Lewis Michael (Tr: Wayne Catalano) - Saturday's $1 million TVG Dirt Mile will mark Lewis Michael's third consecutive appearance in the Breeders' Cup. He failed to make a serious impact in his first two tries, but trainer Wayne Catalano believes his horse will be tough to beat on Saturday.
"We had a plan, and so far it's played out," Catalano said of his script for getting Lewis Michael to the Breeders' Cup in good order. "We schooled him in the gate this morning, and in paddock the last three days. We'll go again (to the paddock) before the third race today. We wanted to get him in there with other horses. He used to be a little rough in the paddock, but he's gotten better with age. We're not going to leave any stone unturned."
Catalano is "concerned" with Well Armed (likely Dirt Mile favorite), but says he wouldn't trade places with anyone.
"I'm happy with the rail post," Catalano said. "It puts us in a position to save ground. We'll run our race, and hopefully win it."
Lord Admiral (Tr: Charles O'Brien) - The 7yo veteran Lord Admiral of 46 races around the globe, jogged on the main track Thursday morning, a day after breezing 4f in :51 1/5.
Mast Track (Tr: Robert Frankel) - The bay colt's race status, which has been made problematic by a small quarter crack in his right front hoof, appeared to take a turn for the worse Thursday morning following a 1 1/4m gallop around the Santa Anita oval.
Mast Track went through his exercise fine, but back at the barn following his cool out he was moving uneasily on the foot.
"It's bothering him a little bit," said his owner-breeder-trainer, Robert Frankel.
He noted that he'd had the 4yo newly shod two days ago and said he was likely to put fresh shoes on him Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.
"We'll see how he is in the morning," he said with a look of concern.
Frankel had originally tabbed the Hollywood Gold Cup winner for a start in the Classic, but the discovery of the quarter crack - which he initially termed "tiny" - caused him to shift his runner to the Dirt Mile when entries were taken Tuesday.
Mast Track drew post four in the 12-horse field for that $1 million race and is scheduled to be partnered by Tyler Baze. They are listed as 6-1 on the morning line.
My Pal Charlie (Tr: Al Stall Jr.) - Super Derby winner My Pal Charlie, who arrived on Wednesday, took his first spin over the Santa Anita track on Thursday morning. Trainer Al Stall Jr. was en route from Kentucky on Thursday and due to arrive early afternoon.
Pyro (Tr: Steve Asmussen) - Ron Winchell's homebred Pyro galloped at Santa Anita on Thursday morning under regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas. The Dirt Mile will mark Pyro's second try racing on a synthetic track, but first over Pro-Ride.
"Everybody knows he had a bad race at Keeneland," said Rosas of the colt's 10th -place finish in the Blue Grass. "It was disappointing the way he ran. But he's been training better here, including a good work the other day. He has had a good week."
Earlier in the week, trainer Steve Asmussen thought the horse would run in the Classic, but Winchell and he conferred and made the decision to run in the Dirt Mile instead.
"This gives us an opportunity to spread out our chances," said Asmussen. The trainer has Curlin and Student Council going in the Classic.
Rebellion (Tr: Graham Motion; ex. rider: Alice Clapham) - Rebellion galloped 1 3/4m Thursday morning under exercise rider Alice Clapham in preparation for a start in Saturday's Dirt Mile.
Edgar Prado, who captured the Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland aboard Rebellion in April, will ride the stretch-running British import for a second time in the Dirt Mile.
"There seems like there are a couple speed horses in there, which will help him. He's going to be coming off the pace, so the key is Edgar gets him to settle and gets a clean trip," trainer Graham Motion said. "I know when Edgar rode him, he liked him a lot."
Rebellion has become a synthetic-track specialist, finishing first or second in seven of nine starts. After his victory over Keeneland's Polytrack surface, he has been stabled in Southern California.
"I feel good about running him. I love the fact that he's been here, he's trained on the track, he's worked on the track," Motion said. "I think that definitely gives us a little edge that he's been here and he's training here and all he's got to do is walk to the paddock."
Slew's Tiznow (Tr: Doug O'Neill; ex. rider Tony Romero) - The 3yo Slew's Tiznow galloped 1 ½m at Hollywood Park Thursday under exercise rider Tony Romero before being shipped to Santa Anita.
The Joseph Lacombe hombred, runner-up in the 2007 Breeders' Futurity, made an auspicious debut for Doug O'Neill following a 10-month layoff to win the 1m El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 29.
Slew's Tizzy (Tr: Doug O'Neill; ex. rider: Sal Santiago) - The 4yo Slew's Tizzy, a full brother to Slew's Tiznow, galloped 1 1/2m at Hollywood Park Thursday under exercise rider Sal Santiago before being shipped to Santa Anita.
Slew's Tizzy won an allowance race at 1m at Santa Anita on Sept. 26 in his first start in seven months for Doug O'Neill following splint-bone surgery.
Slew's Tizzy, third in the Pegasus Stakes on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Monmouth Park last year, won two graded stakes in 2007, the Lexington and Lone Star Derby.
Surf Cat (Tr: Bruce Headley) - Surf Cat, a son of Sir Cat, owned by Aase Headley and Marsha Naify, went to the Santa Anita training track Thursday morning to gallop 1m as his work progressed toward Saturday's Dirt Mile.
The fourth-place finisher in Oak Tree's Goodwood Stakes is already a million-dollar earner from nine victories, seven seconds and two thirds in 22 lifetime starts. His consistency gives trainer Bruce Headley reason to be confident he'll run well Saturday. "He always gives everything he has," the trainer said.
Two Step Salsa (Tr: Julio Canani) - Two Step Salsa, a 3yo son of Petionville, bred by owner Everest Stables, takes front-running style into Saturday's Dirt Mile, but trainer Julio Canani isn't dedicated to the idea the colt has to be on the lead.
"He'll be up close, but he doesn't have to be on the lead," the trainer said Thursday morning. "He can run just off the lead. But he will be close."
Knowing the runner probably as well as Canani is regular jockey Martin Pedroza, who has been aboard for all seven career starts, which includes four victories.
Well Armed (Tr: Eoin Harty) - Well Armed, who began his racing career overseas, has been partnered with Aaron Gryder in every one of his seven American starts and the horse's connections would never consider making a jockey switch for the Mile.
"Aaron fits him great," said Bill Casner of WinStar Farms, the owner of the Goodwood Stakes winner. "The horse has never even worked without him on his back."
Gryder is credited with helping toget the 3-1 favorite in the field to where he is now, and that includes coming all the way back from a broken pelvis suffered after a race in Dubai in March 2006.
"I don't know if the horse would have done what he's done if we had picked another rider," said Oliver Costello, the assistant to trainer Eoin Harty. "When working him in the mornings, he's gotten him to relax. Aaron has done a brilliant job with him."
Gryder and Well Armed have developed a strong bond over time and the rider makes it a point to visit the barn every morning, even on days when he isn't scheduled to work or ride him.
"He really cares about this horse," said Costello. "It's genuine."
Gryder will have an even deeper affection for Well Armed if they win on Saturday and the rider notches his first Breeders' Cup win. Gryder has two previous Breeders' Cup mounts, but finished 10th in the Juvenile on Noteasybeingreen in 1998 and ninth on Smokey Stover in the Sprint last year.
Well Armed galloped over the track this morning and stood in the gate as his preparations for Saturday wind down.