By Steve Sherack
DEL MAR, Calif. – All of the heavy lifting has been done and Breeders' Cup 42 is finally here. Who has looked the best during training hours this week at Del Mar?
Starting at the top with the Classic. Journalism (Curlin) (Michael McCarthy) has been training like he owns the place in the pre-dawn hours while the Classic's defending winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) (Chad Brown) has served notice after the break. Both cover a ton of ground and have been getting over the surface beautifully. The blue-blooded Baeza (McKinzie) (John Shirreffs) has been a complete powerhouse to watch train as well.
In addition to the aforementioned GI Preakness S. winner, the McCarthy-trained Formidable Man (City of Light) (Mile) and Meaning (Gun Runner) (Juvenile Fillies) couldn't be looking any better, either.
Some horses just always seem to catch your eye in the mornings. Turf Sprint longshot Governor Sam (Improbable) (George Weaver), a close third in last year's Juvenile Turf Sprint, has been one of them. And the well-built Bobrovsky (Daredevil) (Dale Romans), stuck on the also-eligible list for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, is another.
The Distaff duo of Clicquot (Quality Road) (Brendan Walsh) and Dorth Vader (Girvin) (Weaver) have been giving off plenty of good vibes.
Clicquot | Sherackatthetrack
It's been a real treat to watch 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Nysos (Nyquist) (Bob Baffert) train all week. He's clearly the one to beat in arguably the deepest renewal of the Dirt Mile to date.
Gstaad (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (Aidan O'Brien) (Juvenile Turf), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) (Turf) and The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (Mile) have stood out among the 'Aidan Army' on parade at trackwork. Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (Francis-Henri Graffard) (Mile) is another who appears in terrific form since crossing the pond.
Another fantastic morning for Journalism, who continues to stand out during training hours pic.twitter.com/kzvryOiuBx
— Steve Sherack (@SteveSherackTDN) October 30, 2025
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