Trainers talk about Breeders’ Cup hopefuls

Norman Casse is really high on Pool Play’s chances in the Classic (Cecilia Gustavsson/Horsephotos.com)

A number of trainers spoke of their runners for the 2012 Breeders’ Cup races
taking place at Santa Anita on Friday and Saturday.

Norman Casse, son and assistant to trainer Mark Casse, assessed the barn’s
chances for this year’s World Championships.

“This year we have come into the Breeders’ Cup, probably, better than we ever
have (with 10 previous starters). Every one of our five horses (Pool Play,
Classic; Delegation, Dirt Mile; Dynamic Sky, Juvenile; Spring in the Air,
Juvenile Fillies; Spring Venture, Juvenile Fillies Turf) has trained extremely
well and there have not been any hiccups. We feel as though we are live in every
race.

“The main reason we ran Pool Play on the dirt, other than the fact he likes
it and trained well on it, is that most Polytrack or turf route races typically
have slow early fractions and that compromises a horse with a late kick, and
he’s got a late kick, obviously.

“We’ve always wanted to get him on the dirt when he’d get more pace to run
at. He hasn’t had that yet. He won the (Grade 1) Stephen Foster (in 2011), even
though that had a modest pace to run at.

Dreaming of Julia will put her perfect mark on the line in the Juvenile Fillies (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

Trainer Todd Pletcher has nine horses entered in Breeders’ Cup events, but is
looking forward to one in particular.

“Obviously we’re pretty excited about most of our horses, but the Juvenile
with Shanghai Bobby is a race that looks to be really important in terms of his
ability and potential,” he said. “We don’t worry about that Juvenile-Derby jinx
talk. We just want to get him through this race in good shape and worry about
what happens later — well later.

“He’s progressed perfectly, going farther each race and stepping up in class.
We’re not concerned about the Lasix issue or the two turns. We’ll just wait and
see how it all plays out.

“We also are pretty excited about the two Juvenile Fillies (Kauai Katie and
Dreaming of Julia). That should be a great race. We’ve had some horses out here
for several weeks like Love and Pride (Ladies’ Classic), and we’re hoping that
strategy pays off.”

Trainer Steve Asmussen knows it will be tough to duplicate last year when he
won the Juvenile Fillies with My Miss Aurelia and Turf Sprint with Regally
Ready, but all six of his runners are giving him every indication they are ready
to run big. My Miss Aurelia, who is a perfect six-for-six, is among a tough
field entered in Friday’s Ladies’ Classic.

“We’re getting excited now and ready to get the weekend started,” Asmussen
said. “We’re just hoping for safe, clean trips for all our horses. They’ve all
had really good weeks and done what they needed to do.”

Asmussen has just the one starter Friday, but five runners on Saturday —
Tapizar (Dirt Mile), Justin Phillip (Sprint), Dust and Diamonds (Filly & Mare
Sprint), Great Mills (Turf Sprint) and Unbridled’s Note (Turf Sprint).

Know More will enter the Juvenile Turf owning just one win (Cecilia Gustavsson/Horsephotos.com)

“Everything is going great and we’re ready to roll,” O’Neill said. “I’m so
pumped.

“I think both horses in the Classic have huge chances,” he added in regard to
Richard’s Kid and Handsome Mike. “I think Know More and He’s Had Enough have
huge chances too (in the Juvenile Turf and Juvenile, respectively).”

Trainer Tom Albertrani will saddle two runners on Saturday, sending out
Brilliant Speed in the Classic and Belle of the Hall in the Filly & Mare Sprint.

“With Brilliant Speed I’m just going to go by the way the horse is training.
To me he’s training as well as ever. He looks exceptionally well. He looks like
he’s at the top of his game right now, so it makes me more confident. We
actually got a pretty good draw the six-hole right next to Game on Dude. I know
there’s going to be pace there.

“If we’re in a good stalking position with a good clean trip I think we’ll
hopefully be laying about five lengths off the leaders into the first turn.
Hopefully he’ll improve his position as he goes. It’s Game on Dude’s home turf,
so he has something of a home-field advantage. Obviously, we think we have a
chance.”