It has been raining steadily in New Jersey. I had my windshield wipers on all the way to the Sheraton hotel on Thursday. It is damp; the sun has taken a holiday. The forecast calls for more rain. The temperature was dropping. One thing is becoming clear. ‘Good’ and ‘sloppy’ are words that will be in currency beginning today.

I was at the trainer-jockey press conference. It was held in a small tent. With one end open, it was cold. Garrett Gomez and Todd Pletcher were there. Gomez was asked about his ride on Oprah Winney and the fact that Oprah Winfrey would be watching the race. He smiled it away. Todd Pletcher drew a blank in 2006 and said that he hopes to have better luck this year.

Brian Meehan showed up. He trains Red Rocks, the 2006 Turf winner. I asked Meehan what his confidence level was, given that Red Rocks is in indifferent form this year. “Red Rocks has been prepared well and is spot on. You are right but in racing you take chances especially if you have a good horse. After all, Red Rocks has won a BC and the others haven’t,” he said.

My next question was about the possibility of a rain-softened turf course. Meehan said, “I do not think it will be a problem. When he won his maiden, he won on a heavy course in Newmarket.”

“Red Rocks came from out of it last year at Churchill, Do you have a strategy on Saturday,” I asked. His answer was, “They went a ferocious pace last year. Dettori rode one of the finest races of his life. I will leave that to Frankie (Dettori) and he got a feel of the track this morning. He was satisfied.”

The press conference ended. The other professionals did not show up. I managed to speak to a journalist or two. Here is what I collected in terms of Aidan O’Brien’s runners.

When told that no Arc winner has won the BC within a month of the Arc, O’Brien had this to say. “That is going to change. Dylan Thomas is an unusual horse. In fact, he’s amazing. He is a special Danehill. He comes out of every race stronger than he goes in. He gets stronger physically and mentally. You see his record in Group I races. The three he lost, he could have won all of them. He is a big powerhouse at the moment.”

O’Brien expressed optimism about George Washington’s chances. “He was washed up last year. Mick Kinane told me that last year he was bumped and would have finished better otherwise. This year, George is fresh. He has been out sparingly. He is coming up right.” This statement caught the attention of the British bookmakers. George Washington is 8-1.

All the O’Brien horses cleared quarantine on Wednesday. They were kept in on Thursday. They will be taken out on Friday morning. The other Europeans were on the track Thursday morning.

On Friday, the first BC race is the Filly-Mare Sprint, Dream Rush is a sophomore and she takes on older ones. A daughter of Wild Rush, Dream Rush has won six races in eight starts. She has a front-running style. It must be noted that she has not raced since August 4. Her track reports are encouraging.

La Traviata, a Johannesburg filly, is three for three. She has won at three different tracks. She can be rated off the pace. Julian Leparoux rides. La Traviata is unexposed. La Traviata is yet to win a Grade I event.

Oprah Winney is a four year-old. She is going for three wins in a row. She is in fine fettle and needs her absolute best to topple the better-fancied ones.

Hystericalady checks in fit and cannot be ruled out. My pick is La Traviata whose wins suggest she can scale new heights. Dream Rush is the obvious danger.

Prussian, a Danzig colt, is my choice in the BC Juvenile Turf. He won his maiden race going away in Saratoga. His next start was in a Graded Woodbine race and he won it readily as the half money favourite. Kent Desormeaux is the jockey.

Gio Ponti is two for two and getting better. He will be a factor. Achill Island was second in the Royal Lodge to City Leader at Ascot in late September and is a son of Saddler’s Wells. Strike The Deal was second to Dark Angel in Newmarket’s Middle Park Stakes in the first week of October and runs with a chance.

Discreet Cat heads the nine-horse field in the BC Dirt Mile. As shaky as Discreet Cat’s form is, it is difficult to go against him. Rick Mettee, Discreet Cat’s assistant trainer, said, “he has come on after the Vosburgh. I am glad we ran. That race has really helped him.” Does the statement give anyone any confidence? Corinthian and High Finance are capable. Discreet Cat is my (academic) selection and I will reach for a cup of fresh coffee.

It is a marathon on Saturday. There are eight BC races. It is a never-ending programme. On Friday, the admission is $10. College students will be admitted free.