ARCADIA, Calif. - When the European-based gelding Muhannak returns to Santa Anita next fall for the second Breeders' Cup Marathon, the purse could be higher and his odds will be lower.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Cost of Freedom was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after failing to pass the standard prerace examination conducted by a team of four veterinarians early Saturday morning at Santa Anita.

Cost of Freedom, who was claimed by trainer John Sadler for owners Gary and Cecil Barber for $50,000 on July 28, would have been among the favorites in the Sprint coming off his victory here last month in the Grade 1 Ancient Title.

Jay Hovdey, Oct. 25:

ARCADIA, Calif. - "Breakfast beer, bloody Mary, right here."

ARCADIA, Calif. - It was the perfect end to a perfect day by a perfect filly. Zenyatta, the best older female horse in the country, completed a perfect season, secured the Eclipse Award as the best of her division, and put a popular coda on a day dedicated to the ladies by winning the $2 million Ladies' Classic on Friday at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting, the first of two days of the 25th Breeders' Cup championships.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Talk about going out in style.

With owner Charlie Cono and trainer Christopher Paasch getting ready to disperse their racing interests, their talented 2-year-old filly Stardom Bound allowed them go out on top with a devastatingly easy 1 1/2-length victory in Friday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.

Dream Empress finished second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Sky Diva, who nosed out Dave's Revenge for third.

ARCADIA, Calif. - With a Horse of the Year title, a record bankroll, and seven Grade 1 stakes wins all on his resume, there is no question that Curlin is the best, most accomplished horse in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Since his breakthrough season in 2006, the year he won the Eclipse Award as the outstanding apprentice jockey, Julien Leparoux has thrived with horses rallying from off the pace.

That style proved most valuable in Friday’s $1,951,080 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita. Leparoux guided Forever Together from eighth in the final furlong to an impressive win. The victory was Forever Together’s third Grade 1 win of the year, clinching the Eclipse Award title as the outstanding turf female.

None of it seemed certain until the final strides.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Well, of course. It only figures that a first-time Breeders' Cup trainer, first-time BC jockey, and first-time BC owner would take the first edition of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Oh, and the horse. That would be Maram, a daughter of the little-known sire Sahm, who debuted for a $75,000 claiming price at the Saratoga meet this summer and won a $1,035,080 race by a desperate nose on the Ladies' Day card here at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. - An unheralded allowance-class import when she made her U.S. debut in March, the Bobby Frankel-trained Ventura capped an extraordinary campaign Friday by blowing away Indian Blessing in the $1 million Breeders' Filly and Mare Sprint.

Racing seven furlongs over a Santa Anita main track that produced some of the fastest race times since the Pro-Ride surface was installed before the fall meet, Ventura and jockey Garrett Gomez won by four lengths in a scorching 1:19.90.

Jay Hovdey, Oct. 24:

ARCADIA, Calif. - At about 1:45 p.m., Pacific 90-degree Daylight Time, Chris Paasch will give a leg up to Mike Smith and send Stardom Bound postward for the $1 million Juvenile Fillies. Five hours earlier, Paasch could be found escorting friends to a choice vantage point not far from the Santa Anita finish line. I accused him of plotting a quick path to the winner's circle.

"Absolutely," Paasch said, grinned, then recanted. "We've still got a race to run."