With the Breeders’ Cup returning yet again to California this fall, the state’s favorite son is the parasol-shaped straw that stirs the frothy drink.

California Chrome, currently ranked as the best horse in the world, is the acknowledged favorite for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, and his dominating victories this year – from Santa Anita to Meydan to Del Mar – have caused the connections of several of his potential rivals to adjust their prep plans, or their Breeders’ Cup plans themselves.

One of the central questions leading into this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita is whether Frosted will go in the $1 million Dirt Mile on Nov. 4 or the $6 million Classic on Nov. 5. He has earned berths in both races, but a decision is pending, according to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

“We’re going to the Breeders’ Cup – the Classic or the Dirt Mile,” McLaughlin said Monday.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Hot Smoke, the debut winner of a maiden special weight race for California-breds at Los Alamitos on Sunday, is likely to stay within the statebred division in the immediate future.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro said Wednesday that the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile for California-breds at seven furlongs on Nov. 5 is a short-term goal for Hot Smoke. Later, Diodoro said, Hot Smoke will be tried in turf races around two turns.

Owned by Mercedes Stable, Hot Smoke is a half-brother to Rock Me Baby, a winner of two stakes in California who earned $494,454.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Mary Forney has been named executive director of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the organization announced earlier this month. The TOC also announced that owner Gary Fenton has joined the board of directors, replacing trainer Billy Morey, who resigned his position.

Forney has worked for the TOC since 2004, most recently as director of operations. She has a 30-year background in California racing, including positions with the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and as simulcast coordinator at Santa Anita.

Unlike a year ago, when Songbird was beginning to exert her dominance in the 2-year-old filly division, this season’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies is wide open with six weeks remaining before the race.

The $2 million Juvenile Fillies will be run at Santa Anita on Nov. 5. Currently, Union Strike, who used a strong late run to upset the Del Mar Debutante at 7-1, is the leading West Coast contender for the 1 1/16-mile race. Sweet Loretta and Pretty City Dancer, who dead-heated for first in the Spinaway, and Adirondack winner Nonna Mela look best in the East.

Trainer Jorge Navarro set a Monmouth Park record for victories at a meet last Sunday when he won three races on the card.

Navarro, who long ago locked up his fourth consecutive Monmouth training title, is now 56 for 148 (38 percent) at the Monmouth meet.

“I’m so proud of this accomplishment,” said Navarro, a 41-year-old native of Panama. “I couldn’t be more thankful to the owners that have given me the opportunity to train their horses. My entire crew works very hard, and we will enjoy this moment for a long time to come.”

The leading candidate for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 is a Kentucky-based filly who has yet to run in a stakes in the United States.

After winning a maiden race at Keeneland, Lady Aurelia won group stakes at Royal Ascot in England in June and at Deauville in France in August. Trained by Wesley Ward, Lady Aurelia will be favored to win Saturday’s Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at six furlongs on turf at Newmarket in England.

With 2015 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Runhappy being pointed toward the Dirt Mile and 2015 Sprint runner-up Private Zone on the shelf for the remainder of the season, this year’s BC Sprint figures to be a wide-open affair, with the field not likely to be set until the last of the six BC Challenge races in the division is decided Oct. 8.

Flintshire and Postponed have been the dominant runners in major turf stakes at 1 1/2 miles in Dubai, England, and New York this year. One of them may conquer California in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

Flintshire, unbeaten in three starts this year at Belmont Park and Saratoga, is a slight choice with European bookmakers in the future book for the BC Turf over Postponed, who is undefeated in four stakes in Dubai and England this year.

Mongolian Saturday and Lady Shipman are among the most well-traveled horses in training. Mongolian Saturday has taken his show on the road to compete overseas; Lady Shipman has won 12 of 17 starts over the last two years while competing at 10 different tracks.