Trainer Brad Cox believes the Highland Falls he will send to Southern California in November is a better version of the one he sent there in March. If that proves true, Highland Falls should be a significant player in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

After winning three of his first four starts between Kentucky and Louisiana, Highland Falls was shipped west by Cox and Godolphin Racing for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 3. Racing last for the first half of the race, Highland Falls ultimately finished fourth, 2 3/4 lengths behind Newgate.

Stablemates Kilwin and Totally Justified comprise the ideal tandem for trainer Rusty Arnold in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1 – two stakes winners approaching the $1 million race in excellent form.

A deep team will be a benefit for Arnold, too, in a one-mile race expected to draw a full field of 14 with runners from throughout the United States as well as Europe.

Kilwin, unbeaten in two starts, won the $998,500 Untapable Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 8 in her stakes debut.

Although she did win last year’s listed All Along Stakes at Pimlico in gate-to-wire fashion when conditioned by Brittany Russell, Full Count Felicia had shown to be a versatile sort, as evidenced by her rallying victory in Gulfstream’s Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes in December.

That doesn’t seem to be the case any longer as Full Count Felicia, now with trainer Kevin Attard at Woodbine, has utilized run-and-gun tactics that led to dominating victories in the Grade 2 Canadian on Aug. 10 and the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor on Sept. 14.

Full Count Felicia is now a speed horse.

From a tactical standpoint, trainer Steve Asmussen has all the bases covered in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Society likes to race close to the lead. In last year’s Filly and Mare Sprint, she battled for early supremacy before tiring to finish fourth.

On the other hand, Zeitlos appears a true one-run closer, rallying from off the pace to win her last four dirt starts.

They’ll challenge a talented field that includes Ways and Means, Sweet Azteca, Vahva, and Scylla.

The finish wire at Del Mar probably is the end of the line for Idiomatic, the majestic 5-year-old mare seeking a second Breeders’ Cup Distaff victory for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farm.

While a Distaff repeat would be a fine way to go out, no decision has been made for 2025, when Idiomatic will be 6. Will she campaign on the racetrack, or go to the breeding shed? Juddmonte USA general manger Garrett O’Rourke deferred.

Cogburn is a hot commodity as he heads toward the Breeders’ Cup – and to his next career.

With less than three weeks to go until the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, Cogburn will be one of the heaviest favorites on the Saturday card when he starts in the Turf Sprint. He is the 9-5 early choice on Brad Free’s line for Daily Racing Form, with Bradsell the second choice at 3-1. The only shorter-priced favorite on the card is Eclipse Award champion Idiomatic, at an early 8-5 to defend her win in the Distaff, with Thorpedo Anna at 2-1.

Perhaps the biggest surprise when it comes to assessing Nakatomi’s performance in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita is not that he finished a close third as a 26-1 outsider behind defending champion Elite Power.

It was the fact the late-running gelding did so after shockingly finding himself contesting the pace in the run down the backstretch despite breaking a bit tardily under Luis Saez, who replaced Nakatomi’s regular jockey Tyler Gaffalione after the latter opted to keep his regular seat aboard the ultimate runner-up, Gunite, instead.

English-based trainer Mick Appleby not only saddled his first Breeders’ Cup starter last year, he saddled his first North American starter, period.

Big Evs won the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita and makes another trip to California this year for the Turf Sprint at Del Mar. He will be joined by stablemate Big Mojo, who will run in the Grade 1, $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint. The pair are owned by Paul and Rachael Teasdale’s RP Racing and will be ridden by Tom Marquand.

Immersive is scheduled to work Friday at Churchill Downs as she continues preparations for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

The work will be her first since her Oct. 4 win in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland. She emerged from the race in excellent condition, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday. Immersive made her two-turn debut in the Alcibiades and is now 3 for 3.