October 25 Del Mar Weather: Foggy Temperature: 54 Track: Fast DEL MAR, Calif. – Keeping a close eye on the Breeders’ Cup contenders stabled at Del Mar became a difficult task on Friday with dense fog blanketing the area throughout training hours. The fog obscured the view of nearly the entire racetrack save for about a quarter-mile portion, from the eighth pole to and through the wire into the clubhouse turn. The key Breeders’ Cup work of the morning took place at 7:45 a.m. with Saudi Cup winner and BC Classic-bound Senor Buscador breezing five furlongs over a fast and freshly harrowed track. With the help of colleague David Grening, positioned at the five-eighths pole, cell phone in hand, Daily Racing Form was able to accurately time the work despite the foggy conditions, Senor Buscador completed the distance in 58.84 seconds before galloping out three-quarters in 1:12.19 with jockey and exercise rider Armando Ayuso aboard. Having seen Senor Buscador several times earlier this year, most notably in preparation for his close second-place finish to National Treasure in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup last winter at Gulfstream Park, it is obvious he is a very willing horse who enjoys his morning work. Such was certainly the case again Friday, although he did appear to tire just a tad and needed a little prodding coming through the wire and continuing into the club turn to complete the drill. :: ON SALE NOW: DRF Breeders' Cup Packages! Get everything you need to win and save 41% off the retail price. He is going to have to recapture his early-season form if he’s to be a factor of any sort in the Classic. I could not confirm the official final time for the only other Breeders’ Cup worker of the morning, Kale’s Angel (Juvenile Turf Sprint), who reportedly broke off several lengths behind workmate Big Drinker at the five-eighths pole and was edging clear through the wire under some urging while kept well off the rail down the stretch. Among the notable first local sightings this morning were the Breeders’ Cup contingents from the barns of Hall of Fame trainers Steve Asmussen and Bill Mott. The Asmussen quintet did little more than jog clockwise alongside the stable pony their first day on the track. Mott’s group was led by Classic hopeful Arthur’s Ride, who came out for an easy gallop well before dawn. Other Classic pre-entrants to train in the dark included Ushba Tesoro and Derma Sotogake, while Forever Young and Mixto waited until after the renovation break to get in their morning activity. Forever Young is not the smoothest of movers but did seem to be galloping quite willingly, from what could be seen of him, approaching and continuing on into the fog a furlong past the finish line. The other big news on the Classic front came at Saratoga, where Travers winner Fierceness and Woodward runner-up Skippylongstocking, now pointing for the Dirt Mile, put in their final major preps before shipping to California on Sunday. Timing the works from videos provided by Saratoga clocker David Norton, Fierceness breezed a half-mile in 48.85, going easily in company and outside work mate Illuminare before galloping out willingly as usual, five-eighths in 1:02.08, up 1:15.49, while in maintenance mode throughout. :: BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more Skippylongstocking, whose connections were between the Classic and Dirt Mile, had his 2-year-old stakes-winning mate The Queens M G for a partner, getting a similarly easy and maintenance-like half-mile in 24.07, 47.91, out five furlongs in 1:01.60. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.