Curlin galloped two miles on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride Sunday morning under exercise rider Carlos Rosas. Curlin is scheduled to work here on Monday.

Garrett Gomez suspects his mount, Go Between, could have an edge when he faces Curlin and the rest of the world in the 1 1/4-mile Classic.

"My horse has handled every synthetic they sent him to, so I think we're in pretty good shape," said Gomez, who is seeking his third consecutive national money earnings title. The 36-year-old rider currently has more than $17.6 million in his bankroll, some $2.4 million more than runner-up Robby Albarado.

Well Armed's reputation as a speed horse may be over-emphasized, in the opinion of Aaron Gryder, who is the regular rider of and who exercises the gelded son of Tiznow. Gryder has ridden Well Armed in the 5-year-old's last eight races, including a distant third behind Curlin in the Dubai World Cup last March 29.

"I've worked him forever, too," the 38-year-old native of West Covina said. "I've been getting on him a year and a half, anyway. I've always said he doesn't have to be in front to win. Everybody thought he had to, but he's a big, long-striding horse and has such a high gait to him that he's faster than most horses.

"Finally, the last two races, there was some speed in there and I said, 'That's fine.' I took him back and let him find his stride. If they want to outrun him, they can outrun him. I never thought he needed to be on the lead, but he's definitely become a better horse this year, because he has settled more in his gallops and his works. He's matured a lot to where he's much handier for me."

Trainer Eoin Harty said he "definitely concurred" with Gryder's analysis that Well Armed is not "a pure speed horse." Harty said he would decide on Tuesday whether Well Armed runs in the Classic or the Dirt Mile.