Saint Liam, Better Talk Now Breeders' Cup bound

SAINT LIAM (Saint Ballado) and BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man) will make their

next starts on Breeders' Cup Day at Belmont Park off nice wins over that track

on Saturday.

Saint Liam turned the tables on Commentator (Distorted Humor) in Saturday's

Woodward S. (G1), scoring by two lengths after previously going down to that rival by a

neck in the Whitney H. (G1). He did have help from two "rabbits" that

trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. entered in the nine-furlong event, but didn't appear

to need any assistance while galloping out under the line ahead of Sir

Shackleton (Miswaki). Commentator finished another 12 1/2 lengths back in third.

"He came out good," Dutrow said Sunday morning. "Even though Commentator

didn't run his race and Sir Shackleton isn't one of the better horses around, I

thought our horse ran big. We're in a good spot. I just need to get him (to the

Breeders' Cup) in good shape."

Saint Liam opened his five-year-old year with an easy 3 3/4-length score in

the Donn H. (G1) before running an uncharacteristic sixth in the Santa Anita H.

(G1) next out. He returned to once again score by an easy margin, this time in the

Stephen Foster H. (G1), before finshing just a nose short to Commentator after

chasing that one throughout the 1 1/8-mile Whitney.

"He laid it all on the line in the Whitney," Dutrow said. "To chase the whole

race and still finish up was very big."

Saint Liam, who ran second by a neck to Horse of the Year Ghostzapper in last

year's Woodward, has finished off the board only once since coming to Dutrow in

late 2003. He'll make his next start in the October 29 Breeders' Cup Classic

(G1).

Better Talk Now will go for a title defense in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1)

next out after scoring by a neck in Saturday's Man o' War S. (G1). The H. Graham

Motion-trained six-year-old finished fourth in that same event last season

before his 1 3/4-length Turf triumph.

"He had a few nicks and scrapes, but nothing significant," Motion said. "He's

such a courageous horse. I thought he was impressive kicking clear of King's

Drama (Ire) (King's Theatre [Ire]) and Relaxed Gesture (Ire) (Indian Ridge). He

also proved he can win over firm ground."

Better Talk Now shipped back to Motion's base at Fair Hill Training Center in

Maryland Saturday night. The conditioner also gave his charge a "rabbit" --

Shake the Bank (Sandpit [Brz]) -- to help ensure a strong pace.

"He did his job," Motion said. "We might give him a little time off and bring

him back in a good spot."