While the objectives of some Breeders' Cup hopefuls are not finalized, there is no doubt where Balto Star will be at Santa Anita on Oct. 25. The four-time stakes winner will set the pace in the $2 million Turf, a strategy trainer Todd Pletcher hopes will lead to an upset.

Pletcher on Wednesday said that Balto Star was pre-entered for the Turf, a race that will mark the 5-year-old's first start in California.

Balto Star is expected to face Deeliteful Irving, High Chaparral, Johar, Sulamani, The Tin Man, and Toccet.

Four years ago, trainer Beau Greely was prepared to start Five Star Day in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Gulfstream Park only to endure the disappointment of being omitted from an oversubscribed field.

Greely is hoping to avoid a repeat with Century City in the $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

The Mile was expected to have a large field when pre-entries were announced on Thursday, with some horses left on an alternate list.

The complexion of the Filly and Mare Turf changed dramatically this week when trainer Michael Stoute confirmed he would bring Islington back to the U.S. for the 2003 Breeders' Cup.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Given the exaggerated importance of workouts leading to the Breeders' Cup, trainer John Shirreffs was only being sensible. Moments after BC Sprint contender Yankee Gentleman worked five furlongs Wednesday at Santa Anita, Shirreffs called the drill "not critical; it was just a maintenance work."

In the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, trainer Richard Mandella plays the role of the hunted with the unbeaten filly Halfbridled. In the $1.5 million Juvenile, Mandella plays the hunter and will be taking as many as three shots against probable favorite Cuvee.

While Siphonizer and Minister Eric ran one-two in the Grade 2 Del Mar Futurity, and Mandella likes them, you can hear the excitement in Mandella's voice when he discusses Action This Day, who has only a maiden win to his credit in two starts.

ARCADIA, Calif. - There was concern over the training of two Breeders' Cup Classic candidates Tuesday at Santa Anita after a crack was discovered in a hind hoof of Congaree and Pleasantly Perfect blazed five furlongs in a workout nearly two seconds faster than planned.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Congaree missed two days of training and has been pre-entered in the Sprint as well as the Classic "as insurance if the foot would aggravate him.''

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Bobby Frankel pre-entered eight horses in five Breeders' Cup races, but it is "wait until next year" for Grade 1 winner Wild Spirit. Frankel said Wild Spirit, the romping winner of the Grade 1 Ruffian Handicap, was not pre-entered in the $2 million BC Distaff, where the Chilean import would require a $400,000 supplement.

ELMONT, N.Y. - It has already been a fairytale year for Funny Cide, who became the first New York-bred to win the Kentucky Derby. Now the plot thickens, Funny Cide's connections have announced that the gelding will run in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 25 - and Julie Krone, the winningest female jockey in history, will ride.

ELMONT, N.Y. - For the third time this week, the connections of Funny Cide have changed plans and will now run the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

The Classic will mark Funny Cide's first race since Aug. 3, when he finished third in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. On Monday, Funny Cide was being pointed to the $100,000 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct on Oct. 29. By Wednesday, the plans called for Funny Cide to run in this Saturday's $250,000 Empire Classic against New York breds at Belmont Park.

Three of the best horses still in training - Azeri, Medaglia d'Oro, and Perfect Drift - all had important workouts on Saturday in preparation for the Oct. 25 Breeders' Cup, and Perfect Drift's riding assignment was finalized, with Gary Stevens getting the call.

Perfect Drift, who is based at the Trackside training facility a few miles from Churchill Downs, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 with jockey Joe Deegan, Perfect Drift's usual work partner. Murray Johnson, who trains the 4-year-old gelding for Dr. William Reed's Stonecrest Farm, was thrilled with the work.