Trainer Bret Calhoun has never had a better year at the races with 30 stakes wins so far, and now, the most important races for the barn are on the immediate horizon. Dubai Majesty and Chamberlain Bridge were pre-entered in separate Breeders’ Cup races on Monday, while 2-year-olds Gran Lioness and Su Casa G Casa are candidates for upcoming graded stakes at Churchill and Delta Downs.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Cost of Freedom will start in Saturday’s $100,000 California Cup Sprint at Hollywood Park and not the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6, according to trainer John Sadler.

Following a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes at Hollywood Park on Oct. 9, Sadler and owners Gary and Cecil Barber considered both races, but have opted for the easier spot. The final decision was made on Monday, the day pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup were due, Sadler said.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mike Mattine has been enjoying his best campaign since 2002, when he sent out 17 winners here, plus five at Fort Erie.

Heading into Wednesday’s card, Mattine had won 15 races at Woodbine and four at the Fort Erie meeting, which wound up Tuesday.

“It’s been a pretty good year,” said Mattine, 50. “We’ve had more horses to run.”

One thing that would add some sparkle to Mattine’s 2010 season is a stakes win, and he’ll be hoping that Shukriya can take care of that detail in Sunday’s $150,000 Ontario Fashion.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Trainer Kristin Mulhall had Square Deal at the start of his career in the winter of 2007-08, long enough to grow attached.

When he was shipped back East by his then owners, Mulhall kept an eye on the gelding and bought the now 5-year-old privately earlier this year for “$40,000 or $50,000,” she said.

Tom Proctor was hoping early this week that Keertana would get to run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and Banned in the BC Juvenile Turf. In the meantime, like many other trainers with Breeders’ Cup prospects, Proctor was busy tending to the rest of his herd at Churchill Downs, including another potential stakes horse, a 3-year-old filly named Wild Mia.

Wild Mia is part of an overflow field entered in a $51,000, second-level turf allowance that serves as the nominal feature on a nine-race Thursday program at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Having already put in some dazzling workouts in the last few weeks, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile contender Boys At Tosconova had a second consecutive straightforward drill Tuesday morning, going six furlongs in 1:14.35 over Aqueduct’s main track.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Wildcat Marie makes her second start off the claim in Thursday’s wide-open Woodbine headliner and should make some noise in the first-level allowance for fillies and mares.

Wildcat Marie put together a three-race winning streak in the summer for trainer Brian Lynch, which began with a five-length triumph in maiden special company. She subsequently won two consecutive $40,000 claimers, earning a solid 81 Beyer Speed Figure in both of those six-furlong sprints.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Warrior's Reward was the only Breeder's Cup hopeful to work prior to the renovation break at Churchill Downs on Tuesday, going five furlongs in 1:01.04 with jockey Julien Leparoux aboard. Warrior's Reward is scheduled to run in the Sprint.

Trainer Brian Koriner is expected to breeze his two Breeders' Cup candidates after the break, Sweet August Moon (Filly and Mare Sprint) on the main track and defending Turf Sprint winner California Flag over the turf.

The weather at Churchill Downs is overcast with a strong headwind blowing up the stretch.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With lights now a part of the equation at Churchill Downs, and the turf course open daily through next week, Monday morning’s training session is likely to be typical of what to expect here for the next 10 days, with Breeders’ Cup contenders working pretty much from the time the racetrack opened at 6 a.m. until finally closing for business around 10 a.m.