[Kasept]

From scintillating to somnambulant.. After Sunday's workout treats, we're getting Halloween morning tricks with Breeders' Cup contenders turning in a series of nearly identical half mile moves during session one. All of the following breezed:

CEASE (Marathon): Went in :51.0..

SEEKER (Marathon): Went in :50.2..

SUM OF THE PARTS (Juvenile Sprint): Moved nicely getting half in :49.2 with a steady flow and solid gallop out. Perhaps a good addition to exotics list in inaugural running..

MY MISS AURELIA (Juv. Fillies): Half in :49.3 in smooth enough fashion..

WILBURN (Dirt Mile): Was hoping for something flashy from handsome soph but got a blah half of :49.4 with second half a little slower than first..

TAPIZAR (Dirt Mile): And yet another Asmussen camp yawner with :49.2 half and almost no gallop out at all shutting down before the 7/8th's..

BIG DRAMA (Sprint): Most important drill of early session with defending Sprint champ going encouragingly in :12.2, 25.0, :49.1 (official distance of work), out in 1:02.3 and even a little of double out in 1:16.4. Was going easily and showed no sign of aches and pains that have reportedly been dogging him. I get the feeling it will strictly be a matter of how he feels on raceday as to how serious a chance he has to repeat. As much respect as I have for David Fawkes, it's hard to be supremely confident that the Montbrook 5yo is as ready for Saturday's challenge as he was a year ago going postward off 4 starts at Calder and Saratoga June-September..