Friday Sprint Notes: Bet on Sunshine Aggressive in A.M.

Agnes World: Japan's top hope for Breeders' Cup glory on Saturday cantered on the main track. Masa Matsuda, assistant to trainer Hideyuki Mori, only worries that the Churchill Downs main track may not be suitable for his charge, even though Agnes World very rarely races on the dirt at home.

"Japanese dirt tracks are very deep but it's not deep here," he said. "In his last race he lost his action. The turf was soft (officially "good") and the ground was not good, and he had nowhere to go. He was born at Calumet Farm so he has come home. He likes the water here. He may stay in training next year."

Bet On Sunshine: The 8yo veteran added his final preparations for his quest to become the oldest Breeders' Cup winner ever in the Sprint with a strong 1 ½-mile gallop on Friday.

"He was very aggressive this morning," said Steve Williams, assistant to trainer Paul McGee. "He's doing great."

Williams said that Bet On Sunshine has not been bothered by the huge crowds and commotion on the backside. Stabled regularly at Churchill Downs, Bet On Sunshine has been through several Kentucky Derbys and a Breeders' Cup here.

Caller One: Breeders' Cup Sprint contender Caller One jogged again this morning, much like he has done all week.

"We just want to keep him sharp," commented Sonia Chapman, wife and assistant to trainer James Chapman.

Delaware Township: Galloped easily this morning for trainer Ben Perkins Jr. "Delaware Township belongs with these kinds of horses," he said. "But this post position of his (14) is not going to help at all. I moaned when I heard it."

Dream Supreme: Trainer Bill Mott confirmed that George Steinbrenner, principal owner of the World Champion New York Yankees, plans to attend the Breeders' Cup to watch his 3yo filly take on the boys in the Sprint.

"I have not talked to him since last week but it is his intention to be here," said Mott, who added: "He tells me that before the games, [Joe] Torre and the others don't talk baseball, they talk horse racing. They're apparently big fans."

Dream Supreme, who bears an upside down scimitar-shaped marking on her forehead, is a daughter of Seeking the Gold out of the multiple-stakes winning Spinning Round, who gave Steinbenner his first Grade I victory at Saratoga when she won the Ballerina Stakes.

Dream Supreme galloped Friday morning under exercise rider Kenny McCarthy, and was scheduled to return to school in the paddock Friday afternoon.

"She got a little nervous yesterday [Thursday]," said Mott.

Elaborate: Trudy McCaffery and John Toffan's 5yo stalker put in another 1 ½ miles gallop Friday morning, taking his final step toward Saturday's Sprint.

Five Star Day: Five Star Day could make Saturday a "five star day" for co-owner Andrea Pollack with a win in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Pollack, who races in the name of Columbine Stable, chose the name of the 4yo Carson City colt because she and her daughter would always check their horoscopes in The Denver Post and a five star day was the best day you could have.

Five Star Day finalized his preparations for the Sprint by jogging and galloping on Friday. Pollack, who arrived last night, looked on as he was bathed outside the barn of trainer Beau Greely.

Honest Lady: A crisp gallop through the stretch, characterized by trainer Bobby Frankel as "stretching her legs in the stretch," was the order of the day for the 4yo filly heading for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

The Juddmonte Farms' daughter of Seattle Slew has a 2000 record of three wins and two seconds in seven outings. All of those wins have come at 7 fur., and one of the runner-up efforts came in the Met Mile.

Her running style shows a closing kick, and that just might serve her well as the Sprint most often features much early speed, setting up for late-running sprinters.

Kona Gold: The morning-line Sprint favorite galloped about one mile Friday morning under exercise rider and trainer Bruce Headley. "He feels better than ever, better than the last two years," cautioned groom Juan Gonzalez, who was with the horse when he finished second in this race last year and third in 1998.

"This guy has a very happy nature," said Headley. "The last time he ran, Alex (jockey Alex Solis) stopped him at the three-eighth pole before the race just to look around. His metabolism is fabulous. Everything he eats turns to muscle. And his lungs and oxygen intake must be fabulous. After his last race, he wasn't even sweating. All the tubes must work."

More Than Ready and Trippi: More Than Ready galloped 1 ½ miles this morning, while his partner in the Sprint, Trippi, jogged two miles. Cindy Hutter, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher was aboard both horses.

Although Pletcher was unhappy with the post draw that saw More Than Ready get post one and Trippi get post two, he believes he has a good chance of overcoming the post positions.

"Caller One is in post 3, Shadow Caster is in post 4 and Five Star Day is in post 5," Pletcher said. "I know a lot of people think that Caller One and Five Star Day are the fastest early speed in there, but if you look at his numbers, Trippi has as many 44s in his races as anybody.

"Trippi is going to have to be forwardly placed, and if the other three to his outside go as well, it should open things up so that More Than Ready can be maneuvered into a comfortable position. That's how it is supposed to work - in theory, anyway. Of course, all your planning goes out the window once you put the saddle on. I can't do anything about the posts, but I am grateful that I have Pat Day on More Than Ready and Jerry Bailey on Trippi. They know what they are doing out there."

Shadow Caster: Like his stablemate Gander, Shadow Caster has been galloping all week and went 1 1/2 miles again today with exercise rider Simon Harris. He will simply walk the shedrow tomorrow morning. Owner Michael Gatsas has been at the barn for the last few days and indicated that his partner and brother, Theodore, will be here on race day. He pointed out that Ted is missing out on all the activities this week because he is in New York campaigning for a spot in the state senate.

Successful Appeal: Trainer John Kimmel had Successful Appeal gallop 1 3/8 miles today for his final preparation for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. This will be Successful Appeal's second attempt at winning the Sprint; he finished fifth last year.

"I think his running style is the right one for this kind of race--a tracking style," said Kimmel Friday morning. "They're going to go out very quick and may shade 44...we could be looking at 21, 43 and change, and then it's a question of who's going to pick up the pieces.

"It will also be who gets the right trip. The speed is to the inside, so I'm happy with our post position [nine].

"I think he's being overlooked [at 15-1 morning line odds]. He didn't run his race in the Vosburgh. If he runs an 'A' race, he'll figure in the outcome. He'll just have to show them," he said.

Kimmel has about 80 horses stabled in New York right now and won two races at Aqueduct yesterday. He expects to fly back Saturday night, although he does admit that a win in the Sprint might keep him here for just one more night.

Valiant Halory: Valiant Halory galloped on the main track for trainer Nick Zito this morning.

"He is doing well," Zito said. "Hey, I know it's a tough race but he has as much a chance as anybody in there. And if they go fast early, it will be anybody's race.