Breeders' Cup TSI - November 3

Last updated: 11/3/09 8:27 PM

BREEDERS’ CUP THEY SAID IT

NOVEMBER 3, 2009

Zenyatta is a perfect 13-for-13
(Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

“I think she deserves the favoritism. She’s a super athlete.”

Owner/breeder
Jerry Moss on ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]), the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the
Classic (G1)

“We all watched everything she did over time, watching works and studying her
races. Then we got together Sunday night and said if there is the slightest
doubt, we would not run in the Classic. Everybody said she was ready. So now I
think everybody is in for a treat come Saturday.”

—Moss on the
decision to try the unbeaten champion against males rather than go for a repeat
in the Ladies’ Classic (G1)

“We’re going to be near the back, so we might as well save ground. It’s good.
I’m glad because he won’t have to do a lot of work from there. He was towards
the outside in the Goodwood (G1) and (jockey) Calvin (Borel) had to work to get
back inside. I want him covered up and it will be easy to do from there. It’s
the perfect spot. I just told HRTV that I’d be happy to draw the one, two, or
three-hole.”

trainer
Chip Woolley on MINE THAT BIRD’s (Birdstone) drawing the rail in the Classic

“I like our draw. We’re inside next to Zenyatta in the gate. I just hope she
doesn’t intimidate us, as big as she is.”

trainer Tim Ice
on SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone) in post 3, with Zenyatta in post 4

“Of the nine in the U.S. training he’s probably the one that got the worst of
all draws, drawing 11 in that field, but there’s not a lot of pace in there and
at least it’s a long run to the turn. He’s usually a pretty good horse
accelerating out of the gate and hopefully he won’t be compromised too much, but
we were looking for five, six, or seven like everybody in there. You can’t have
every horse draw a good draw and hopefully it doesn’t hamper him too much.”

Godolphin
assistant trainer Rick Mettee on REGAL RANSOM’s (Distorted Humor) winding up in
post 11 in the Classic

“It’s obviously probably not ideal, but he should be able to get a
clean trip. He’s got tactical speed.”

assistant
trainer Mike McCarthy on QUALITY ROAD’s (Elusive Quality) landing in post 12

Careless Jewel has won five in a row
(Paula Smith/Horsephotos.com)

“You’re never crazy about the one-hole, but she won out of there in her last
race (the Cotillion [G2] at Philadelphia Park on October 3) and did so in such
impressive fashion. As for being the (second) favorite, I don’t know what to
say. It’s going to be a very tough race.”

trainer Josie
Carroll on CARELESS JEWEL (Tapit), the 2-1 second choice in the Ladies’ Classic

“Of course I don’t like it — you never like the one hole especially with
speed horses, but they all have to break. I was hoping to get the outside and
we’re stuck in the one hole, but all the real speed is inside.”

trainer
Bob Baffert on ZENSATIONAL (Unbridled’s Song), the 7-5 favorite in the Sprint
(G1) who will break from the rail

“I’m happy. Zensational is on the inside of us and that’s just what we
wanted.”

trainer
Reade Baker on FATAL BULLET (Red Bullet), who will leave the gate from post 3

“Zensational has natural speed, and from the rail, he has to go. Fatal Bullet
should be right out there with him. The faster they go, the better for us.”

trainer
Ian Wilkes savors the prospect of a pace meltdown to suit CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN
(Candy Ride [Arg]) in the Sprint

“‘Lucky’ is a good horse. I really wasn’t sure where I wanted him, but he is
very manageable so it shouldn’t be a problem, and there’s nothing I can do about
it anyway.”

Baffert
on 8-5 Juvenile (G1) favorite LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), who is stuck out
widest of all in post 13

D’ Funnybone has reportedly progressed since the Futurity
(Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com)

“I’m very happy with our draw for D’ Funnybone (post 5). (Edgar) Prado knows
the horse very, very well. Like I keep saying, if he likes that track they’re
going to be in trouble because the light has gone on with this horse since the
Futurity (G2).”

trainer
Rick Dutrow on D’ FUNNYBONE (D’wildcat), the 5-2 second choice in the Juvenile

“She’s hung way out there, but these things are the luck of the
draw and it’s not disastrous.”

Baffert
on Juvenile Fillies (G1) contender ALWAYS A PRINCESS (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) in
post 11

“We should be able to sit wherever we want. My wife just reminded me that
Crypto Star was number eight when he won the Louisiana Derby ([G2] in 1997). A
number is just a number.”

trainer Wayne
Catalano on SHE BE WILD (Offlee Wild), who will start from post 8 in the
Juvenile Fillies

“I’m a little bit surprised. I don’t think he’ll be that short in the
betting. I think mainly because of the surface. I think some people will
question it.”

trainer Graham
Motion on BULLSBAY (Tiznow) ranking as the 3-1 second choice in the Dirt Mile
(G1)

“All we want to is to save ground, pull a good trip and come with a good run.
I love the rail for him. I’m very excited, babe.”

Dutrow on Mile
(G1) contender COURT VISION (Gulch), who will break from post 1

“His draw is excellent. You’ll remember he was drawn all the way
outside last year (finishing third after breaking from post 11). With that kind
of draw you all but ensure yourself that you’re going to have to go wide. But
the draw this time will be much, much better. I like this one a lot.”

trainer John
Sadler on WHATSTHESCRIPT (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]), who has drawn post 2 in
the Mile

“Get Funky and Noble Court are in tough spots, especially Noble Court. You
know that race features the only right-handed turn in America and you want to be
outside. But we’re inside, so we’re just going to do the best we can with it.
That’s all we can do.”

Sadler
is not as happy with the Turf Sprint draws for GET FUNKY (Straight Man), post 5,
and NOBLE COURT (Doneraile Court), post 1