Breeders' Cup Notes - Monday, Nov. 1

Notes for selected Arlington-raced horses for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Debussy (T) - Princess Haya of Jordan's Arlington Million winner cleared quarantine and made his first visit to the track at 10 a.m. Monday.

The 4yo Diesis colt trained by John Gosden went out for some light exercise on the main track with two other European-based horses that cleared quarantine, Delagator and Biondetti.

Debussy has won five of 15 career starts. In his most recent race, he finished third, beaten 2½ lengths in the Champion Stakes on Oct. 16 at Newmarket.

Eclair de Lune (FMT) - The German-bred filly Eclair de Lune, winner of Arlington Park's Beverly D. in her last start, went for a 1m jog Monday morning at Churchill Downs .

With exercise rider Archie Cross (son of former trainer Richard Cross) aboard, the bay 4yo headed out of Barn 41 with Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally walking behind her.

"We're just keeping her busy from here on out," the veteran conditioner noted, in from his Southern California headquarters for his filly's run in Friday's Filly & Mare Turf.

"We worked her a mile (1:39) back home (Hollywood Park) before we came out (Oct. 24). She's ready to run in this race. We've got to be concerned about several of the others in there, especially that European filly (defending champion Midday), but she's ready to do her thing."

Junior Alvarado, who was up when she captured the Beverly D., will be back aboard for her Breeders' Cup start.

Hot Cha Cha (FMT) - Nelson McMakin's Filly and Mare Turf contender Hot Cha Cha, one of the few Breeders' Cup horses who still remained off the grounds on Monday, jogged a half-mile and galloped 1 1/4m at Keeneland.

Trainer Phil Sims said the 4yo daughter of Cactus Ridge would train over the Lexington track Tuesday morning, then would van to Churchill Downs.

"She's pretty easy to deal with, no problems," Sims said. "I wish they were all like that."

Hot Cha Cha won the Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill on June 5, and although that was her last victory, she was third in the July 17 Modesty Handicap at Arlington, second in that track's Beverly D. on Aug. 21 and third in the Oct 10 Spinster behind Ladies' Classic contender Acoma.    

Sims said the filly's last work, a 5f move in 1:00 flat over the turf at Keeneland on Oct. 30, set her up perfectly for her upcoming race.

"She finished up really well, did it easy, just in hand," Sims said. "The rider had a hard time pulling her up."

The trainer said James Graham, who has been aboard in the filly's last nine starts (including a win in the 2009 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland), will have the mount.

Chamberlain Bridge (TS) - The Bret Calhoun trainee galloped 1 ½ m Monday morning, back on track after an abscess in his right front foot caused him to miss a work that was scheduled for Oct. 30. A 6yo gelding, he's still targeting a start in the Turf Sprint in spite of the abscess that was discovered Oct. 29 and treated over the weekend.

"He went back to the track yesterday and jogged a mile the wrong way," Calhoun said. "He just got through galloping this morning and everything's good; I think we're back close to that 100 percent. Missing the work doesn't bother me at all. The main thing is having that foot 100 percent for Saturday and it looks like we can get that done."

In his last start, the son of War Chant ran fourth in the Oct. 9 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland after missing the break. He had strung together a three-race win streak before that, with victories in the June 26 Arlington Sprint at Arlington Park, the July 31 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap at Penn National, and Sept. 6 Turf Monster Handicap at Philadelphia Park.  

"He turned his head when they kicked them and he was late behind the last horse," Calhoun said. "He had to go wide and make up a lot of ground and I thought it actually was a pretty good race; he was fourth beaten only a length and a half. (Jockey) Jamie (Theriot) really didn't ask him to run down the lane because we knew we had this race coming and we really weren't going to win that one after getting left at the gate. So I was disappointed that he got himself left which caused him to get beat, but overall it was a pretty good race."

Calhoun said he feels his horse is ready for a start, regardless of the minor foot issue.

"He didn't need the breeze, he's fit and ready, we're not worried about that at all," he said. "It probably would have made me feel better than him. We were unlucky that the abscess happened but we were lucky that it was far enough out and abscessed quickly instead of brewing in there and not coming out. It could have been a real issue but we had enough time to get over it."

