Edited notes from Breeders' Cup Notes Team
Aly's Alley-Galloped again on the turf with exercise rider Ruth Churchill aboard. "He was very good this morning," Churchill told trainer John Tammaro. "He started off kind of tightened up, but the farther he went the better he was. Very impressive this time."Ciro-Trainer Christophe Clement's Turf contender arrived safely from Belmont Park this morning. He was joined on the van by Forbidden Apple, whom Clement will send in the Mile.Ciro, a 3-year-old son of Woodman, won Arlington's Secretariat on yielding ground and Belmont's Lawrence Realization on good going, leading to this race.Craigsteel, who Clement had also pointed for the Turf, suffered a "minor foot problem," according to Clement and did not make the trip.Down the Aisle-A 7-year-old, the light gray son of Runaway Groom is the oldest of Bill Mott's eight Breeders' Cup hopefuls and he remains something of an inspiration for the entire barn."He is an inspiration to all of us," said Mott. "If he can get up in the morning and go to work, well, then maybe we can too. Actually, he's something of a barn pet."Down The Aisle had an easy morning Tuesday, walking the shedrow the day after his last serious work for the Turf."He'll have some light exercise between now and Saturday," said Mott. "We'll put the finishing touches on him."Down The Aisle will be making his 21st lifetime start in the Turf, having compiled a remarkably consistent record of nine wins, five seconds and five thirds through an off-and-on career. He ran twice as a 2-year-old, broke his maiden in his only start as a 3-year-old, and did not race at all as a 5yo."As a 2 year old, when he showed he needed more time he got it," said Mott, when asked about the horse's long career. "And you have to give them sufficient time to heal when there is a problem. If you push too hard and go beyond the point of no return, there is no coming back."In the "second half" of his career over the past two years, Down the Aisle has five victories from eight starts, including back-to-back wins in the United Nations Handicap and the Kentucky Cup Turf his last two starts. Saturday will mark his first appearance in the Breeders' Cup, although he had been scheduled to run in the Classic in 1997 as a 4-year-old. "He was pre-entered for the Classic but he fractured a coffin bone the Tuesday before the race," said Mott.Fantastic Light-See European Report.Fruits of Love-See European Report.John's Call-Trainer Tommy Voss was effusive in his praise of the 9-year-old gelding after sending him through a workout. "He was great," said Voss at his Atlanta Hall Farm in Monkton, Md. "He looked great. He went five-eighths of a mile in a minute." John's Call is to van out early Wednesday and expected to arrive here about 3 p.m.Kalanisi-See European Report.Manndar (Ire)-Manndar, one of two Breeders' Cup hopefuls for Columbine Stable and trainer Beau Greely, walked the shedrow one day after a 4 fur. workout in 48 1/5 over the turf. "He's doing very well," Greely said. "He came out of the work great. He ate up last night. He'll gallop into the race from here."Montjeu-See European Report.Mutamam-See European Report.Quiet Resolve-Breeders' Cup Turf contender Quiet Resolve arrived at Churchill Downs Monday from Keeneland and galloped 1 1/2 miles this morning under assistant trainer and exercise rider Hugh Chatman. Trainer Mark Frostad is due in from Canada today.Chatman indicated the 5-year-old gelding will gallop two miles after the break tomorrow and Shane Sellers will be Quiet Resolve's jockey in the Turf on Saturday. Chatman has been with the Sam-Son Farms operation, owner and breeder of Quiet Resolve, for several years now and knows this son of Affirmed pretty well."We started calling him 'the snapper' when we were down in Louisiana," said Chatman. "He likes to bite a lot...you have to be careful. He just bit the groom's finger a minute ago." Quiet Resolve ran his first two races at Fair Grounds in 1998 and broke his maiden there on the turf. Subtle Power-Billy Landry was aboard the 3-year-old Sadler's Wells colt Tuesday morning as he breezed 4 fur. in 50 2/5 on the turf in his first solo outing since arriving in Bill Mott's barn this fall. "He worked alone for the first time," said Mott of Subtle Power, who has previously trained by Henry Cecil. "He did not understand the routine when he first came to us. But he's really picked his head up recently. He's got a clue now."Subtle Power was seventh behind John's Call in the Turf Classic Invitational on Oct. 7 in his U.S. debut. In Europe, he compiled a record of two victories and one third from four starts, including the King Edward VII Stakes at Oxford.Williams News-Williams News, who lost a heartbreaking photo last time out in the Canadian International, is set to revenge that loss in the Breeders' Cup Turf after breezing 5 fur. on the turf in 1:01 under jockey Marlon St. Julien today. Jockey Patrick Husbands will ride the 5yo Alleged gelding in the race."Williams News is a different kind of horse," trainer Tom Amoss said. "He's very strong, very aggressive in his works. So, to slow his works down -- you can't do it. But that has been the secret to his success when he runs. It's pretty unusual for a horse that goes out and works fast early to run marathons in the afternoon. You have to take a little out of him in his works because it makes it easier for the rider to get him to relax in the afternoon."