Breeders Cup Flash Notes s2

Breeders’ Cup World Championships Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5

$6 Million Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) Three-Year-Olds & Up 1 1/4 Miles Saturday, Nov. 5

Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016 Contact Notes Team (859) 250-0358

Arrogate/Hoppertunity – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's representatives in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, had easy mornings on Tuesday. Travers Stakes winner Arrogate walked in the barn area a day after a half-mile work. Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Hoppertunity jogged around the main track. Arrogate drew the outside, No. 10, post and was the 5-2 second choice on the morning line behind even-money champion California Chrome. “We don't know how good he is, but he’ll have to be super to beat ‘Chrome’,” Baffert said. “He's stayed healthy since the Travers and he’s maturing. The only time we’ve really set him down to run was in the Travers. We never set him down in the mornings. “But he'll have to be really good to beat Chrome. Now I know how the other guys felt last year when I had American Pharoah.” Hoppertunity (Post 9, 15-1) will be ridden by John Velazquez, who was aboard for the first time in the Jockey Club Gold Cup victory. “(Flavien) Prat was supposed to ride him, but it was hard to take (Velazquez) off after he won on him,” Baffert said. “Prat picked up the mount on Effinex, a very good horse. You never know how things are going to work out.”

California Chrome – 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome, the even-money favorite versus nine rivals to capture the weekend's richest prize, the $6 million Classic, had a strong 1 ¾ m gallop Tuesday morning. The 5 yo chestnut returned to his barn via the paddock under regular exercise rider Dihigi Gladney. “Whenever he schools (in the paddock), he knows it's getting closer to race time and he starts getting aggressive," Gladney said. Added assistant trainer Alan Sherman, “He's happy and feeling strong. Wednesday morning we’ll take him to the gate before his gallop.”

Effinex/Shaman Ghost – Trainer Jimmy Jerkens pair of Classic horses had easy days Tuesday. Effinex, the 2015 Classic runner-up, stayed in the barn one day after his final half-mile work. “He came out the work good,” Jerkens said. “He just walked this morning.” Shaman Ghost, the Woodward winner, stood in the gate, jogged once around the wrong way and then visited the paddock. Frosted – Godolphin Racing’s 4yo gray colt had a routine morning at Santa Anita Tuesday, galloping about 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Rob Massey. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin traveled from New York on Monday and arrived in time to attend the post position draw. He was pleased that the son of Tapit will start from post 2. “We're happy. We'll save some ground,” he said. “There weren't any bad posts. We're OK. We're just happy to be in the race.” McLaughlin said the colt will school in the gate sometime this week. Godolphin Racing officials considered running Frosted – a dynamic, record-setting winner of the Met Mile in June – in the Las Vegas Dirt Mile, but settled on the 10f Classic in which he will face California Chrome. McLaughlin said that tactically the Classic was a better fit. “The Dirt Mile is a short run into the first turn. There usually are 12 horses and you can get in traffic trouble,” Mclaughlin said. “There is going to be a lot of space and gaps in the mile and a quarter race. The speed will go and there will be gaps. We should be able to work out a good trip. It is the best, we want to be the best and we want to beat the best. It makes sense to be in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

Keen Ice – Donegal Racing’s Keen Ice arrived from New York Tuesday along with several other Todd Pletcher-trained Breeders’ Cup entrants. The 4yo son of Curlin finished third as the beaten favorite in a one-turn mile optional claiming allowance at Belmont Park Oct. 7. He closed from seventh in his first start for Pletcher and his prep for Saturday’s Classic. “I actually thought he ran really well. The track that day was really speed-favoring. That’s not his style. I thought he really finished up well. Maybe you had to be there in person to appreciate how strong he galloped out,” Pletcher said. “He’s had three really good breezes since then, so it served its purpose. It’s a super tough race, but I do think he’s doing really well and the mile and a quarter is his forte. Hopefully, we get a good honest pace to run at and he shows up and runs good.” Keen Ice, who is rated at 12-1 in the morning line for the 1 1/4m Classic, will be ridden by Javier Castellano.

Melatonin – Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup at Santa Anita winner Melatonin jogged once around the track and schooled in the paddock Tuesday morning under exercise rider Martin De Rubin for trainer Dave Hofmans. Joe Talamo, who is 4-for-5 aboard the gelded son of Kodiak Koenig, will be in the irons again Saturday. “We'd been riding Joe on Home Run Kitten and some other horses and thought Joe would be a good fit for him," Hofmans said. Hofmans took over the training for Melatonin in August 2015 at Del Mar following a private purchase “The first time Joe rode him he said he wants more distance," Hofmans said. "I didn't agree for a while but Joe was right. He lets the horse dictate what he wants to do. For whatever reason, he's a good fit.”

War Story – Loooch Racing Stables et al.’s War Story left Barn 69 at approximately 8a.m. with exercise rider Nelson Collazo atop and trainer Mario Serey, Jr., looking on and proceeded to jog 1 ¼ around the Santa Anita main track. The 4-year-old gelding makes his fourth start of the season in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, while starting from post seven of 10 at morning line odds of 30-1. “He felt good today,” Collazo said. “He was very happy to be out there after walking for a few days. He went well over the track.” “He looked good,” Serey added. “I was happy with him.”

Win the Space – Win the Space went to the main track at 7:45 a.m. and galloped nearly 1 1/2 miles with regular exercise rider Amelia Green. “Very happy with the way he is coming up to the race,” trainer George Papaprodromou said. “He’s acting good.”