nov 3 - george out on track

Bernardini: - After taking the even-money favorite to the track Friday, trainer Tom Albertrani said the colt is ready for the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge.

"He's on the muscle," Albertrani said. "He looks to be on top of his game."

With his regular exercise rider Miguel Gutierrez up, Bernardini went to the track just before 7 a.m. Albertrani said the Darley Stable homebred walked through the paddock and then galloped 1 ¼ m.

"Today he galloped a little stronger," Albertrani said. "Yesterday, the track was more on the wet side, so today he had more of a normal gallop."

Bernardini was schooled in the gate Thursday morning, but Albertrani said the colt did not need to visit the paddock. Albertrani changed his mind Friday, though, and gave Bernardini a chance to take a look at the paddock and walk through the tunnel to the track.

Since losing his debut at Gulfstream in January, Bernardini has reeled off six consecutive victories and become the leading contender for the 3yo title and a strong candidate to be the Horse of the Year.

The homebred son of A. P. Indy broke his maiden on March 4 at Gulfstream Park and went on to win the Withers, Preakness, Jim Dandy and Travers. On Oct. 7, facing older horses for the first time, he won by 6 ¾ lengths.

Albertrani acknowledged that everything has gone according to plan in the preparations for the Classic.

"We've had no hiccups since the Jockey Club," Albertrani said. "The horse has been training very well."

Albertrani has watched Bernardini develop into an imposing individual this year.

"He's been getting stronger with every race," Albertrani said. "He's done very well physically this summer and coming up into the Breeders' Cup Classic it looks like he couldn't be any better. I'm sure he could still develop next year if he was to race, but I don't know what the plans are. I'm sure that at the moment, he's physically developed and ready for this race.

"With any horse as a 4yo they're certainly going to develop into a stronger horse. But right now he looks to be as strong as I've ever seen him."

Albertrani said he could not say whether Bernardini had reached his physical peak.

"Some horses mature at five," he said. "With him, I think he's done everything so easily that even running against the older horses, I still think that they would have to step up a little bit to beat him if he runs back to his same races."

After he arrived in Louisville from New York this week, Albertrani was asked to explain why Bernardini is so talented.

"He gets that from his bloodlines, I'm sure," Albertrani said. "He's just got the genetic makeup of being a really nice horse. When Jerry Bailey rode him the first time (on Jan. 7 at Gulfstream in what was his only loss), I told him in the paddock, `Jerry, we really like this horse. He's got a big engine and a heck of a transmission, so go out there and see how you like him.

"When he came back he said, `I don't think you're wrong, it's just the light didn't go on yet.' I was disappointed not to see him win, but after that race he started to focus better and things went well from there."

Albertrani was asked whether a win in the Classic would enable Bernardini to clinch the Horse of the Year award.

"I would certainly think so," Albertrani said. "Hopefully, that happens, but I don't want to be overconfident. The horse is doing well and hopefully he just runs his races that he has been running."

And Albetrani said he did not think he has gotten to the bottom of Bernardini's ability.

" I think there is more there that we haven't seen," Albertrani said. "He's done everything so easily right now. If you look back, I think he's only been hit three times in his last four or five races, really. And Javier (Castellano, the jockey) lost his stick in the Withers so he didn't have to use it that day. He gave him a tap in the Travers and I think that is the last time he really even hit him. He's been easing him up at the finish pretty much every race."

Brother Derek: - Brother Derek galloped 1 ½ m Friday, and trainer Dan Hendricks said, the 30-1 shot is ready to go.

"It was a real nice, snug gallop," he said. "We're all set. We'll go out for real light training in the morning and there's nothing else we can do is except wait and run."

Much of the attention in the Classic this week has focused on Bernardini, Invasor and Lava Man, but Hendricks said it's wrong to think of the Breeders' Cup finale as a three-horse race.

"There are a lot of good horses behind those three," he said, "and you've got to run the race before you concede it. You don't concede the race to anyone."

David Junior: - The 4yo son of Pleasant Tap, who makes his main track debut on Saturday, cantered 1m around the Churchill track Friday morning.

Trainer Brian Meehan said he was pleased with the way the horse is coming into the Classic.

"He's very happy here, and I'm very happy with him," the Manton, England-based conditioner said. "He had his work before he left home, so our main job here has been to keep him happy."

