Wise Dan departs for Mile defense; Mitchell trying to keep Obviously 'happy'

Wise Dan departs for Mile defense; Mitchell trying to keep

Obviously 'happy'

"I just want to keep him happy," Mitchell said. "He's doing great and we know

what our plan is. We've just got to get him to Saturday."

At the draw for post positions Monday, Mitchell made the point that it really

didn't matter much for Obviously, who regular rider Joe Talamo discovered likes

it best of all when he's given his head away from the gate and simply allowed to

fire with his sprinter speed that has carried well at eight furlongs.

"There's only one way for us to go," the trainer said. "We know it and so

does everyone else. Catch us if you can."

In addition to Silver Max, Romans will start defending champion Little Mike

in the Turf, Cleburne in the Juvenile and Suns Out Guns Out in the Marathon.

Za Approval, who was bred and is owned by Charlotte Weber's operation

comprising Live Oak Stud and Live Oak Plantation, was sent out for a routine 1

1/4-mile gallop Tuesday morning at Belmont Park and then boarded the plane as

part of the East Coast contingent of Breeders' Cup hopefuls.

The gray gelding will make his first Breeders' Cup appearance in the Mile.

"All systems are go. He'll be there this afternoon and will be out on the

track tomorrow morning," said Christophe Lorieul, assistant to trainer

Christophe Clement.

The five-year-old son of 2004 Horse of the Year and Breeders' Cup Classic

winner Ghostzapper exits a sharp score in the October 12 Knickerbocker at

Belmont, his third Grade 3 success of the year. He's also been second in a pair

of Grade 1s this year.

Trainer Jorge Gutierrez explained Tuesday why Bright Thought, a four-year-old

colt who set a world record for 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita in March,

will be making his first start in more than seven months in the Breeders' Cup

Mile.

"He had the tip of his splintbone broken in his last race, and we removed

it," said Gutierrez, explaining the layoff. "We were just getting him ready to

run, and he came along quickly; quickly enough to go a mile, but not yet longer,

certainly not a mile and a half.

"We didn't have many other places to go, so we're going to give it a try and

see what happens. It's a tough spot. I feel bad throwing him to the wolves but

I've got to get him ready. He won here at a mile on the turf and he's tight

enough to run a good race."

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