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Over $14 million will be up for grabs as the best International andNorth American horses come together for on last battle in 2005. Not sureabout you, but I know I am eagerly waiting the return of Afleet Alex andhopefully he can repeat his performance that seen him finish third inthe Kentucky Derby and winner of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Hehas been off with an injury since June. Had a good workout on September30 and is expected to make a start somewhere on the weekend of October15 then on to the Classic.

Afleet Alex took another huge stride in his comeback witha solid half-mile workout Friday at Belmont Park. With regular rider JeremyRose aboard, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner breezed a half-milein 46.02 seconds, the fastest work of 42 horses at the same distance.Last week, Afleet Alex had his first timed workout -- five furlongs in59.85 -- since being sidelined with a hairline fracture of his left-frontcanon bone July 21. The 3-year-old colt had surgery six days later theplan is to get to the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Belmont on Oct.29.

Ritchey most likely will run Afleet Alex in next Friday'sseven-furlong Perryville Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. It wouldbe the colt's first race since winning the Belmont on June 11. AfleetAlex won the Preakness despite nearly falling to his knees when bumpedby Scrappy T at the top of the stretch.

Hurricane Run won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on thefamed Longchamp course Sunday, giving trainer Andre Fabre a sixth victoryin Europe's most prestigious horse race. The 3-year-old colt, the favoriteridden by Kieren Fallon, edged Westerner near the line. Bago, last year'swinner, finished third on the 1.5-mile track in Bois de Boulogne. Therace was run on a track softened by rain the previous two days.

Alan Cooper, racing manager for Bago's owners, the Niarchosfamily, said his horse was hindered by the soft track. ``The pace of therace was a bit slower than we would have liked,'' Cooper said. ``He wasmaking up a lot of ground at the end. He will go to the Breeders' Cupnow.''

Tabor said he also is considering Hurricane Run for theBreeders' Cup at Belmont Park in New York on Oct. 29. Hurricane Run wonlast month's Prix Niel, prep for the Arc. Nine of the last 12 winnersof the Prix Niel went on to win the Arc. Fabre's other Arc victories camein 1987, '92, '94, '97 and '98:

Don't Get Mad used a strong closing surge to beat favoriteand Preakness Stakes runner-up Scrappy T by three lengths Saturday inthe Indiana Derby. Scrappy T finished second, and Thor's Echo nosed outPurim for third.

With the outside post position, Don't Get Mad, riddenby Brice Blanc, broke well from the gate. Blanc then eased Stephen GotEven to the inside as Thor's Echo and Felipe Martinez led the way throughthe first turn. Down the backstretch, Don't Get Mad made his move towardthe leaders of the nine-horse race and was within striking distance.

In the final strides, the 3-year-old that finished fourthin the Kentucky Derby pulled away for trainer Ron Ellis and owner B. WayneHughes. Don't Get Mad, the second choice on the board, paid $7.20 to winthe 11th annual Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park. It was a warmup for severalof the horses before the Breeders' Cup later this month. The win was histhird in nine starts and he increased his career bankroll to more than$780,000.

One horse that I will be having a good look at is FrankBrother’s First Samurai, who has been dominating in the two year old ranks.Taking the lead from rival Henny Hughes in the stretch, First Samuraipulled off to a 2 3/4 -length victory in Saturday's $500,000 ChampagneStakes at rain-drenched Belmont Park. The 2-year-old colt's win improvedhis perfect mark to 4-for-4 and firmly established First Samurai as thefavorite for the $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Belmont on Oct.29.

Over the next 18 days we will try and get you preparedfor the big day, with an up close and personal look at several of thecontending horses, trainers, jockeys and owners.