Kip Deville - Defending Breeders' Cup Mile champ Kip Deville boarded a van that left Aqueduct Racetrack around 6 a.m. Tuesday. His flight to California departed at approximately 9 a.m. "No problems whatsoever," said trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who already owns three Breeders' Cup victories. "The hardest part of my job with Kip at this point is figuring how much money I'm going to bet on him to win. I'm counting my money right now." Kip Deville, a 5yo Oklahoma-bred, will be attempting to join Miesque (1987, 1988), Lure (1992-1993) and Da Hoss (1996, 1998) as a two-time Mile champion. He enters the Mile off a less-than-stellar performance, however, having finished a well-beaten fifth - by his lofty standards - in last month's Woodbine Mile as heavy favorite. Dutrow says the Woodbine Mile will not have any bearing on Kip Deville's performance this Saturday. "We went over him a bunch of times after the Woodbine race and couldn't find anything wrong with him," Dutrow said. "The only thing I can say is I guess he didn't like the turf course. Even if he had won that race I don't think we would have trained him any differently going into the Breeders' Cup." Regular rider Cornelio Velasquez has the mount. Dutrow had originally planned to fly to California later in the week, but "after seeing Kip and (Turf Sprint entrant) Salute the Count leave (Aqueduct) this morning, I gotta be with my horses. They both look unbelievable. I belong with them, babe."

Bold Chieftain "Russell told me he felt like a million bucks. We're a go," said trainer Bill Morey Jr. of rider Russell Baze and his horse Bold Chieftain, who had just clipped off 4f in 48 1/5 on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields Tuesday morning. The 5yo California-bred horse, a winner of 11 races and currently the best horse in Northern California, went trackside following the morning renovation break at 8:30 and went about his business. "I couldn't have been happier with it," reported Morey by phone. "We're going to come and give them a try." The conditioner said he'd lined up a van ride for his horse leaving the Bay Area track at 4 a.m. Wednesday. He said he and his wife would drive down separately starting at around 6 a.m. "My van guy gets down there pretty good," he noted. "They stop for water along the way, but he'll be there in seven or eight hours. When we ship down we always go in with (trainer) Jeff Metz (Barn 116). He holds a couple of stalls for us and it has always worked out fine." Bold Chieftain once again will be handled by Russell Baze in the Mile. North America's winningest rider has been aboard the son of Chief Seattle in 16 of his 22 starts, including nine of his wins.

Daytona - The Shoemaker Mile winner tuned up for Saturday's race with a 4f workout in 47 4/5 over the main track on Tuesday. Exercise rider Francisco Alvarado was aboard for the work. "It was just what we wanted," said trainer Dan Hendricks. "We were looking for somewhere around 48. It was just a nice easy move to stretch his legs. We just have to keep our fingers crossed now. "He's just like he's been all year. He's fresh and ready. He doesn't look like a horse that has been racing for a year-and-a-half."