nov 2 - gentle spin for hurricane

Better Talk Now: - Better Talk Now galloped 1 3/8 m under Lisa Davidson over the Churchill Downs turf course Thursday morning in preparation for his third straight appearance in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf.

The winner of the 2004 Turf at Lone Star Park scored a narrow victory in the Sky Classic Stakes at Woodbine in his most recent start after finishing off the board in the Arlington Million and the United Nations at Monmouth Park.

"We decided to run in Canada because we wanted to get him into the winner's circle again," said trainer Graham Motion, whose 7yo gelding launched his four-race 2006 campaign with a win in the Dixie Handicap on Preakness Day at Pimlico.

Better Talk Now broke his maiden over the Churchill Downs turf course on July 6, 2002, in his last start before being purchased by Bushwood Stables and turned over to Motion.

"I guess it's encouraging," said Motion, whose former Turf champion hasn't run at Churchill since his maiden victory. "It's a sign that he likes it here."

Better Talk Now, who finished seventh in the Turf at Belmont last year, hasn't lost his trainer's confidence in him.

"If he's lost a step, I don't see it," Motion said. "Maybe after he runs Saturday I'll say, 'OK, he has lost a step,' but I haven't seen it."

Cacique: - The Irish blueblood was on the main track after the break to gallop 1 ½ m under exercise rider Jose Cuevas.

Trainer Robert Frankel watched his charge - a 5yo by Danehill out of the outstanding broodmare Hasili - go through his exercises on a chilly morning in Louisville.

All of Cacique's races have come on the turf, and he normally trains there, too. Frankel was asked about working him on the wet main track at Churchill Downs the last few days.

"He'll run on anything," the Hall of Fame conditioner said. "(Wednesday) was the first time I ever trained him in the mud. I don't think I would have done that if this wasn't his last race coming up Saturday.

"If the course comes up 'soft' Saturday, that'll be fine with me. He runs good on the 'soft,' and I'm not sure all the others do. There's not much that will stop this horse from running his race. He just needs a good run at them."

Cacique, who'll be making his seventh U.S. start in the Turf after 11 outings in Europe, will be handled by Edgar Prado.

English Channel: - The 4yo Smart Strike colt drew post 10 for the Turf, and is the only one of trainer Todd Pletcher's record 17 Breeders' Cup entrants that did not have a lucky draw.

"We didn't do too bad at all in the draw, except for English Channel," Pletcher said. "Hopefully, going a mile-and-a-half and going three turns, he will be able to tuck in and set up his run."

Go Deputy: - Go Deputy jogged at Churchill Downs and was scheduled school in the paddock later Thursday.

"He has a pretty solid record, and he's a Grade I winner," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "He earned his way into this race."

Icy Atlantic: - Icy Atlantic jogged this morning and will have a like program on Friday. "He has only one mission, and that is to get to the lead and create a target for English Channel," trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Hurricane Run: - The well-traveled 4yo broke from the gate Thursday morning to get him used to hearing the starting bell, and then had an easy gallop once around the course.

Andre Fabre trains the son of Montjeu, who has raced in Ireland, England and France this year. Hurricane Run, winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last year, will be ridden Saturday by Christophe Soumillon, who was aboard in the colt's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July. He goes from post seven in the Turf.

Fabre is not expected to be on hand for Saturday's race.

Red Rocks: - The handsome Irish-bred colt went out in company with stablemate David Junior Thursday morning as trainer Brian Meehan had them school in the paddock and then canter 5f on the main track.

"Red Rocks is a bit of a baby compared to David Junior," Meehan said. "He's (Red Rocks) a 3-year-old and I wanted him to get a good look around today. He's been doing very well since he got here.

"He drew post nine, which is a good spot for him to start. Frankie Dettori knows him well, so I'm very happy about his chances."

The 3yo son of Galileo will be looking for his first graded stakes victory in the Turf Saturday. Dettori was aboard in the colt's maiden score in April, and was second on Red Rocks at Longchamp and Ascot during the summer.

Rush Bay: - The Churchill-loving 4yo, who has won three of four starts over the track's turf course, galloped 1 ½ m and schooled in both the paddock and gate. He is one of two starters for trainer Tom Amoss, who also has Baghdaria in the Distaff.

"He's fine," said Amoss. "Both my horses had good mornings."

Scorpion: - Trainer Aidan O'Brien will send his Turf hopeful to the track Friday morning after leaving him in the Quarantine Barn on a chilly Thursday.

"He gets the mile-and-a-half real well," O'Brien said. "He made the running in the St Leger in heavy ground even though Frankie (Dettori) said he hated the ground. When he went to France the race before and broke the track record (Grand Prix de Paris), he more or less made the running that day.

"I imagine Mick (Kinane) won't mind making it (going to the lead) on Saturday and he'll set a nice even pace. It will make it a genuine mile-and-a-half race for the horses behind. If we set it up for Hurricane Run, so be it. The hard part is if you get beat for tactical reasons in a falsely run race."

Silverfoot: - Since recovering from a minor leg injury, the 6yo gelding has shown trainer Dallas Stewart that he is returning to form.

Silverfoot is a three-time winner of the Louisville Handicap and is unbeaten in four starts on the grass at Churchill Downs.

"He's a very solid performer,' Stewart said. "He ran well in the United Nations this year, but didn't run that well in the Sword Dancer, just OK. He's capable of better. The last time he ran was in the Kentucky Cup and he didn't run very well. The track was not to his liking. He bruised his foot a little bit. But he seems to be doing fine. He's had two good works."

Silverfoot had a routine gallop of 1 ¼ m Thursday and schooled in the paddock.

T. H. Approval: - Trainer Eduardo Inda had owner Tadahiro Hotehama and family in tow to watch their Breeders' Cup Turf hopeful - the 5yo With Approval horse T.H. Approval - go through a gallop on the Churchill Downs turf course shortly after it opened for business at 9:30 Thursday morning.

The marathon specialist had exercise rider Edmundo Cedeno aboard for the exercise and they covered about a 1 ½ m by the time they were done.

The trainer was asked about the likelihood of his horse running on a course that more than likely won't be firm.

"Well, he's only run on firm turf courses so far, but I think he'll handle it if it goes toward 'soft,' too," the Chilean-born conditioner offered. "He's got those small feet, which is what you want for a good turf horse. And he's got that good turf horse stride; he goes over the top of the ground - he doesn't hit real hard and go deep.

"And if that course is on the soft side Saturday, I think it might work to my advantage. The soft course will tire the front runners and they could be stopping. My horse will be coming on. I know that."

Alex Solis rides T.H. Approval in the 12-furlong Turf.