BREEDERS’ CUP : Long Flights May Hinder Some Horses

Fifteen Breeders’ Cup horses from Europe had been accounted for at Churchill Downs by early Tuesday, and a plane carrying 12 more from England was expected to arrive Tuesday night.

The plane from France, which arrived with 12 horses Monday afternoon, left 90 minutes late, was slowed down by heavy winds and stopped for refueling in Newfoundland.

It all added up to 23 hours of travel, with the horses expected to leave quarantine and be on the track today.

“I have no clue about the European horses,” trainer Wayne Lukas said.

“But it’s a big order for them to fly on Tuesday and run on Saturday over a track that they’re not familiar with.”

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After a 1:14 six-furlong workout for the Classic, Dramatic Gold returned to the barn bleeding from a small cut above his right hind hoof. “Sometimes he gets a little excited with the pony,” said trainer David Hofmans, who didn’t seem concerned.

“He did the same thing in Canada (before winning the Molson Export Million) and cut himself on the right hind pastern there too.”

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Balmy weather turned to a winter chill in 24 hours.

The chill factor was in the low 20s with a stiff wind on the backstretch Tuesday morning.

There’s a warming trend in the forecast, with a chance of showers Friday and Saturday.

The temperature hasn’t surpassed 50 degrees for either of the two previous Breeders’ Cups at Churchill Downs.