I love Indian Blessing as a horse but unless the field came up very weak (highly unlikely) I wouldnt give her much of a chance. I think the chances are slim and none of Baffert even attempting such a race with her.

The Cigar Mile will be a very popular race for East Coast based sprinters and mid distance types this year, with the BC being out West on synthetics.

Listen I dont have pps but she never did anything wrong at 8-8.5 furlongs, she did get gunned down by Proud Spell who went on to become CHAMPION. Then they turned her into a sprinter. Her Acorn was really good, especially if Zatfig is as good as everyone on here thinks she was.

SUNDAY'S CUP PROSPECT WORKOUTS

Beautician Juvenile Fillies Oak Tree At Santa Anita Five Furlongs 59:00
Black Astor Marathon Oak Tree At Santa Anita Six Furlongs 1.11:60
Blind Luck *Juvenile Fillies Oak Tree At Santa Anita Six Furlongs 1.11:80
Bridgetown *Juvenile Turf Oak Tree At Santa Anita Three Furlongs 36:00
Cocoa Beach (CHI) Ladies Classic Oak Tree At Santa Anita Four Furlongs 47:60
Evita Argentina F & M Sprint Oak Tree At Santa Anita Six Furlongs 1.12:60
Fatal Bullet *Sprint Oak Tree At Santa Anita Five Furlongs 58:80
Ferneley (IRE) *Mile Oak Tree At Santa Anita Six Furlongs 1.13:00
Gran Estreno (ARG) *Classic Keeneland Five Furlongs 1.02:00
Magical Fantasy *F & M Turf Oak Tree At Santa Anita Five Furlongs 1.01:20
Medici Code (GB) Turf Oak Tree At Santa Anita Five Furlongs 1.02:20
Misremembered Dirt Mile/Classic Oak Tree At Santa Anita Six Furlongs 1.11:80
Much Obliged F & M Turf Woodbine Four Furlongs 48:00 View Workouts
Proviso (GB) Ladies Classic Hollywood Park Four Furlongs 49:60
Pulsion Juvenile Oak Tree At Santa Anita Six Furlongs 1.15:40
Silver Timber Turf Sprint Keeneland Four Furlongs 48:60
Ventura *Mile Hollywood Park Six Furlongs 1.12:20

McPEEK SHOVING CONNIE AND MICHAEL INTO BC JUVY FILLY PICTURE...

http://www.drf.com/news/article/108283.html

Already expected to have a chance to win the $2 million Juvenile Fillies with Beautician, trainer Ken McPeek hopes to increase his chances if he can get Connie and Michael into the race as well. Connie and Michael was an impressive 7 3/4-length maiden winner last Saturday at Keeneland, running seven furlongs in 1:22.74 while hardly being asked by Kent Desormeaux. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. She was the 5-2 favorite in a field of 12.

"She's trained like a good horse from the beginning," McPeek said. "She acts like she could be a good thing. I'm reluctant to run against myself, but it's probably the right thing to do. I think we got a good shot to win this with one or the other."

McPeek did say that Robby Albarado would ride Beautician in the Juvenile Fillies. Albarado guided Beautician to a maiden win at Churchill, while Desormeaux has ridden her in her last three starts. Desormeaux would ride Connie and Michael if she gets into the race.

[]LEADING 3-YEAR-OLD ECLIPSE CANDIDATE SUMMER BIRD DRILLS FIVE FURLONGS; DESORMEAUX FLYS IN FROM NEW YORK FOR DRILL; TRAINER ICE “SUPER HAPPY”

“The work was great,” trainer Tim Ice said after Summer Bird’s drill. “This was exactly what we wanted. He looked super getting over the track and he’s been getting over it very well ever since we got here. Kent had a ton of horse under him and he just let him work on his own, within himself. I’m super-happy with how he’s trained here and how he’s handled everything. We’ll walk tomorrow and he’ll go back to the track Tuesday morning.”
[/quote]

This sounds very reminescent of what Ice said before the Belmont and the Travers. If he runs well he has more than made a strong case for HOY.

This sounds very reminescent of what Ice said before the Belmont and the Travers. If he runs well he should be HOY.[/quote]

So now he doesn't even have to win to be HOY?

NT

So now he doesn't even have to win to be HOY?

NT[/quote]

If he runs well and wins.

BTW Nick, on another note what is your general feeling of Rachel of not having run since the 1st week of Sept, you think that's going to hurt her if Summer Bird does win and runs well, that may be fresher in people's minds. Is this possible in your opinion?

If he runs well and wins.

BTW Nick, on another note what is your general feeling of Rachel of not having run since the 1st week of Sept, you think that's going to hurt her if Summer Bird does win and runs well, that may be fresher in people's minds. Is this possible in your opinion?[/quote]

I think she's going to be very tough to beat in the HOY race. I knew that you probably meant SB needs to win.

