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BREEDERS' CUP THEY SAID IT OCTOBER 22, 2007 "It's a terrific field for the Classic and we're glad to be part of it. It's a real treat for me to be here and stabled with Carl (Nafzger, who has Kentucky Derby [G1]winner Street Sense next to him in Barn 8). I have the greatest respect for him. The old bull rider and the ex-Marine -- we make a fine pair." —trainer John Shirreffs, whose TIAGO (Pleasant Tap) will renew rivalry with STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Classic (G1) "He's gotten bigger and stronger and he's more focused now, more into his races." —Shirreffs on Tiago, who was seventh in the Derby, third in the Belmont S. (G1), and successful in the Swaps S. (G2) and Goodwood S. (G1) most recently "She just loves a dirt surface and hates a synthetic surface. She's doing great here. This is the same sort of track that Santa Anita had before it put in Cushion Track." —trainer David Hofmans on multiple Grade 1 queen and Distaff (G1) threat BALANCE (Thunder Gulch), who is winless on Southern California's new synthetic surfaces "My dog, Happy, who I've had for eight years, is very ill. I'm not going to leave. I'll stay here (in California). I've got lots of good help at Belmont and elsewhere and I know my horses are in good hands." —Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel explains why he won't be at Monmouth "She is the filly or mare version of English Channel. She's consistent. She handles any type of ground and runs well at a mile and three-eighths to a mile-and-a-half. It's a little sad knowing that horses like English Channel and Honey Ryder may be making their last starts. They have been a big reason for the success of our barn and they will be hard to replace." —trainer Todd Pletcher praises Filly & Mare Turf (G1) contender HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) by comparing her to Turf (G1) supremo ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike); the Breeders' Cup could be their swan song "We have a strong group, but you always have to worry about Europeans in these kind of races. And it wouldn't hurt my feelings if Dylan Thomas missed the plane." —Pletcher pays due respect to European juggernaut DYLAN THOMAS (Ire) (Danehill), his chief competition in the Turf "She was not successful biting anybody this morning, but she got an A for effort. She has left a few scars around here." —Carla Gaines, trainer of unbeaten Filly & Mare Turf hopeful NASHOBA'S KEY (Silver Hawk), on her star's less endearing side "She has won on turf and Cushion Track and that deep gluey Polytrack at Del Mar. She has handled everything they have thrown at her. There will be competition from some nice fillies from Europe, but I think she's ready for that endeavor. She's trained fantastic since her last win in the Yellow Ribbon (S. [G1] on September 29)." —Gaines on Nashoba's Key's better qualities "You never want to scratch out of a race that you think you have a decent shot in. I don't think she likes soft turf, but I am sure that the turf course at Monmouth won't be as chewed up as the turf here at Belmont. It may come down to a tough decision." —Pletcher on the chances of scratching WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) from the Filly & Mare Turf if the course comes up soft "It's up to the boss (Martin Wygod) of course, but I'm fairly certain we'd be a bye-bye if they have a wet course for the race. He just won't handle it. One way or another, race or no race, the plan is that he's off to stud after Saturday." —Shirreffs is also on weather watch for Mile (G1) candidate AFTER MARKET (Storm Cat), who scratched out of the Arlington Million (G1) because of the turf condition "We had two workers out there that looked alike, and they (the clockers) gave her the other horse's time of 1:14 1/5. She has a lot of class. She couldn't be doing any better." —Hall of Fame horseman Ron McAnally sets the record straight on Juvenile Fillies (G1) hopeful IZARRA (Distorted Humor), who actually drilled six furlongs in 1:12 at Santa Anita Sunday "She's a serious horse in there. She's out of a half-sister to (2004 Classic winner and Horse of the Year Ghostzapper) so you would think she'd be able to route. She's very, very dangerous in this spot." —conditioner Rick Violette talks up his Juvenile Fillies candidate, PHANTOM INCOME (Montbrook) "We've learned over time that this horse runs very well fresh. He's on edge right now, and we'll get his nostrils flaring a little more tomorrow (with a three-furlong blow-out)." —trainer Richard Schosberg on Sprint (G1) contender ATTILA'S STORM (Forest Wildcat) "Not only did he (John Velazquez) ride him beautifully that day, he also gave us some great insight. We were down on the inside, and Johnny didn't think our horse saw Diabolical (the winner) in time. He dug in once he did, but it was too late. Based on his recommendation, we decided to open up the blinkers." —Schosberg describes the lessons learned from Attila's Storm's close runner-up effort in the A.G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) "This horse learned the game in the Ancient Title. It was his most mature race. He had horses on both sides of him, dug in and won." —trainer Cliff Sise says that IDIOT PROOF's (Bertrando) victory in the October 7 Ancient Title S. (G1) made a man of him as he heads into the Sprint "He's faster than any horse I've ever seen. We're going to the front (on Saturday). If someone goes with us, it will certainly hurt our chances, but it will cost them a lot more." —conditioner Mark Shuman leaves no doubt about the Sprint strategy for TALENT SEARCH (Catienus) "Maybe he worked a little faster than you'd want yesterday, but we feel he's at the top of his game going into the Monmouth race. I think we may have him back to the level he was at for the Cigar Mile (G1)." —Godolphin's assistant trainer Rick Mettee on DISCREET CAT (Forestry), who sizzled five-eighths in a bullet :57 2/5 on Sunday in preparation for the Dirt Mile "I still have no idea what happened in the Forego. He just didn't run." —Violette is still mystified by HIGH FINANCE's (Talk Is Money) eighth in the Forego S. (G1) last time out; the chestnut will step up a furlong for the Dirt Mile "He's a push-button individual. The race (Dirt Mile) was too good to pass over and the distance should hit him right between the eyes. He's a much better horse now than he was (when sixth) in the Haskell (Invitational S. [G1]). We would have liked to take a shot (at the Classic), but 1 1/4 miles against that sort of competition is a little much. The Dirt Mile is perfect." —Shuman on his Dirt Mile candidate XCHANGER (Exchange Rate)
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