Meehan said he thought David Junior would handle the surface change and the American starting gate without problem.

"Because of his breeding and running style, I've always thought he was a horse who would handle dirt," the trainer said, "and we've worked him out of the stalls at home. I put in a bell on the gate at home to give him some experience with an American start.

"I'll take him out for a jog early Saturday morning so he won't be too sharp tomorrow afternoon."

Jamie Spencer, who rides David Junior in the Classic, was on hand Friday morning to watch the horse train. Spencer was aboard in David Junior's final fast work - a 1m breeze on the turf in Manton.

"You don't know how they'll handle dirt until they've done it," the jockey said, "but I think he'll be fine.

"My only concern is the break. I worked for Todd Pletcher two years ago, so I got experience in the gate. I found that American horses react to the sound of the bell, and they always break faster than the Europeans.

"I know Brian has been working with him at home, which will help. I don't want to miss the start with him and give him too much to do."

Flower Alley; - Last year's Classic runner-up Flower Alley galloped 1 ¼ m Friday morning in what was one of his easier mornings.

"After his races at Saratoga this year, we tried to figure out what went wrong," said trainer Todd Pletcher of the 4yo Distorted Humor colt's seventh-place finishes in the Whitney and Woodward handicaps.

"I personally felt the track at Saratoga was deeper and more demanding this year. So, we threw out those two races. We turned every other stone and eliminated any physical problem. I gave him a change of scenery and brought him here to Churchill.

"Then, we picked up his training. He's had two six-furlong works leading up to this. We've been hard on him, and he's responded. If he runs back to his `A' race, he will be right there."

George Washington: - "I only wanted him to see the place," said trainer Aidan O'Brien after his Classic hopeful "cantered a mile" on the main track Friday morning in company with Ivan Denisovich, who failed to draw into the Mile.

George Washington was relaxed as he took in his surroundings. He has shown a feisty side on occasion but O'Brien "thought he behaved great" this morning.

"He's here to run in the Classic so we'll find out if he's going to handle the dirt or be bothered by the dirt in his face," he said. "Pat (Lillis) was on him today and he's happy with him."

When told the track announcer had said George Washington was "hating the dirt" as he galloped, O'Brien said, "I hope he's wrong."

"Mick (jockey Kinane) is happy with him," he said. "I'm just off to walk the track with him and the boss (John Magnier)."

Giacomo: - The 2005 Kentucky Derby winner had a good gallop of 1 ½ m Friday morning with veteran exercise rider Steve Willard in the tack.

Trainer John Shirreffs sent his charge trackside at about 7:30 and watched him take his tour and a half of the main track as he readied for the 10-furlong event on Saturday.

The low-key conditioner indicated he'd probably send his horse back to the track on race morning.

"That's a long day not to do something," Shirreffs said. "Our race isn't until after 5 in the afternoon. I'll probably put him on the track tomorrow and do something."

Invasor: - Invasor galloped 1 1/8 m under exercise rider Barry Downs Friday morning in preparation for the Classic. The 2005 Uruguayan Triple Crown winner will be seeking his fourth straight victory since arriving in the U.S.

"It looks like there are three or four horses with speed inside of him," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin while pondering a likely trip scenario for Invasor. "Hopefully, he gets a good start and will be able to slide in from the 11 post and be fifth to eighth....and then come running."

Fernando Jara, who rode the McLaughlin-trained Jazil for a victory in this year's Belmont Stakes, will be aboard Invasor.

Lava Man: - A light gallop - almost a jog - was the order of the day for Lava Man Friday morning, one day before the bay gelding is scheduled to race in the most important race of his career, the Classic at Churchill Downs.

The 5yo son of Slew City Slew's regular exercise rider, Antonio Romero, was in the irons for the exercise, which took place about 7:30.

Of the upcoming Classic, trainer Doug O'Neill said, "He's showing all the signs of being ready to run a big, big race. He's a real warrior. We have a lot of the main contenders inside of us so that helps a lot, too. Being able to let them commit, or, if they don't commit, we can go on with it. It should be interesting."

So how does he see the race shaping up? "I haven't done any handicapping yet, but I know we have a horse that wants to be ridden away from there and he has enough versatility to either sit there or go on with it. I think Brother Derek and Lawyer Ron and Suave will give us a legitimate pace. At least there's the potential for a legitimate pace."