I'm not the biggest Summer Bird fan around but I'd love to see him beat Zenyatta.

NT

I think she's going to be very tough to beat in the HOY race. I knew that you probably meant SB needs to win.

I'm not the biggest Summer Bird fan around but I'd love to see him beat Zenyatta.

NT[/quote]

I know people will look at my comments with a grain of salt since I made my bed with Summer Bird a long time ago but I admire more a horse that has run for the entire season (Mar - Nov) that is still banging out races and trying to earn the honor for HOY, there is just something commendable about that IMO. RA would be a deserving horse for HOY any year, but I find her connections stopping in the 1st week of Sept somewhat presumptious and they are taking somewhat of a leap if they think HOY is locked up. If they had decided to run in the JCGC I would say they would have more than deserved HOY if she would have won, but as it stands I think they left the door wide open for someone to step on through that door snatching HOY right under their noses by simply taking the position of competing against the best competition and by going all the way till the end of the season.

Anyone know how Girolamo looked in his work yesterday? I hate the idea that he's even out there - I would much prefer that he be pointed towards the Cigar Mile - but I guess they insist on pushing forward with him unless he dislikes the synthetic. Thanks!

Add Lilly Langtry (AOB)...

$5 million Breeders' Cup Classic

Awesome Gem (Dollase) [1]
Colonel John (Harty) [1]
Einstein (Pitts-Blasi)
Girolamo (bin Suroor) [1]
Gio Ponti (Clement)
Mine That Bird (Woolley)
Quality Road (Pletcher) [1]
Regal Ransom (bin Suroor) [1]
Richard's Kid (Baffert)
Rip Van Winkle (O'Brien)
Summer Bird (Ice) [1]
Twice Over (Cecil)
Zenyatta (Shirreffs) [1]
Bullsbay (Motion) [2]
Chocolate Candy (Hollendorfer) [2]
Mastercraftsman [2]


$3 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf

Allegre (Chambers)
Conduit (Stoute)
Dar Re Mi (Gosden) [1]
Monzante (Mitchell) [1]
Precious Passion (Hartman)
Red Rocks (Meehan)
Spanish Moon (Stoute)
Telling (Hobby)
Summer Bird (Ice) [2]


$2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Mile

Courageous Cat (Mott)
Court Vision (Dutrow)
Cowboy Cal (Pletcher)
Delegator (Meehan)
Ferneley (Cecil)
Gladitorius (bin Shafya)
Goldikova (Head)
Justenuffhumor (McLaughlin)
Karelian (Arnold)
Mr. Sidney (Mott) [1]
Whatsthescript (Sadler)
Zacinto (Stoute)
Awesome Gem (Dollase) [2]
Colonel John (Harty) [2]


$2 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint

Capt. Candyman Can (Wilkes)
Cost of Freedom (Sadler)
Crown of Thorns (Mandella) [2]
Dancing in Silks (Gaines) [1]
Fatal Bullet (Baker)
Fleeting Spirit (Noseda) [1]
Gayego (bin Suroor)
Join in the Dance (Pletcher) [1]
Kodiak Kowboy (Asmussen)
Square Eddie (O'Neill) [2]
Zensational (Baffert)


$2 million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Aikenite (Pletcher)
Alfred Nobel (O'Brien) [1]
Aspire (Kenneally)
Awesome Act (Noseda) [2]
Beethoven (O'Brien) [1]
Buzzword (bin Suroor) [2]
Dave in Dixie (Sadler)
D' Funnybone (R. Dutrow)
Eskendereya (Pletcher) [1]
Fist of Rage (McPeek) [1]
Gallant Gent (C. Lewis)
Lookin at Lucky (Baffert)
Mint Chip (Arnold)
Noble's Promise (McPeek)
Piscatelli (Sacco)
Pounced (Gosden)
Pulsion (Biancone)
Radiohead (Meehan) [1]
Vale of York (bin Suroor) [1]
William's Kitten (Maker)


$1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

Bullsbay (Motion) [1]
Cherokee Artist (Motion)
Chocolate Candy (Hollendorfer) [1]
Cowboy Cal (Pletcher) [2]
Crown of Thorns (Mandella) [1]
El Gato Malo (Dollase) [2]
Furthest Land (Maker)
Girolamo (bin Suroor) [2]
Join in the Dance (Pletcher) [2]
Karelian (Arnold) [2]
Mambo Meister (Gleaves)
Mastercraftsman (O'Brien) [1]
Midshipman (bin Suroor)
Mr. Sidney (Mott) [2]
Monzante (Mitchell) [2]
Pyro (bin Suroor)
Quality Road (Pletcher) [2]
Ready's Echo (Pletcher)
Regal Ransom (bin Suroor) [2]
Sweet Hearth (de Royer-Dupre) [1]


