Exotic Wood Will Run in the Sprint After All

After a week in which one of his star distaffers was injured and another mare had apparently been shut out of the Breeders’ Cup, trainer Ron Ellis finally got some good news on Monday.

Kelly Kip isn’t coming from New York for Saturday’s $1-million Sprint in the Breeders’ Cup at Hollywood Park, which means that Exotic Wood will be able to run for Ellis in the six-furlong race after all.

Ellis had been disturbed that Exotic Wood wasn’t selected to run in the over-subscribed Sprint, pointing out that the Daily Racing Form, in its early Breeders’ Cup line, had made her one of the favorites at 5-1. Until Monday, Exotic Wood was No. 15 on the list for a race that has a maximum field of 14.

But with the defection of Kelly Kip, who hasn’t been training well for trainer Allen Jerkens, Exotic Wood moves into the field from the also-eligible list. This cushions the blow that Ellis received when Twice The Vice, who would have been the favorite in the Distaff, suffered a cannon-bone injury and had to be retired.

The $1-million Mile lost a contender Monday when trainer Bob Baffert said that Anet, winner of the Del Mar Derby, wouldn’t run because of an abscess in his left hind foot.

Hesabull was first on the also-eligible list for the Mile, but he’s expected to run in the Sprint, which will enable Naninja to come off the also-eligible list for the Mile.

Decorated Hero, another candidate in the Mile, has been delayed in Amsterdam because of a fogged-in airport there. The horse is expected to arrive at Hollywood Park today, along with Borgia, a German filly who is highly regarded for the $2-million Turf, and Carmine Lake, who will run in the Sprint.

Trainer Jim Day indicated that Honor Glide is virtually definite for the $4-million Classic. Honor Glide had been cross-entered for the Mile, on grass, and has never run on the main track, but Day said he trains on dirt and has been handling the Hollywood Park strip well.