O'Neill said Lava Man usually makes his move at mid-turn, but because of Churchill Downs' long stretch he wouldn't be surprised if that move comes just a little later.

"That's when he tries to put some distance between him and the others," the trainer said. "That's Corey's call, and we hope he'll have enough horse to do that when the time comes."

Corey Nakatani has ridden the horse throughout his seven-for-seven 2006 record.

The former $50,000 claim by STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood on Aug. 13, 2004, has now cashed earnings of $3,706,103 for the owners, running the gelding's career earnings to $3,804,706. The after-claim earnings is a record in Thoroughbred racing.

Lawyer Ron: - One of six horses that schooled in the paddock for trainer Todd Pletcher on Thursday, the 3yo Langfuhr colt galloped 1 ¼ m Friday morning.

"He is training as well as any horse can train," Pletcher said. "Obviously, he was an accomplished horse when we got him. We've been trying to build up his stamina and hopefully, get him to race at a higher level.

"He paddock schooled very well yesterday, as did the other horses. Fortunately, we don't have any horses with behavior problems."

Perfect Drift: - Stonecrest Farm's proven veteran galloped one last time at his Trackside base on Friday morning and was preparing to ship to Churchill Downs later in the morning.

"Things went really, really well this morning," said trainer Murray Johnson, who is preparing the 7yo gelding for a record fifth Classic.

When asked how he thought this Classic compared to the other four, Johnson replied, "This may be a deeper field this year. There are some great caliber horses and some good caliber horses, but there are no slouches. I would like to see him get a good position and a clean trip."

Premium Tap: - Premium Tap had a busy schedule at Churchill Downs Friday morning, when trainer John Kimmel sent him to the track for a 1 3/8 m gallop under Jorge Munoz prior to a trip to the starting gate to stand for a while. The 4yo son of Pleasant Tap concluded his training session by walking in the paddock.

"This horse is bigger and stronger than he was in the Woodward," said Kimmel, whose contender for Saturday's Classic earned his Grade I credentials in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga two starts back.

Although Premium Tap is a late-developing colt, his trainer is of the opinion that his first-ever Classic entrant has caught up with his competition.

"According to the (speed figure) sheet guys, he has. At this point he should go forward, but he's already right there with them," Kimmel said. "Bernardini has run a '1' on the sheets and Premium Tap ran a '1-1/2' when he won the Woodward."

Kimmel expects Premium Tap to be close to the early pace.

"He's so sharp, he'll put himself into the race," the New York-based trainer said.

Edgar Prado will ride Premium Tap, who defeated Sun King in an overnight stakes at Belmont Park this year in his only previous mount aboard the Kimmel trainee.

Suave: - Jay Em Ess Stable's Suave galloped 1 5/8 m Friday morning under exercise rider Luis Rodriguez. The Paul McGee trainee will be making his second Classic appearance Saturday and will exit post 12 under Kent Desormeaux.

McGee was asked what the ideal scenario would be Suave in his final race before heading to Darby Dan Farm to begin a stud career.

"I'd like to see him have a stalking position and then mow them down in the stretch," McGee said.

McGee has trained Suave through his 26-race, four-year career and he has several fond memories of the son of A.P. Indy.

"When he won the Northern Dancer here as a 3-year-old, that made him a good horse," McGee said. "The win at Saratoga (in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup in 2005) was big and being able to run in two Breeders' Cup Classics is huge also."

Sun King: - Exercise rider Carlos Correa galloped Sun King 1-1/2m at Churchill Downs Friday morning to prepare for his third start in the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The 4yo son of Charismatic, who will be seeking his first Grade I victory in Saturday's Classic, finished third in the 2004 Juvenile at Lone Star Park and ninth in the 2005 Classic at Belmont Park.

Sun King drew the No. 13 post position and will break from the outside stall in the starting gate.

"If you look at the past performances, it looks like a race sets up a certain way, and the gates open, and nothing sets up like you thought it would," said trainer Nick Zito. "But he's on the outside, so he'll obviously try to drop in behind the speed, like he did from the "nine" in the Whitney."

Sun King was denied a Grade I stakes win by a nose in the Whitney, won by Invasor.