Frankie Dettori was the first to show up at the trainer-jockey meeting on Thursday. Dettori rides Raven’s Pass in the Classic. In the Marathon, Dettori’s mount is Sixties Icon. There are other Dettori mounts and there is every chance that the flamboyant Italian will not leave Santa Anita empty-handed.

“I have been here two days. I have taken a close look at the Pro-Ride surface. I like it. It is playing fair,” Dettori started.

I mentioned his recent three-nation visit in three days. “I love to travel. I ride high caliber horses. My adrenaline keeps going. I have given myself extra time to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Responding to a question I had posed about Sixties Icon, Dettori had this to say. “He sat in his stall at Ascot (in late September) but he ran very well. He’s in top form. I am confident Sixties Icon will adjust to Pro-Ride. I give him a big chance.”

I asked Dettori about Australia and if he had spoken to jockey Jimmy Fortune about Raven’s Pass.

“Kerrin McEvoy has done a great job for us in Australia. He won the Caulfield Cup and is favored in the Melbourne Cup. Let Kerrin take care of Australia. I am not going to Melbourne. Yes, I called Jimmy, We talked about Raven’s Pass and it was helpful.”

John Gosden walked in and he is a commanding presence. He is articulate.

“What prompts you to take up new challenges? Raven’s Pass is stretching out to 2000 metres and tries a surface he is not used to,” I asked.

“It will be wimpish not to come. You create new excitement. New bloodlines. Newfound enthusiasm. I believe Raven’s Pass will stay. We must try new things. That is why racing is such a challenge. I am not looking for a safe spot to race my horses.”

Jockey Victor Espinoza was next. He will ride Casino Drive among other horses over the BC weekend. The discussion primarily centred on Casino Drive who goes in the Classic.

“He is special. He belongs in the Classic. He must take his chance. We don’t know how good he is. He has a run over Santa Anita and that should help. I am in with a chance but Curlin will not be easy to beat.”

“Do you have a plan and a contingency plan when you go into a race like the Classic? You are a high caliber rider. You’re smart. Do you talk to others?” I asked.

“I always think. In racing, plans don’t work out. You ride and do things as the race goes. I wish every race could be planned. I know my horse (Casino Drive) is capable.”

Trainer Eoin Harty followed Espinoza. Harty trains Colonel John who goes in the Classic. Colonel John won the Travers at Saratoga. The other big Harty entry is Well Armed in the Dirt mile.

Responding to my question, trainer Harty said, “I will go back to Dubai next year. After coming back from Dubai, Well Armed has been going from strength to strength. He continues to improve. Lot more potential.  Aaron Gryder (Well Armed’s jockey) understands him well.”

Talking about Colonel John, Eoin Harty expressed his confidence that the Travers winner will give a good account of himself. “In the Kentucky Derby, he had a lot of problems. He is as good as he was before the Travers. It is uphill but, in racing, you must keep trying.”

Conspicuous by their absence were Aidan O’Brien, Jeremy Noseda and Freddie Head, three European trainers.

There are fourteen BC races and the purses total 25.5 million dollars. Santa Anita has the backdrop of a mountain. It is beautiful. The track is huge. On Thursday, Santa Anita had live racing. Simulcast racing from New York, Chicago and Toronto was shown and wagering offered on those races. Golden Gate was another track racing in California.

There will be nine hours of TV coverage and 130 countries will carry the BC races. All filly-mare races will be run on Friday. Therefore, Friday is being called Ladies’ Day.

Because of an international audience, public (address) announcements will be made in more than one language.

The two-day format was introduced in 2007 and is here to stay. Santa Anita’s Pro-ride has no kickback. This is a fact that makes Europeans feel at home. There has been a bigger than usual European contingent this year. John Gosden, in his remarks, made special mention of the kickback element. He also said that there is a bounce and is the closest thing to a grass course.

The BC officials want to make the BC races a part of a festival. California’s warm weather is conducive to a festival-like environment. That explains the fact that Santa Anita will also hold the BC races in 2009. Arcadia where Santa Anita is located felt like a spring day in Mumbai. Going from Chicago, California feels like another world.

Curlin is the talk of the town. A win in Saturday’s Classic would make him the ‘best in the world.’

Aidan O’Brien has been saying that Curlin won’t have things his way. His Duke of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator are ready for the races of their lives. The Classic is the race I have been wanting to win for some time, O’Brien has stated.  John Gosden has been optimistic and quietly confident about the prospects of Raven’s Pass in the $5,000,000 Classic.

Indian Blessing will attempt to win a BC race in a different category in the 1400-metre sprint. Curlin tries to defend his Classic title. Kip Deville is back to defend his Turf mile title. Red Rocks and Better Talk Now are back to win their second BC races. Better Talk Now won the Turf (2400 metres) in 2004 and Red Rocks, Dettori up, won the same race at Chruchill Downs in 2006. Midnight Lute will defend his Sprint title and his readiness this year leaves a lot to be desired.

There is a media party Thursday evening sponsored by the Grey Goose Vodka company. It is a ‘must’ for members of the media. I am going. It is a party I look forward to attending.