TURF

Await the Dawn/ St Nicholas Abbey – The Aidan O’Brien Emirates Airline
Breeders’ Cup contenders Await The Dawn and St Nicholas Abbey will arrive in
Louisville from Ireland Tuesday evening.

Brilliant Speed – Brilliant Speed is scheduled on a Tex Sutton flight from New
York to Kentucky late Tuesday afternoon. Jockey John Velazquez has the ride from post 8 on Saturday.

“He’ll get the distance and the way he’s training I feel very confident that he’s in
great form,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “There’s always next year, provided he stays healthy. Next year we’ll see an even better horse. He’s done everything we’ve asked this year.”

Brilliant Speed enters the Turf off a second-place finish in Belmont’s Jamaica
Oct. 8. Brilliant Speed tracked a slow pace that afternoon that was set by the eventual winner, Western Aristocrat.

“He breezes faster than they were running and it turned out to be a half-mile
sprint to the wire which took him out of his game a little bit,” Albertrani said.

Dean's Kitten – Although he won just once from eight starts as a 3yo in 2010, this
Kenneth L. and Sarah Ramsey charge made it count, winning the Lanes End Stakes at Turfway Park.

His win in the Dallas Turf Cup is his lone victory from seven tries this season, but
the 4yo son of Kitten’s Joy stamped himself as one of the top turf horses in North
America, finishing third in the Arlington Million and second in the Turf Classic
Invitational. Both of those losses came to Cape Blanco, who would have been one of the favorites for Saturday’s Turf if not for a career-ending injury.

“This horse has really proved himself this year,” trainer Mike Maker said. “He’s
matured, and held his own with some of the top grass horses. He gives 110 per cent effort every time.”

Ramon Dominguez, who rode the colt in the Turf Classic, gets the return call on
Saturday.

Midday – Juddmonte Farms’ 5yo mare trained by Henry Cecil cleared quarantine
and went to the track for the first time at 7 a.m. for some light exercise. The daughter of Oasis Dream is running in the Turf for the first time after winning the Filly & Mare Turf in 2009 and second in last year’s edition of that race.

In six starts this season, Midday has wins over females in the Middleton Stakes
and Nassau Stakes, seconds against males in the Coronation Cup and the Juddmonte International, and a second against females in the Pretty Polly Stakes. In her most recent start, she was fourth, beaten 3¼ lengths, against males in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Oct. 15. It was the first time she failed to finish in the top three since Nov. 1, 2008, a span of 17 races.

Sarafina – Sarafina, trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, the 5-2 morning line
favorite for the Turf, saw the Churchill Downs track for the first time Tuesday morning and did a gentle jog with the Andre Fabre trio of Announce, Brigantin and Byword before returning to the quarantine barn.

Royer-Dupre at midnight Louisville time was saddling defending champion
Americain in the Melbourne Cup and is expected to arrive from Australia on Thursday.

Christophe Lemaire rode Dunaden to victory in the Melbourne Cup and will have
the ride on Sarafina on Saturday.

Sea Moon – Juddmonte Farms’ 3yo colt trained by Michael Stoute went to the
turf course for some light exercise at 9:30 a.m. after clearing quarantine.

Sea Moon was second by a nose in his first maiden try then reeled off three consecutive victories before finishing third by 3½ lengths as the 2-1 favorite in the St. Leger on Sept. 10. The Beat Hollow colt drew post seven in the Turf and will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

Stately Victor – Trainer Mike Maker knows he’s “up against it” with F. Thomas
and Jack Conway’s 30-1 Turf longshot, but the connections do have reasons for hope. “The owners are big St. Louis Cardinals fans, and everyone saw the odds they overcame to win the World Series,” Maker said, “not to mention the fact that we won the Blue Grass with this horse at 40-1. They know that anything can happen when you swing for the fences.”

Mike Smith, who has ridden the 4yo son of Ghostzapper in his two most recent
starts, will ride on Saturday.

Teaks North – The 4yo son of Northern Afleet jogged 2m under exercise rider
Joan Amaya at Belmont Park Tuesday before shipping to Churchill Downs Tuesday morning.

“We just wanted something to loosen up his legs before getting on the plane,”
trainer Justin Sallusto said.

Javier Castellano has the mount aboard the United Nations winner.