Dateline: 10/21/03

It was a glorious sunny morning at Santa Anita and a number of Breeders' Cup entrants were out to stretch their legs and get accustomed to both the racing surface and the warm weather. By the end of training hours it had gotten so warm that no horses went out for the last session of turf workouts that was scheduled to begin at 10:15.

Wednesday workouts
Thursday workouts
Friday workouts

Turf entrant Bright Sky galloped on Tuesday morning. Trainer Elie Lellouche has indicated that he intends to enter her in the Turf rather than the Filly and Mare Turf. Exercise rider Bruno Kogue said of the gallop, "She's fine and did a nice canter on the main track. She was a bit on her toes to begin with because it is all new to her, but then she settled down."

Mile Designed for Luck galloped 1 1/2 miles on the main track. Trainer Vladimir Cerin said that he "put in his usual gallop".

Filly and Mare Turf entrant Dimitrova galloped a mile on the main track. Trainer Dermot Weld said, "Just an easy gallop of a mile or so. She'll do the same tomorrow and then maybe a bit more on Thursday morning."

Juvenile Fillies entrant Dixie High galloped 1 1/2 miles on the main track. Trainer Adam Kitchingham, who was aboard for the work, said, "Given that she was sick and with all the problems she had, I gave her the benefit of the doubt for her performance. If she had not been, off that race I probably would not run her in the Breeders' Cup."

Turf entrant Falbrav (cross-entered for the Classic but confirmed to go with the first preference) cantered on the main track. Exercise rider Keith Leddington said, "He had a walk around the barn area and the paddock and then just trotted on the dirt." In other news, British bookmaker Ladbrokes lowered his odds to 9-4 co-favorite with Storming Home.

Filly and Mare Turf entrant Islington galloped in company over the turf course around the dogs. Travelling head lad Jock Broen said, "She travelled well, has settled in well, and we were very pleased with how she went on the turf this morning."

Juvenile entrant Minister Eric jogged 1 mile then galloped another 1 1/4 miles on the main track under exercise rider Paul Nilluang. Trainer Richard Mandella said, "I might still do a little something with him [a short work] the next day or two."

Mile entrant Oasis Dream took to the Santa Anita turf for the first time. Jockey Richard Hughes said, "He went around three bends, and he went perfect. He was on the wrong lead going into the first bend and he changed perfectly. There's a bit of spring to the course which is perfect. The ground at Ascot in the summer is much firmer than this." Trainer John Gosden added, "He's never been around a bend so a two turn mile will be more difficult than a one turn mile at Belmont or Woodbine."

Mile entrant Refuse to Bend trotted one lap of the main track. Trainer Dermot Weld said that he will have a quicker gallop on Thursday.

Juvenile entrant Relaxed Gesture also trotted a lap around the main track. Trainer Dermot Weld will send the Irish bred out again Wednesday and more on Thursday.

Sprint entrant Zavata schooled in the paddock and then jogged on the main track. Trainer Patrick Biancone said, "He was nice and relaxed. We wanted him to enjoy life and the sunshine. Every day you open the Form, you see somebody with a problem. We just want no problem."

Full info on all the Breeders' Cup entries:

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