Black Seventeen (Tr: Brian Koriner; ex. rider: Colleen Hartford) - The chestnut colt by Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Is It True was on the track at Santa Anita Thursday morning at 8:30 for a gallop of 1 5/8m under exercise rider and assistant trainer Colleen Hartford.

Trainer Brian Koriner watched the activities and said he was about coming to the end of his part of readying his quick charge for the toughest test of his life.

"I'll jog him one lap Friday and he'll go to the gate," the conditioner said. "After that it's up to the fates. I've schooled him in the paddock twice this week and he gets real aggressive when we go over there. He knows what's going on. He's got the idea."

Black Seventeen, who captured the Vosburgh in New York Sept. 27 in his most recent start, will have veteran Clinton Potts in the irons Saturday as they break from post six in the nine-horse field. They are listed at 15-1 in the morning line.

Cost of Freedom (Tr: John Sadler; ex. rider: Dana Barnes) - Gary and Cecil Barber's Cost of Freedom paid a visit to the starting gate Thursday morning before galloping 1 1/4m under regular exercise rider Dana Barnes.

"Since he drew the one hole for the Sprint, I took him to the gate this morning," trainer John Sadler of the 5yo Cal-bred son of Cee's Tizzy. Tyler Baze, who has ridden Cost of Freedom to three consecutive victories, has the mount Saturday.

Cost of Freedom is seeking to become the second Cal-bred in three years to win the Sprint. Thor's Echo turned the trick at Churchill Downs in 2006.

"I'd just like to see him run good," Sadler said of Cost of Freedom carrying the banner for California as the only Cal-bred in the field of nine. "But I have a little trepidation about the post, because I don't think there has been a winner there sprinting the whole meet."

Fabulous Strike (Tr: Todd Beattie) - Trainer Todd Beattie has put a lot of time and energy in getting Fabulous Strike into the Breeders' Cup starting gate, and he believes his patience and hard work may pay off in Saturday's Sprint.

"All our ducks are in order," Beattie said. "I'm really happy we came here (to Santa Anita) early. It gave us a chance to get plenty of work in over the track. I like the way he's feeling right now."

Fabulous Strike drew post position three of nine for the Sprint, and although he's been on the lead past the opening quarter in 15 of his 16 lifetime starts, Beattie believes his gelding is capable of "sitting just off of it."

"Cost of Freedom drew the rail, so they may feel like they have to go (for the lead)," Beattie explained. "It might be good for us to sit just outside of him. That's how I would draw it up. Hopefully they don't go too fast up there. If we're in the fight, I'm confident he can go a sub-24 second final quarter. He's done it before."

Fabulous Strike is the first Breeders' Cup starter for Beattie, who has long been a successful conditioner in the Mid-Atlantic region.

"It's a different element than I'm used to," Beattie admitted. "The (training) procedures remain the same. It's exciting to be tested at this level, against the best horses in the world."

Fatal Bullet (Tr: Reade Baker) - The 3yo son of Red Bullet is undefeated in all five of his starts at the 6f distance of the Sprint and trainer Reade Baker sees a lot of plusses for his horse.

"As a three-year-old, he has an advantage," he said. "He's beaten older horses already this year and three-year-olds are likely to improve at this time of year while the older horses tend not to. He's got a great post and if he runs well on the artificial surface, there are a lot of positives."

The Kentucky Cup Sprint winner jogged backwards on the main track as he readies for Saturday's race.

First Defence (Tr: Robert Frankel; ex. rider: Goncalino Almeida) - The Forego winner continued his training toward Saturday's Sprint with a 1 1/4m gallop Thursday morning at Santa Anita. He is scheduled to school in the paddock this afternoon.

Trainer Robert Frankel looked on at trackside and speculated on just how fast the final time in the Sprint might be.

"This track is so fast, and if the heat comes it'll get faster," the trainer said. "They might run down there in six (1:06) and change. The thing is they don't know how to slow it down right now. If they put water in it, it compacts it and makes it harder. It winds up like adobe.

"I don't think that First Defence will run in six, but someone might."

The current track record at Santa Anita is one set last January when the track was a synthetic surface called Cushion Track. Bob Black Jack ran the distance on Jan. 26 in 1:06.53, which is a world's record for the distance.

The current Pro-Ride surface, though fast, is not as fast as the previous one. The fastest 6f of the current Oak Tree meet is the 1:07 2/5 run by Cost of Freedom in winning the Ancient Title on Sept. 27. Cost of Freedom is entered in Saturday's Sprint.

First Defence will have Javier Castellano aboard for his six-panel trip and they'll break from post five in the nine-horse field. They're listed at 12-1 in the morning line.

In Summation (Tr: Christophe Clement) - Trainer Christophe Clement said the 5yo sprinter In Summation is doing as well as can be at this point and now it will be up to jockey John Velazquez to get him into the winner's circle.

"I'll train him and the jockey will have to make the decision how to ride him once the race unfolds," he said. "That's why he's a top jockey."

Velasquez rode In Summation for the first time here at Santa Anita when they finished third in the Ancient Title behind fellow Sprint entrants Cost of Freedom and Street Boss in the last time out for all three horses.

Cost of Freedom and Street Boss will break from the number one and number two posts, respectively, while In Summation drew the advantageous number seven post.

Midnight Lute (Tr: Bob Baffert; ex. rider: Sarah Cillie) - Defending Sprint champion Midnight Lute galloped 1 1/2m under exercise rider Sarah Cillie for trainer Bob Baffert, who is seeking his third victory in the Sprint.

Garrett Gomez, who has ridden Midnight Lute in his past three starts beginning with the Sprint victory last year, has the mount Saturday and will break from post position four.

Saturday's Sprint will mark only the second start of the year for Midnight Lute, who ran 10th in the Pat O'Brien Handicap in August at Del Mar.

"We were rushing to get him ready for the Breeders' Cup and we squeezed a lot of work into him at Del Mar," Baffert said. "He didn't like that surface down there and since he has gotten back here, he has been a happy camper.

"He looks good, but he will need a lot of things to go his way Saturday."

Sing Baby Sing (Tr: Jack Bruner) -Phoenix winner Sing Baby Sing, who arrived on Wednesday, galloped for the first time at Santa Anita with trainer Jack Bruner watching on.

"He went very well," said Bruner. "So far he seems to handling the track real well."

Sing Baby Sing, a 5yo Unbridled's Song horse, will be the first Breeders' Cup starter for Bruner and jockey Justin Shepherd.

Street Boss (Tr: Bruce Headley) - The speedy son of Street Cry walked trainer Bruce Headley's barn area Thursday following his 3f blowout in 38 1/5 on Wednesday that finished up his work for Saturday's Sprint.

With seven wins in 12 career races, the 4yo colt could go over the million-dollar mark with a win or second in the Sprint. His earnings already total $631,800 and either the winner's or runner-up portions would make him a millionaire.

Headley expects a normal race from Street Boss, meaning he may be back in the pack early, but will make his patented late run turning for home.