bloom last weekend at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Blame it on the Cazanova.

Eric Guillot, the trainer of the speedy Moreno, didn’t love hearing that Big Cazanova, a speedster from Southern California, was shipping across the country to run in Saturday’s $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Without Big Cazanova in the field, Moreno looked like the potential lone speed in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, the centerpiece of a six-stakes, 11-race card Saturday at Belmont.

With Big Cazanova in the field, a potential early pace battle looms in the 1 1/4-mile race.

As agonizingly close to winning a Triple Crown race as Ahmed Zayat has come is as far away from success he’s realized in the Breeders’ Cup.

Zayat horses have finished second in three Kentucky Derbies, one Preakness, and one Belmont Stakes. In the Breeders’ Cup, Zayat is winless with 20 starters in 17 races. The closest one of his horses has finished is fifth.

“The Breeders’ Cup has been a mess for Zayat stable,” Zayat said this week. “Admittedly, in the early years, I think we were overreaching. We have not performed well.”

The third of five Breeders’ Cup Challenge races for the Grade 1, $1 million Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 31 will be held Saturday at Newmarket. The Group 2 Royal Lodge had 16 eligible runners at the six-day entry stage Monday, while the final field was to have been set by Thursday, according to Mark Dwyer, a representative of the track in England.