Notes - Oct 25

- Thanks again to reader Walter from Las Vegas, endeavoring to keep us posted on the European horses, about whom I need all the help I can get. Walter has read that soft going on the turf could favor Shirocco in the Turf but hurt the possible favorite Azamour: “..just a couple of days ago, i read an article where [Azamour's] trainer and jockey BOTH mentioned that he prefers firm going...obviously, this isn't the type of ground they were hoping for..” Luca Camani, the trainer of Alkaased has gone so far as to say that he may scratch his horse if conditions don’t suit him. "He doesn't like it soft and he might not run if it is very deep….I'm hoping the mile-and-a-half here will help him and there will be a good pace. He likes to run around bends." [NYRA]

Could be wishful thinking, but with a windy, sunny day forecast for tomorrow as well as clear weather for the rest of the week, perhaps the turf won't be as deep as we fear.

Patrick at Pulling Hair and Betting Horses posted this invaluable piece about the European entries the other day – definitely worth taking a look.

- Stevie Wonderboy was one of the horses who made a big impression on the track Monday morning, flying a half mile in 46 seconds flat. Doug O’Neill told the NYRA Breeders' Cup Notes folks (who have some information on every single BC entry today - excellent job): "Visually, he looked like he was going at a 12-second clip (for an eighth). I was amazed to look at my watch and see what he was doing."