Edited from NYRA notes

Trainer Todd Pletcher worked a bunch of his potential Breeders' Cup starters, including champion Ashado, at Belmont Park Monday. Ashado, pointing for a title defense in the $2 million Emirates Airline Distaff (gr. I), breezed five furlongs over Belmont's 'fast' training track in 1:02 4/5. She'll enter the Distaff on the heels of a victory in Belmont's Beldame (gr. I). To date, Bayakoa (1989-1990) is the only horse to win the Distaff twice.

When Lord Derby's Ouija Board seeks to defend her title in the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) Oct. 29, she could have the services of Jerry Bailey, whose 14 wins is first among all jockeys in World Thoroughbred Championships history.

(from Belmont Park notes)

With two grade I victories and earnings of more than $1.5, no one would have been surprised had trainer Patrick Kelly and owner Peter Schiff retired Riskaverse after the 2004 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT). But with the event returning to Belmont Park in 2005, they decided on another season of racing for the 6-year-old mare.

Sweet Talker, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, prevailed by a nose in a three-horse photo finish Saturday at Keeneland to give trainer Helen Pitts her first graded stakes win in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT).