SPRINT

Aikenite – The son of Yes It’s True galloped 1 1/4m at Churchill Downs Friday in preparation for his 23rd career start in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“It went well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We were fortunate all of our horses handled (the surface) well. You always worry a little bit when you’re training over a sloppy track, but we got them all out there safely and got them back safe.”

Aikenite will be making his third Cup appearance. He was fifth in the 2009 Juvenile at Santa Anita and eighth in last year’s Dirt Mile here.


Amazombie – Jogging 1m was the California sprinter’s order of the day Friday morning on the muddy track.

Trainer Bill Spawr said that was the normal routine for his Ancient Title winner. And keeping to his normal schedule, Spawr will send the 5yo gelding out to jog on Saturday morning.


Apriority/Big Drama – Trainer David Fawkes’ two Sprint contenders jogged around the muddy track on Friday morning.

“That gave us an excuse to jog,” Fawkes said. “This track will dry so fast that it won’t have any effect on either of my horses or the races by the time we get to Saturday.

“All the work is done now. It’s just lead them over there and let them perform.”

Defending Sprint champion Big Drama will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez and break from post 8 and Apriority, with Joel Rosario aboard, will be just to his outside in post 9 in the field of nine.

What instructions will Fawkes give to the riders?

“I'm not going to tell my secrets. No way. But I’ll tell you the secret to winning the Sprint. It’s simple; just get under the wire first,” Fawkes said good-naturedly.

Fawkes, who won his first Breeders’ Cup in his first try last year, said that while he feels the same pressure to win this year, the experience is much easier because he knows the drill and that makes it less daunting.


Hamazing Destiny – Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, with an eye to winning this year’s Sprint with last year’s runner-up Hamazing Destiny, kept things routine again for his prospect with a once-around-the-track jog over the muddy going.

Lukas has said that he believes Hamazing Destiny is better this year than last. The trainer sees him as stronger and more focused.


Jackson Bend – The 4yo son of Hear No Evil schooled in the paddock before galloping 1 1/2m at Churchill Downs Friday morning.

Trainer Nick Zito is hoping for a fast and contested early pace to benefit Jackson Bend’s stretch kick.

“A lot of people ask me if he’s going to be way back. I hope not, but the main thing is the horse has to find his rhythm,” Zito said. “I told (jockey Corey) Nakatani, ‘Let him find his rhythm.’ I just hope he gets that motor going, that little motor.”