LEXINGTON, Ky. – The last two preps for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies did give the Nov. 4 race some clarity – although not a ton. It’s still shaping up to be a very well-matched race.

The connections of Kimari will keep their options open leading up to the Breeders’ Cup, with plans to pre-enter her in both the $2 million Sprint and the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint, trainer Wesley Ward said Monday.

Kimari was initially probable for the Sprint because of its six-furlong distance, but she also is a Grade 1 winner at the Filly and Mare distance of seven furlongs at Keeneland, in last year’s Madison.

“I’m waiting on the [ownership], to see what they say,” Ward said of ongoing discussions. “She’ll be much shorter odds versus the girls.”

In 2021, trainer Wayne Catalano won one graded stakes race – the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with Aloha West. In 2022, Catalano again came into autumn winless in graded races. That changed quickly. On Oct. 7 at Keeneland, Manny Wah won the Phoenix and now is bound for his second start in the Breeders Cup Sprint. Two days later, Andthewinneris rolled home an impressive winner of the Bourbon Stakes. He starts next in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Though not fully committed just yet, the connections of Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike are preparing their horse as if he will run in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Keeneland, trainer Eric Reed said this week.

“We’re leaning pretty hard that way, I’d say that’s where we’ll end up,” Reed said Tuesday. “We got til the 24th, and each day we have another discussion.”

Reed’s discussions are with Richard Dawson, the owner of Rich Strike. The other option, Reed said, is waiting for the Grade 1, $750,000 Clark Stakes on Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs.

The versatile styles that Pleasant Passage displayed by winning her first two starts on turf in New York could prove to be a tremendous asset in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

Pleasant Passage closed from fifth of eight to win a maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 21 at Saratoga. In the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes at the Belmont at the Big A meeting on Oct. 1, Pleasant Passage led throughout the $200,000 race at 1 1/16 miles to win by three-quarters of a length.

One horse. Two restaurants.

It’s going to be a busy Breeders’ Cup week for trainer Carlo Vaccarezza.

He has Injunction under serious consideration for the $1 million BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 5 at Keeneland, and co-owns and operates two popular restaurants in Lexington, Ky.

Injunction is coming off a runner-up finish to Senor Buscador in the Ack Ack, a BC Challenge race Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs. He is now settled in at Keeneland as his connections debate nominating him to the Breeders’ Cup program at a cost of $100,000.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The winner of the Prix de l’Opera earlier this month won’t be shipped overseas for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, but the fillies who gave her closest chase in that prestigious French event remain two of the major contenders for the Nov. 5 race at Keeneland.

Place du Carrousel, the 41-1 winner of the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp for legendary trainer Andre Fabre, was withdrawn from consideration for the $2 million Filly and Mare Turf early this week, according to the International Racing Bureau.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The whole point of wheeling Nagirroc back in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity was to try and earn a berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 4 at Keeneland. That mission was accomplished when Nagirroc ran down Saratoga Flash to win the Futurity by a head in a blanket finish where the top five finishers were separated by a half-length.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While Nest still has one more major objective for this year, the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Nov. 5, part-owner Mike Repole confirmed Sunday that the likely 3-year-old champion filly will return for a 4-year-old campaign in 2022.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Whatmakessammyrun, winner of the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes on the hillside turf course on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita, will skip the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Trainer Mark Glatt said Sunday that Whatmakessammyrun will be pointed to the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes, a $250,000 race on the hillside turf course on Dec. 31 at Santa Anita.

“We’re not going to Kentucky,” Glatt said.