David Junior, rated by Timeform as the best 1 1/4-mile horse in Europe, will skip his intended date in the Irish Champion Stakes on Sept. 9

and instead head directly to Churchill Downs for the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 4 off a four-month layoff.

Trainer Brian Meehan revealed his unorthodox plans for on Wednesday, taking care to note that the horse is healthy and "cantering every day." The Classic would be the first race on dirt for David Junior, a 4-year-old son of Pleasant Tap.

David Junior, rated by Timeform as the best 1 1/4-mile horse in Europe, will skip his intended date in the Irish Champion Stakes on Sept. 9 and instead head directly to Churchill Downs for the Breeders' Cup Classic off a four-month layoff.

Trainer Brian Meehan revealed his unorthodox plans for on Wednesday, taking care to note that the horse is healthy and "cantering every day." The Classic would be his first race on dirt for David Junior, a 4-year-old son of Pleasant Tap.

Librettist could not have written a better script for himself in Sunday's Prix Jacques le Marois as he overcame a very soft turf course to notch his first Group 1 victory in the $768,000 Deauville mile.

Librettist couldn't have written a better script for himself in Sunday's Prix Jacques le Marois as he overcame a very soft turf course to notch his first Group 1 victory in the $768,000 Deauville mile.

Librettist will get a chance to prove just how good he is on Sunday when he travels across the English Channel for Deauville's Group 1, $768,000 mile, the Prix Jacque le Marois.

Godolphin has always thought that Librettist was going to be a good one. On Sunday, Librettist will get a chance to prove just how good he is when he travels across the English Channel for Deauville's Group 1, $768,000 Prix Jacque le Marois at a mile.

Englishmen playing the three international Grade 1 contests at Arlington on Saturday are likely to turn to Timeform for their handicapping information. Put yourself in their shoes for an example on how Timeform ratings are used across the pond.

An attempt by trainer Aidan O'Brien to name Kieren Fallon to ride Ace in the Arlington Million and Ivan Denisovich in the Secretariat Stakes on Saturday was stymied when the Illinois Racing Board denied Fallon a license to ride in Illinois as well as denying him access to Arlington Park and any other facility operated by the board.

One of the longest owner-trainer relationships in the world has come to an end as brothers Gerard and Alain Wertheimer have parted company with Criquette Head-Maarek in France.

There will be some familiar European faces lining up for the Arlington Million on Saturday, but neither they nor any of the newcomers rate as highly as recent winners Sulamani or Powerscourt. The Beverly D., in direct competition with this past Saturday's Nassau Stakes, in which Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun set Goodwood alight, has attracted only a single European-trained 3-year-old filly, one who will be making her first start against older females.