TURF

Await the Dawn/St Nicholas Abbey – The Aidan O’Brien duo of Await the Dawn and St Nicholas Abbey were part of the Ballydoyle string that went to the dirt track Friday morning. Nothing more than a routine canter was done ahead of Saturday’s Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf.


Brilliant Speed – The Blue Grass Stakes winner jogged 1 1/2m and was given a brief gallop by exercise rider Dave Wallace Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Tom Albertrani said he doesn’t have any real concerns about running the son of Dynaformer should the turf course offer soft footing Saturday.

“He’s run over (yielding turf) in the past,” Albertrani said. “I don’t know if it’s what he’d prefer, but a firmer turf, I think, he would appreciate more.

“But either way, he goes over it. I think he can handle anything. He ran on dirt; he ran on slop; I don’t think it will be a real issue.”
 

Dean's Kitten – A considerable amount of rain fell on Louisville Thursday, and the turf course was labeled “yielding” Friday morning. According to trainer Mike Maker, the condition of the ground should be of little consequence to Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Breeders’ Cup Turf contender, Dean’s Kitten.

“It (the course condition) is not an issue,” Maker said. “He’s proven he’ll run equally well on any kind of turf.

“He’s done great this week and I expect he will run his typically honest race.”


Midday – The 5yo mare visited the main track Friday morning for her daily exercise.

The Juddmonte Farms homebred is making her third consecutive start in a Breeders’ Cup race, having won the 2009 Filly & Mare Turf before finishing second in that race last year. She moves to the 1 1/2m Turf this year.


Sarafina – The 4yo filly stretched her legs Friday morning with a steady canter on the main track.


Sea Moon – Trainer Michael Stoute sent the 3yo colt out for a 3f breeze in 41.20 on the turf course Friday morning.

Stoute had intended to breeze Sea Moon a half-mile on Thursday morning. Those plans were canceled when the course was closed after rain began to fall. Stoute failed to convince track officials to change the decision and let him take the horse out on the grass course.

 The course was open for training Friday and Stoute took advantage of the opportunity to give the colt a feel of the ground he will race over Saturday.     

“I would have preferred to give him a breeze yesterday morning,” Stoute said. “I was not going to do much this morning. So, it was very annoying (that the track was closed Thursday).”

Stoute said he couldn’t say whether the change in days for Sea Moon’s work would affect his form in the Turf.

“I’ll tell you what I think, I think it’s time to move on with the horses,” Stoute said. “We’ve had yesterday. We’ve made our comments. I felt it was a very unfair decision, but let’s move on.”


Teaks North – The 4-year-old son of Northern Afleet jogged 2m the wrong way under exercise rider Joan Amaya at Churchill Downs Friday morning.

Trainer Justin Sallusto said his United Nations winner wouldn’t be negatively impacted if the turf course remained soft from Thursday’s rain.

“I think he’d prefer it a little firmer, but he’ll handle it,” Sallusto said. “He won the Monmouth Stakes on a ‘good’ track. He’s very versatile.”