MARATHON

Birdrun – The 5yo son of Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone jogged 2m
Wednesday and will be schooled in the paddock Thursday according to trainer Bill Mott.

Birdrun beat stablemate Drosselmeyer in the Brooklyn Handicap in June, but was a non-threatening sixth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in his last start. Mott said the muddy track may have contributed to that performance and he expects better on a projected fast surface at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

“I think he’s got as good a chance as anybody I have here (five Breeders’ Cup
entrants),” Mott said. “You can make a case for everybody. I think we’ve got a chance in every race we’re going in.”

Birdrun, a one-time maiden claimer, has won seven of 21 career starts with six
seconds.


Brigantin – The Andre Fabre-trainee went out with the rest of the French
contingent Wednesday morning on the main track and broke into a canter for threequarters of a circuit.
 

Cease – The Marathon contender returned to the track for a 1m gallop
Wednesday in his first day back to the track since Monday, when he turned in his final prerace work. Exercise rider Marcus Alfred was in the saddle. “First day back, he was reaching and trying,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “It looked
good.”

The 4yo son of War Chant is scheduled to gallop 1 1/2m Thursday.
 

Eldaafer – The winner of last year’s Marathon jogged 1m under trainer Diane
Alvarado around 6:30 Wednesday morning. It was Eldaafer’s first trip back over the Churchill Downs oval since he won the Marathon here at odds of 10-1 last year.

“He’s good and he’s happy,” Alvarado said. “Whenever he ships, he gets pumped up. He feels great and he’s going into the race perfect. He’s sharp. Workers came by and he was bucking and jumping, playing. He likes to ship. He gets bored of seeing the same stuff every day. He’s nosy.”


Harrison's Cave – Harrison’s Cave was part of the final contingent of eight colts
from the stable of Aidan O’Brien that arrived at Churchill Downs Tuesday at 8:22 p.m. and is housed in the second quarantine barn.


Meeznah – The daughter of Dynaformer, who will be trying to give trainer David
Lanigan his first Breeders’ Cup winner with his first starter, stretched her legs on the main track Wednesday morning. The filly did a couple of circuits at a gentle canter. The three-time winner will have the services of Tom Queally on Saturday.

“I am very happy with Meeznah at the moment, but it will be interesting to see
how she handles a bit of dirt being kicked in her face,” Lanigan said. “If this race was on the turf, it would be the easiest race she will have been in all season.”