nov 2 - hunter looking great

C P West: - C P West galloped 1 ½ m under Carlos Correa Thursday morning in preparation for a start in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile, in which the son of Came Home will make his third lifetime start.

Trainer Nick Zito, who once shied from running some of his premier 2yo colts in the Juvenile with an eye toward the Kentucky Derby, he now views the 1 1/16 m race as a challenge.

"Just because a horse that's won the Juvenile hasn't won the Derby doesn't mean it won't happen," Zito said. "Eventually, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner is going to win the Derby. It'll change."

Circular Quay: - The Thunder Gulch colt was defeated in his last start, when he ran second in Keeneland's Breeders Futurity, yet he was beaten less than two lengths for it all by Great Hunter.

"He raced pretty close at Keeneland, and we think that horses on that Polytrack have run better making one run," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "But he's come right back in his training, and he is coming back to Churchill Downs - and he's 2-for-2 at Churchill."

Got the Last Laugh: - Thursday's exercise regimen for the Distorted Humor colt was a 1 ¼ m gallop.

Got the last Laugh is trained for Zayat Stables by Hall of Fame member Bill Mott. Jockey Rene Douglas returns to the saddle for the Juvenile. He was aboard Got the Last Laugh when the colt finished in a dead-heat for the win in the Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Futurity.

Great Hunter: - Though listed behind the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Circular Quay and Scat Daddy on the morning line, Great Hunter continued his quest of victory in Saturday's Juvenile by galloping strongly 1 ½ m over the Churchill Downs strip Thursday morning.

Trainer Doug O'Neill expressed no concern over the colt leaving post seven in the 14-horse field of youngsters. "He'll be able to get away in good shape and his tactical speed should let Corey (jockey Nakatani) put him in a good place early."

Great Hunter is listed at odds of 9-2 on the morning line, behind Circular Quay at 5-2 and Scat Daddy at 4-1.

King of the Roxy: - King of the Roxy had an easy morning where he just jogged. King of the Roxy may school in the paddock on Friday afternoon, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

Malt Magic: - Three-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert watched Malt Magic gallop 1 ¼ m Thursday morning.

The colt shipped from Baffert's California stable at Santa Anita Tuesday. Baffert arrived Wednesday after the Malt Magic drew post 13 in the field of 14 for the Juvenile. In his last start, Malt Magic was sixth in a troubled trip in the Norfolk Breeders' Cup at Oak Tree.