Trainer quotes from yesterday

[dellinger63]

"With every race, he gets better and stronger. He's an amazing horse. Right now, he's doing as good as he's ever done. This is going to be his most difficult task, but he's up to it.. He's so versatile that as long as we get a good run into the first turn, I don't think (post position is) going to make a lot of difference with him."

—Tom Albertrani on Classic (G1) favorite BERNARDINI (A.P. Indy), who has won six straight starts since dropping his career debut in January

"The 90 days might have been a blessing considering he went to Dubai and traveled back over here with some hard races over the summer. I'm not Bobby Frankel or Bill Mott or a guy that tends to do this often, giving a horse 90 days between starts, but since we are doing it, he has really done well, physically, mentally, everything."

—Kiaran McLaughlin on INVASOR (Arg) (Candy Stripes) missing a scheduled start in the October 7 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) due to a fever; three-for-three in the United States and unraced since the Whitney H. (G1) in early August, Invasor will enter the Classic off a 90-day rest

"I'm a big believer in the Polytrack. I took my Breeders' Cup horses there three weeks ago to train because I think it's better for them. The horses seem to be happier on it; the footing is steadier and they give more because of it. CACIQUE (Ire) (Danehill), for instance, isn't a good work horse. He's lazy in the mornings. But at Keeneland (Sunday) he worked really well. And he worked alone; I didn't have to push him with something else."

—Bobby Frankel on training CACIQUE up to the Breeders' Cup (G1) at Keeneland; a full-brother to previous Breeders' Cup race winners Intercontinental (GB) and Banks Hill (GB), Cacique will be one of the favorites in the Turf off his smashing victory in the Man o' War S. (G1) last time out

"He's gotten better with age. When he was a young horse, even a three-year-old, he would get all wound up; he'd be hard on himself. But he's learned what it's all about and he handles himself and his races so much better. I remember when I worked with (multiple champion) Bayakoa (Arg) (as an assistant to Ron McAnally). She was nearly crazy as a young horse. But she got better as she got older and she became a star. This horse has matured just like she did."

—Eduardo Inda on Turf entrant T.H. APPROVAL (With Approval); a three-time stakes winner this season, the five-year-old exits a close second in the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship S. (G1) at Santa Anita

"What he's got going for him is that the Turf will be his first race at a mile and a half this year, and that's his favorite distance."

—Graham Motion on 2004 Turf winner BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man), who will enter this year's renewal off a victory in the 1 3/8-mile Sky Classic S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine

"ICY ATLANTIC (Stormy Atlantic) is in there to make sure English Channel (Smart Strike) has a target to run at. We feel English Channel is much better when he can go after one horse, and Icy Atlantic can guarantee that."

—Todd Pletcher on ICY ATLANTIC's role

"I think of her in terms of Lava Man (Slew City Slew). He's the dominant male in California and I think she's the dominant female."

—John Sadler on Distaff (G1) candidate HEALTHY ADDICTION (Boston Harbor), who has compiled a 7-4-1-1 mark while competing exclusively in stakes events this year, including scores in the Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2) in her last two starts

"I'm not worried about stepping up against older horses. If she goes down there and gets a hold of that racetrack, she'll be fine."

—four-time Distaff winner Shug McGaughey on PINE ISLAND (Arch), who will make her first start against older rivals in the Distaff; she captured the Gazelle S. (G1) and Alabama S. (G1) in her last two outings

"This distance is probably key for her. Running in a one-turn race at Belmont is more or less like a sprint. Two turns might suit her a little better and right now she's doing so well. She's very consistent, she's doing good and she just needs the right trip."

—Albertrani on Distaff contender BALLETTO (UAE) (Timber Country), who finished second by a head to Fleet Indian (Indian Charlie) in the Beldame S. (G1) at Belmont Park most recently

"I think he's a sleeper. It seems that they (others) are discounting him because of his last race, but he is very sharp right now. Other than him, I think Aussie Rules (Danehill) is the horse to beat."

—Marty Wolfson on Mile (G1) prospect MIESQUE'S APPROVAL (Miesque's Son), who had a three-race graded stakes winning streak snapped when finishing a close fourth to Aussie Rules in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) in his last start

"I just kept him on the grass because he was running good, and there was no use changing it. He always worked good on the dirt and I said one of those days I'd have the opportunity to try it. In February, they had a race come off the turf at Santa Anita and Alex (Solis) said he just aired. I said, 'wow, this gives me another option,' and after the San Simeon (H. [G3]) in April, I haven't had him on the grass, and he has won three graded stakes."

—Art Sherman, who claimed SIREN LURE (Joyeux Danseur) for $50,000 in May, 2005, on why he waited to race the Sprint (G1) contender on dirt; the five-year-old gelding won the Triple Bend Invitational H. (G1) two back and the Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup H. (G2) last out

"She's very similar to the past two years. The only difference is that she's had one less race this year. Hopefully, that will bode well for us."

—Motion on FILM MAKER (Dynaformer), who will be back for a third Filly & Mare Turf (G1) after finishing second in 2004 and third in 2005

"He got some education in that race, and we learned something about Polytrack, too. There really isn't a lot to go on, but from the races I've seen on Polytrack so far, you want to be back and make one, strong run."

—Pletcher on CIRCULAR QUAY's (Thunder Gulch) runner-up finish in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland; the Juvenile (G1) contender is two for two at Churchill Downs, winning his career bow and the Bashford Manor S. (G3) under the Twin Spires

"I am more interested now in the mental aspect rather than the physical. I think I've got plenty of physical. These babies, when they get in front of a big crowd and the adrenaline gets going, they get into these races, so I want to be sure I've got him right mentally. I think the mental in these big races is like three-to-one to the physical."

—D. Wayne Lukas on preparing Champagne S. (G1) third placer PEGASUS WIND (Fusaichi Pegasus) for the Juvenile

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

sounds like all are happy...should be a great cup..

[disappearingdan_akaplaya]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

sounds like all are happy...should be a great cup..

of course luka$$ is happy, he keeps his streak alive and another day in the spotlight for him. he doesnt care the cost to the animal or owner as long as hes in the spotlight all is well in his book