Monday's Breeders' Cup Report

ARCADIA, Ca – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, sporting an American Pharoah Triple Crown jacket, of course, having a chat with jockey Rafael Bejarano while passing through the Santa Anita parking lot.

Mike Smith, regular rider of the sensational unbeaten 3-year-old filly and likely favorite for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro), spotted making the rounds at Clockers' Corner.

Horse of the Year and leading GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) out on the track galloping with the rising sun and San Gabriel mountains providing a spectacular backdrop.

Welcome to 2016 Breeders' Cup week.

Cool temperatures and cloudy skies helped kicked things off Monday morning as the Championships return to Arcadia, California for a record ninth time this weekend.

It was another very good morning for the Baffert camp as record-breaking GI Travers S. hero and Classic hopeful Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) (:46.80 – 3/52) and leading Sprint contender Lord Nelson (Pulpit) (:47.20 – 6/52) turned heads through a pair of four-furlong workouts. Jockey Martin Garcia, also the regular morning partner of last year's aforementioned Classic winner American Pharoah, was in the irons for both moves. Baffert also sent out his pair of promising juveniles Klimt (Quality Road) (:47 – 4/52) and Noted and Quoted (The Factor) (:47.80 – 15/52) for four-furlong breezes as well.

Trainer Phil D'Amato took in some of the early action from the apron. The former assistant to the late Mike Mitchell could be holding a very live hand in several races this weekend, including Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile) (Mile), Obviously (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) (Turf Sprint), Vyjack (Into Mischief)) (Dirt Mile) and Metaboss (Street Boss) (Turf).

Classic longshots Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) and Win the Space (Pulpit) will both certainly have their work cut out for them in the $6-million centerpiece, but really did catch the eye exiting the track with their necks arched.

A Lot (Tapit) (Turf Sprint), By the Moon (Indian Charlie) (F/M Sprint), Gormley (Malibu Moon) (Juvenile), Practical Joke (Into Mischief), Texas Chrome (Grasshopper) (Dirt Mile) and With Honors (War Front) (Juvenile Fillies) were among several others to make a good appearance on the track Monday.

It was hard not to think back to Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno)'s thrilling win in the 2013 Classic at the Great Race Place as trainer Kathy Ritvo watched recent $1.686-million Arqana Arc Sale purchase Spain Burg (Fr) (Sageburg {Ire}) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) turn in a nice gallop.

Hall of Famer Gary Stevens was in the saddle for Om (Munnings)'s four-furlong breeze on the main track as he strided out nicely through a final time of :47.60 (10/52). The chestnut cuts back in distance for the Turf Sprint. Defending Turf Sprint winner Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday), meanwhile, equipped with matching blue reins and bridle, quietly made his way off the track after going out for some light exercise.

Trainer Chad Brown chatted with Pete Bradley while his F/M Sprint one-two punch, headed by last year's winner Wavell Avenue (Harlington), trained. Irish Jasper (First Defence), heroine of Keeneland's GII Thoroughbred Club of America S., rounds out the pair.

WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden was attendance for the Juvenile Turf-bound Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday)'s eye-catching four-furlong breeze in :47.40 (1/1) on the lawn. The affable Tim Yakteen, trainer of fellow Juvenile Turf contender Big Score (Mr. Big), also watched with interest from the apron as training hours began to wind down.