By Steve Sherack
ARCADIA, CA – With the rising sun and San Gabriel Mountains providing a spectacular backdrop, McKinzie (Street Sense), Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) and Dennis' Moment (Tiznow) were some of the big names spotted in action on a crisp Monday morning at Santa Anita.
Welcome to Breeders' Cup week!
'TDN Rising Star' and four-time Grade I winner McKinzie came rolling off the far turn beneath J.C. Diaz to the sound of clicking cameras in his final major preparations for the $6-million Classic just a tick before 8:00 a.m. He completed his five-furlong move in a bullet 1:00.20 (1/41).
With co-owner Jeff Bloom in attendance, Distaff headliner and Horse of the Year candidate Midnight Bisou got down to business much earlier breezing just before dawn, gliding over the surface beautifully with exercise rider Angel Garcia aboard through an easy four furlongs in :50.80 (35/45).
Her Hall of Fame companion Mike Smith was in demand later in the morning, granting interviews while taking in the action at the WinStar and Fasig-Tipton Breeders' Cup Trackside Breakfast Marquee.
'TDN Rising Star' Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo), a jaw-dropping debut winner sprinting for Simon Callaghan with a flashy 91 Beyer at Santa Anita last month, certainly made her presence felt bouncing off the track with terrific energy. She heads straight to the deep end in the Juvenile Fillies.
Affable Santa Anita and Monmouth Park track announcer Frank Mirahmadi and retired Hall of Fame reinsmen Gary Stevens were among the growing crowd enjoying the action at Clocker's Corner while the news began to swirl about the late defection of European super filly Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from this year's Championships.
Trainer Carla Gaines and her Labrador Retriever sidekick Louie, meanwhile, made their rounds through the apron. Gaines will be represented by the popular 7-year-old Bolo (Temple City) in the Mile, who miraculously returned from nearly a two-year hiatus due to a tendon injury to capture the GI Shoemaker Mile at 32-1 in late May.
Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze), upset winner of the GI Woody Stephens S., certainly stood out on the crowded track, equipped with red reins and a pair of matching front wraps. The sophomore takes on his elders in the Sprint.
Trainer Brendan Walsh looked on as the talented Godolphin homebred and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity hero Maxfield (Street Sense) galloped smartly ahead of the Juvenile.
He'll be met by 'TDN Rising Star' Dennis' Moment, who also strutted his stuff with a powerful-looking gallop for 1 5/8 miles under the watchful eye of trainer Dale Romans as training hours began to wind down just after 9 a.m. For more on the potential Juvenile favorite and owner Dennis Albaugh, stay tuned to TDN's Breeders' Cup Friday Special Preview Edition.
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