Breeders' Cup Backstretch Snapshots

Greetings from Churchill Downs, two days out from the 2011 Breeders' Cup World Championships!

It was a chilly morning in Louisville as I roamed the barns, talking with trainers of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IIT) contenders, but those frigid early hours have melted into a beautiful and mild afternoon. I thought I would share a few snapshots from this morning:

Pearl the goat all bundled up

BC Classic contender Havre de Grace, surveying the track before her gallop

Trainer Larry Jones aboard Havre de Grace

Exercise rider Shannon aboard her track pony "Louie"

Exercise rider Chase Miller with Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint contender Havelock

Early morning backstretch scene

New Zealand-bred BC Turf contender Hoofit, in trainer Graham Motion's barn

Morning bath time