(October 19, 2004)- Horse of the Year candidate Roses in May, hoping to cap off an undefeated season in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge, and potential $2 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf favorite Kitten's Joy were among seven Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships candidates on a flight that arrived into Dallas late Tuesday afternoon from New York and Kentucky.

Diana Handicap winner Wonder Again, a difficult shipper who considered skipping the $1 million VO5 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf due to concerns over her ability to fly, also arrived without incident.

Others on the flight: Hopeful winner Afleet Alex (pointing to the $1.5 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile), 2003 Lone Star Derby winner Dynever (Classic), Mountaineer Park stakes winner Indy Groove ($2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff - Presented by Nextel) and Atto Mile third Royal Regalia ($1.5 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile).

The seven horses checked into the Lone Star Park backstretch at 3:40 p.m. CT, about 3 ½ hours later than originally planned. Paul Holthus, vice president and general manager of the H.E. Tex Sutton Forwarding Co., said the plane was late arriving in New York, as were a few of the horses.

Afleet Alex had the longest day after leaving Delaware Park early in the morning to catch the plane in New York City.

"We left Delaware about 4:30 a.m.," said Afleet Alex's exercise rider Sam Cabrera. "Our van driver was late. It took us almost three hours to get to New York and by the time we all got loaded we took off from there about 10 a.m. Then we stopped in Kentucky and picked up a few."

Afleet Alex, stabled in Cole Norman's Barn B3, was none the worse for wear at the conclusion of his journey.
"He's pretty cool about everything," Cabrera said. "Nothing seems to bother him."
Roses in May and Kitten's Joy, trained by Dale Romans, also bedded down in Barn B3. Eubaldo Maldonado, foreman for Romans, said both horses galloped well Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs and arrived in Texas in good order.

Wednesday will bring the third flight in three days. Trainer Paddy Gallagher's Strub Stakes winner Domestic Dispute (Mile) is scheduled to touch down at Dallas Love Field around 9:30 a.m. CT.

Wonder Again Arrives Without Incident

Trainer James Toner sent $1 million VO5 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf hopeful Wonder Again to Texas on the earliest possible flight from New York because of her checkered history with airplanes. To the great pleasure of Wonder Again's connections, the 5-year-old mare shipped to Grand Prairie, Texas without incident 11 days before the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

"It's been an issue, but it wasn't an issue today," said Manu Davy, the assistant to Toner who shipped to Texas with the Diana Handicap winner. "She came here today as good as she could have. The trip was perfect and here we are. No incidents, no episodes, nothing. She acted a little quirky on the plane the first time we tried it [as a 3-year-old going to Keeneland in 2002]. She traveled good this time and everything went well. The guy from [shipping company] Tex Sutton did a great job keeping her calm. We had her sedated a little bit before the trip just to make sure everything went well and it did. Now we're here in good shape and ready to run."

Wonder Again, who is stabled in Steve Asmussen's Barn B5, will head to the track Wednesday morning.

"I don't want her to think she's going to get too fresh," Davy said. "I don't know yet what I'll do with her tomorrow, but the fact she traveled good today is a big plus and we can just go on with her routine now."

Davy said Wonder Again will breeze across the Lone Star turf course this weekend, most likely on Sunday.