ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - A full field of 14 horses, including the defending champion Banks Hill and the American divisional leader Golden Apples, was pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, but the field could be reduced by as many as four when final entries are taken.
Let the dominoes start falling. Trainer Aidan O'Brien strongly indicated Thursday during an NTRA teleconference call that he will enter Rock of Gibraltar and Hawk Wing in the Breeders' Cup Classic instead of the BC Mile, a leaning that could initiate a somewhat tricky process of introducing alternate starters into the Mile field before entries are drawn Wednesday at Arlington Park.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - A pair of unexpected pre-entries from the barn of trainer Scott Lake has virtually assured a full field of 14 will once again contest the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Until Lake pre-entered the lightly raced Thunderello and former claimer My Cousin Matt, it appeared the 2002 Sprint would be the first edition decided with less than a full field since only 13 started at Woodbine in 1996.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Bundled up against the cold with a down jacket and warm mittens, trainer Patrick Kelly looked well-prepared Wednesday for this year's Breeders' Cup Thoroughbred Championships on Oct. 26 here at Arlington Park. After all, the forecast was for rain and light snow on Thursday night and into Friday morning, with a high of 41 on Thursday. Brrrrr.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Location, location, location. It's everything in real estate. Trainer Steve DiMauro is hoping it makes a difference with Two Item Limit, who will be a longshot in the star-studded, $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff on Oct. 26.
Of the eight older fillies and mares who were expected to be pre-entered in the Distaff, Two Item Limit is the only one currently on the grounds here at Arlington Park. She arrived more than one month ago, and prepped for the Distaff in an overnight stakes race restricted to Illinois-breds, which she won.
The waiting game has begun for the connections of With Anticipation, a leading contender for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont Park on Oct. 26.
Trainer Jonathan Sheppard insists that With Anticipation needs a firm grass course to be at his best in the Turf. He is closely monitoring the Chicago weather as the Breeders' Cup grows closer.
Rain and snow were forecast for Thursday, but the weather is supposed to be dry over the weekend. "The rain is probably saving itself for the three days before the race," Sheppard said with his dry sense of humor.
In the 18-year history of the Breeders' Cup, the Mile has been perennially oversubscribed at pre-entry time. All indications early this week were that the Mile would attract nearly double the number of horses, 14, which ultimately will be allowed to run.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - In just a month, Banks Hill has traveled from France to New York to California, and in a week she will complete the final leg of a whirlwind fall itinerary by flying to Arlington Park for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Had she come straight from France, Banks Hill's overwhelming win in last year's Breeders' Cup would define her participation in this year's race. But her unusual schedule and a definitive loss in the Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita have some people thinking she may not be the same horse.
Hold that thought.
John Scanlan can only wonder how good a horse Toccet can be if he ever truly put his mind to his business.
"He still hasn't got a clue," Scanlan said Wednesday from Maryland. "He's still the same little horse that wants to play. This is all a fun game to him."
Toccet made the game fun for Scanlan and owner Daniel Borislow earlier this month when he rallied up the rail in the Belmont Park stretch to win the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths.
It has been 14 years since trainer Mel Stute has run a horse in the Breeders' Cup. But, given Stute's track record in the series, his filly Buffythecenterfold is not to be readily dismissed in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies.
