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When the Breeders' Cup gets under way Friday with inaugural running of the $500,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint, it seems probable that the race will have the shortest-priced favorite of the 15 Breeders' Cup races in Secret Circle.

Heading into Saturday's Grade 3, $109,300 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, favorites Shocktime and Culotte had the highest speed figures and the most eye-catching victories.

Off a step or two behind the field and fourth early, Regally Ready kicked into gear down the stretch, wearing down front-running Bridgetown to score going away under Corey Nakatani.

The fine performances of one-two finishers Unrivaled Belle and Blind Luck in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic seemingly pointed toward their dominance in the filly and mare ranks this year.

Machen dashed his connections' Kentucky Derby dreams when he flattened out to run fourth in the Risen Star Stakes and fifth in the Louisiana Derby this spring at Fair Grounds.

Awesome Feather entered Friday's Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with a reputation as the best 2-year-old filly in Florida. She exited the race with a new title: the best 2-year-old filly in America.

Jockey Garrett Gomez was thrown to the Churchill Downs turf in a spill entering the second turn of the sixth race at Churchill Downs Thursday, and his mount, Indy Bouquet, who broke down, appeared to fall on top of the jockey.

Midday will be strongly favored to succeed where Ouija Board failed by winning the Filly and Mare Turf for the second year in a row.

Jockey Robby Albarado knew better than anyone the strengths of the two favorites in Saturday's Grade 3, $108, 8000 Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs, having ridden both 3-5 favorite Salty Strike and 9-5 Just Louise.

When trainer Rusty Arnold went looking for a race for It's Tea Time after her ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30, one spot quickly came to mind: the Grade 3 Regret at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Among other things, a horse race is a test of speed and class. The Grade 2, $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap, the first of five graded stakes to be contested Saturday at Churchill Downs, is about those things, for sure.

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra returned to familiar territory Saturday in the Grade 2, $214,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs: the winner's circle.

Just as an off track could affect the outcome of Saturday's Kentucky Derby, forecasted heavy rainfall Saturday may play a role in deciding the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic in the race preceding the Derby.

Only three fillies have won the Derby, with Winning Colors way back in 1988 being the most recent.

Horses don't come much more honest than Super Saver.

Millionaire Blind Luck drew post 5 for Friday's 136th running of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning, and was installed as the prohibitive 6-5 favorite by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.