$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Awesome Act (Noseda) [1]
Becky's Kitten (Ward)
Bridgetown (McPeek)
Buzzword (bin Suroor)
Codoy (Hubley)
Dean's Kitten (Maker)
Eskendereya (Pletcher) [2]
Fist of Rage (McPeek) [2]
Gallant Gent (C. Lewis)
Interactif (Pletcher)
Kera's Kitten (Maker)
King Ledley (Prendergast)
Mint Chip (Arnold)
Oasis Dancer (Beckett)
Pounced (Gosden)
Raging Wit (Mott)
Summer Movie (Sherman)
Vale of York (bin Suroor) [2]
Viscount Nelson (O'Brien)
Zip Quik (Biancone)


$1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

California Flag (Koriner)
Canadian Ballet (Rice)
Cannonball (Ward/Dominguez)
Cherokee Hweavan (Jones)
Dancing in Silks (Gaines) [2]
Delta Storm (Mitchell)
Desert Code (Hofmans)
Diamondrella (Penna)
El Gato Malo (Dollase) [1]
Fleeting Spirit (Noseda) [2]
Game Face (Pletcher) [2]
Get Funky (Sadler)
Gotta Have Her (Sahadi)
Lethal Heat (Abrams) [1]
Lord Shanakill (Jarvis)
Noble Court (Sadler)
Only Green (Head) [1]
Silver Timber (C. Brown)
Square Eddie (O'Neill) [1]
Strike the Deal (Noseda)
Tenga Cat (Ellis)
Yankee Injunuity (McMullen)


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


$2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff

Careless Jewel (J. Carroll)
Cocoa Beach (bin Suroor)
Life is Sweet (Shirreffs)
Mushka (Mott)
Music Note (bin Suroor)
Proviso (Frankel)
Rainbow View (Gosden) [1]
Zenyatta (Shirreffs) [2]
Lethal Heat (Abrams) [2]


$2 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Dar Re Mi (Gosden) [2]
Dynaforce (Mott)
Forever Together (Sheppard)
Magical Fantasy (Gallagher)
Maram (C. Brown)
Midday (Cecil)
Pure Clan (Holthus)
Rainbow View (Gosden) [2]
Rutheriene (Clement)
Visit (Frankel)


$2 million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Always a Princess (Baffert)
Beautician (McPeek)
Bickersons (Breen)
Biofuel (Baker)
Blind Luck (Hollendorfer)
Champagne d'Oro (Guillot) [1]
Connie and Michael (McPeek) [1]
Devil May Care (Pletcher)
Ms. Vananenzza (Vasquez)
Negligee (Terranova)
She Be Wild (Catalano)
Zilva (Motion) [2]


$1 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Allicansayiswow (Biancone)
Evita Argentina (Sadler)
Free Flying Soul (Headley)
Game Face (Pletcher) [1]
Informed Decision (Sheppard)
Only Green (Head)
Sara Louise (bin Suroor)
Seventh Street (bin Suroor)
Silver Swallow (Headley)
Sweet Hearth (de Royer-Dupre) [2]
Ventura (Frankel)


$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Champagne d'Oro (Guillot) [2]
Connie and Michael (McPeek) [2]
Dad's Crazy (Pletcher)
Elusive Galaxy (Lyons)
Hatheer (McLaughlin)
House of Grace (McPeek)
In the Slips (Cole)
Jungletale (Asmussen)
Junia Tepzia (Schiergen/Fallon)
La Nez (Kruljac)
Lillie Langtry (O'Brien)
Lisa's Kitten (Maker)
Potosina (Shuman)
Rose Catherine (Pletcher)
Smart Seattle (Motion)
Tapitsfly (Romans)
You'll Be Mine (O'Brien)
Zilva (Motion) [1]


$500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon

Black Astor (L. Lewis)
Cloudy's Knight (Sheppard)
Eldaafer (Alvarado)
Father Time (Cecil)
Gangbuster (K. Desormeaux)
Man of Iron (O'Brien)
Mastery (bin Suroor)
Muhannak (Beckett)
Nite Light (Pletcher)
On Fire (Abrams)
Sir Dave (Carava)

So excited to bet him if he lands here when they take final entries.

So how long before a brother can get some free PPs from Brisnet for these?

I have a fundamental belief right or wrong I will sink or swim with... but I firmly believe European trainers are better at getting their horses fit for stamina type of races, a marathon over there is 2 miles + hard to believe but 1 3/4 might be a cut back for some horses over there.

While your theory may work in general, I think it has no bearing on any conversation involving Jonathan Sheppard, whose training style is as stamina-oriented as anyone's.

I think breeding has more to do with the distance limitations than the trainer.

Yeah he's the exception, he's a Brit so he's got that type of mentality.

Probably you need a little of both, one guy I do like in NA marathon races is Mike Mitchell, he seems to do well. However I am not sure if that is more juice related or training. He has had his share of good distance horses thru the yrs.