(October 24, 2004)- Matron and Spinaway winner Sense of Style breezed five furlongs in :59 4/5 over a "fast" track Sunday at Lone Star Park in anticipation of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies to be run over the Grand Prairie, Texas oval Saturday. The filly came out at 8:30 a.m. following the renovation break.

"It was very good," trainer Patrick Biancone said. "We accomplished what I wanted. You can just bring her to her best and hope nobody's better than her. We should be in good shape. I have done everything in my power to make her peak next Saturday. Six days to go is still a long time for a horse, but she should peak."

Mountaineer Park stakes winner Indy Groove was the only other Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships contender to work at Lone Star on Saturday, posting a bullet five-furlong move in :59 2/5 handily for trainer Tom Proctor.

Birdstone's Skin Rash of No Concern to Connections

Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone made a dramatic entrance onto the main track at about 7:45 a.m. Sunday in his first public appearance since winning the Travers Stakes eight weeks ago. When he reached the gap, Birdstone's blanket was removed to reveal a skin rash clustered around the area of his croup, flank and hip.

"I took him up there with the blanket on because I knew everyone would be taking about it," said Reynaldo Abreu, assistant to trainer Nick Zito. "I took him up there and whipped off the blanket and was like, 'Surprise!'"

The rash is of no concern to Abreu, who said the lesions are dying and haven't affected the colt's training.

"It's already dried out and dead" Abreu said. "There's just no hair there. There's nothing wrong with his blood or inside of him. Actually, it looks a lot better than it did a week ago. I know everyone's going to talk about him, but he's used to that. Nobody ever gives him the respect he deserves anyway. The people knock him all the time."

Birdstone galloped 1 1/8 miles with exercise rider Maxine Correa aboard.

"He went fine," Correa said. "He was looking around, checking out the surroundings. He's really, really good. Mentally and physically he's gotten fuller. He knows his business now and he's very focused."

International Jockey Championship Lineup Set

Nine of the world's top jockeys - including American Hall of Famers Jerry Bailey, Pat Day and Kent Desormeaux, as well as European stars Frankie Dettori and Kieren Fallon - will face off in Thursday's International Jockey Championship at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The three-race competition also includes two-time All Star Jockey Championship winner Edgar Prado, seven-time Breeders' Cup winner Jose Santos, leading Irish jockey Jamie Spencer and French champion Christophe Soumillon.

The first race on Thursday is set for 1:35 p.m. CT. The International Jockey Championship starts with Race 6 at 4:15 p.m. CT and continues with Race 7 (4:45 p.m. CT) and Race 9 (5:45 p.m. CT).

Thursday also marks the inaugural running of the Lone Star Park Juvenile Fillies and the first day of advance wagering on Saturday's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Lone Star.

Down The Stretch

Sunday's arrivals for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships are expected to reach the Lone Star Park stable area about 3 p.m. CT, according to Paul Holthus of the H.E. Tex Sutton Forwarding Co. Storm Flag Flying, Artie Schiller and Mr O' Brien are among the passengers on the flight from New York and Kentucky...Monday's flight carrying the European contingent is expected to arrive into Dallas Love Field around 3:30 p.m. CT, though a more precise time won't be known until the plane is on its way across the Atlantic Ocean...Domestic Dispute (Mile/Sprint) will breeze five furlongs on the turf at 7:30 a.m...Royal Regalia (Mile) will breeze five furlongs on the turf at 7:30 a.m...Afleet Alex (Juvenile) is possible to work at 8:30 a.m. after the renovation break, but trainer Tim Ritchey said he won't decide until after arriving in Dallas to evaluate the colt Sunday night.