ARCADIA, Calif. - Forty-three seconds. Keep that time firmly in mind as the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint unfolds. If the half-mile sprint in the Turf Sprint comes up a couple of ticks slower than 43, horses on the lead are going to have a chance. Anything faster and the race is likely to fall apart and fall to a closer.

ARCADIA, Calif. – It’s something of a tricky distance, which might partly explain why favorites are winless in the brief history of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Trainer Dale Romans would like to put an end to that talk right here, right now, assuming one of his stable stars, Shackleford, is the favorite Saturday in the sixth running of the $1 million Dirt Mile.

“They’ve never run this race as a two-turn mile on dirt,” Romans said. “I’m thinking it might be right up our alley.”

ARCADIA, Calif.  – Bob Baffert has already won the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint more times – three – than any other trainer in the 28-year history of the event. On Saturday, he’ll have three chances to win it again when he sends out a trio of top contenders, Coil, Capital Account and Fast Bullet, against 11 rivals in arguably the most competitive and attractive betting race on the second and final day of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The late Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens marked his territory by warning visitors to Belmont Park in New York that the buildings got awfully tall when one crossed the Hudson River.

There will be a similar hurdle facing almost all of the runners in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Santa Anita. Once you cross over the looming San Gabriel Mountains, you’ve entered Baffert Country.

ARCADIA, Calif. – It is a statistical blip that favorites are 0 for 5 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Groupie Doll, to the rescue.

A blue-collar homebred with stunning raw ability, Groupie Doll will start as the most heavily favored runner of Breeders’ Cup 2012 after romping in four consecutive stakes. Nine others will try to beat her in the $1 million F-M Sprint, and good luck with that.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The following are final impressions of selected horses competing on Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup program from observations made at Belmont Park and Santa Anita over the past two weeks.

Juvenile Turf

Artigiano has been the busiest of all the Euros during the past week, galloping over both the training and main track for several mornings.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Together, they have won all 11 of their starts – 10 of them at less than even-money – including eight stakes, six of which are graded.

And they’re only 2-year-olds.

Friday, the terrific trio of Executiveprivilege, Dreaming of Julia, and Kauai Katie will be in the same starting gate when a field of eight goes in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – More than 5,000 miles from home, The Fugue should be very comfortable in her surroundings for Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita.

The richest race for turf females in the United States, the BC Filly and Mare Turf has been a goal for The Fugue since she ran a game second to Shareta in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks at York, England, on Aug. 23.

A firm turf course, a brief layoff, and the distance of 1 1/4 miles gives trainer John Gosden ample confidence in The Fugue.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The complexion for the second running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint on Friday at Santa Anita underwent a dramatic change when trainer Bob Baffert announced on race morning he had to scratch Super Ninety Nine from the race.

ARCADIA, Calif. -  About the only thing certain about the Marathon has been its uncertainty since it was added to the Breeders’ Cup program in 2008. No favorite has ever won the race and only one has even hit the board in the four-year history of the event, which has been won by horses ranging in price from 6-1 to the 41-1 Afleet Again a year ago at Churchill Downs.