Giant Oak (Mar) - In his final major preparation for Friday's Breeders' Cup Marathon, Virginia H. Tarra Trust's Giant Oak fired a bullet 5f work over a fast main on Sunday track at Hawthorne in 1:00 3/5.

"His main work was the week before," trainer Chris Block said of the 1m move in 1:41 3/5 on Oct. 24 at Hawthorne. "This one was just for maintenance, but I've never seen him work by himself like that. It was a very good move. He's usually a little lazy in the morning."

Giant Oak will van from Cicero, Ill. to Churchill on Tuesday, and Garrett Gomez has been named to ride.

"He's one of the best in the world," Block said of Gomez. "I've always wanted him to ride this horse, and I wasn't going to pass up on the chance. His aggressiveness in the saddle is a big plus."

Jordy Y (JF) - Trainer Wayne Catalano said Monday morning that, after conferring with owners Darrell and Evelyn Yates, he is "90 percent certain" that Jordy Y will run in the Juvenile Fillies. She has second preference in the Juvenile Fillies turf.

She's only run on Polytrack so far, but she may be a dirt horse," Catalano said. "Her pedigree is more dirt than anything. From different camps around the track, I'm hearing that the turf race might be coming up a little tougher than the dirt. She worked really good on turf (Oct. 25 at Keeneland). I could go either way, but Mr. Yates is leaning strongly toward the dirt."

In her final major preparation for Friday's Juvenile Fillies, the 2yo daughter of Congrats went 5f in 1:02 1/5 with Robby Albarado aboard.

"She worked very well, I could have had her go a little bit faster, but she got a lot out of it," Catalano said.

Catalano said that Joel Rosario will pilot Jordy Y in Friday's Juvenile Fillies.

"His agent Ronnie Ebanks is a personal friend of mine," Catalano said of Rosario. "He's riding very well and has won some big races in California. We could do a lot worse."

Major Gain (JT) - In his final major preparation for Saturday's Juvenile Turf, Gary and Mary West's Major Gain covered 6f over Churchill's firm turf course on Friday with Michael Baze up in 1:17 1/5, around the "dogs."

"He has the pedigree for the turf," trainer Wayne Catalano said. "I talked to the owners, and we decided we would work him on the grass. If he worked well, we'd run him in the grass race. He's done it twice, and handled it real good. On Friday he was a little slow early on, but he finished up real good and galloped out strong. He came running at the end like he was supposed to."

Major Gain got his last quarter-mile of Friday's breeze in 23 4/5 and galloped out 7f in 1:30 4/5.

After much deliberation, Catalano announced Monday afternoon that Robby Albarado would pilot Major Gain in Saturday's Juvenile Turf.

Informed Decision (FMS) - The defending Filly & Mare Sprint champion worked 4f in 47 4/5 at Churchill Downs Monday morning under Julien Leparoux, who will have the return mount on Friday.

"Apparently, it went fine. I couldn't see anything," said trainer Jonathan Sheppard. "Julien was happy."

Informed Decision was victorious at Santa Anita last year, edging defending champion Ventura by a little more than a length.

Paddy O'Prado (C), Donegal Racing's multiple stakes-winner walked the shedrow of Romans' barn on Monday and will return to the track on Tuesday to jog. The El Prado colt completed preparations for the Classic on Saturday with a 5f workout in 1:01 on Saturday.

Paddy O'Prado had been pre-entered in both the Turf and Classic, but his connections have opted for the Classic.

"It was a breeding decision," said Romans. "He's already proved he can run on turf. If he proves can run well in here on dirt, it will really increase his stud value. He ran well on the dirt in the Kentucky Derby and it's not like the Turf was going to be an easier race. Realistically, we felt he has as good a chance in the Classic as we would have in the Turf."

Regular rider Kent Desormeaux keeps the mount in the Classic.

Gio Ponti (Likely Mile) - Gio Ponti, who finished second in last year's Classic, galloped over Belmont Park's main track this morning.  Gio Ponti was pre-entered in both the Classic and Mile this year.

"He's doing great, really excited about running him Saturday," trainer Christophe Clement said.  "He's leaving (for Kentucky) Tuesday."

Jockey Ramon Dominguez has the mount.

"I've never had a horse like him," Clement said.  "He's been top class at two, three, four and five.  He's a pleasure to be around."