It was another sun-splashed morning at Santa Anita Oct. 24 as a large contingent of horsemen, fans, and media awaited the first day of the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Curlin , the all-time leading North American Thoroughbred earner who wil seek to defend his title in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, Oct. 25, was one of the first horses on the track Friday. His light exercise was uneventful. Nearly all of the Breeders’ Cup horses were on the track, including Duke of Marmalade and Red Rock Canyon. Those two were together on the track as they went a fast clip in the stretch at the end of their canters.
At Barn 48, where trainer Bobby Frankel has Breeders' Cup Mile hopeful Mast Track, there was good news about the colt’s status. Assistant Humberto Ascanio reported that a slight quarter creck in one of Mast Track’s hooves was “95% better” Friday and that no decision had been made on whether he will still run in Saturday’s Mile.
There were no new scratches on the Friday card, meaning that Atka and Internallyflawless did not draw into the Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies Turf off the also eligible list.
In the only other development, jockey Rafael Bejarano was selected to replace Manoel Cruz aboard Classic entrant Smooth Air.