Enable arrives for Breeders' Cup with a main Turf rival out

The super filly Enable, likely favorite for the Breeders' Cup Turf, was among the 20-plus European contenders to arrive early Saturday morning for next weekend's championships at Churchill Downs. One main challenger to her didn't reportedly make the trip.

According to AtTheRaces.com, Crystal Ocean, the Sir Michael Stoute trainee who faced Enable in last month's September Stakes, is out of the Turf. Second by 3 1/2 lengths to Enable, Crystal Ocean was then second to Cracksman last weekend in Ascot's Champion Stakes.

“He wasn’t quite right," Stoute told AtTheRaces.com. "It was coming a little soon, just two weeks (after the Champion Stakes). We felt he had taken the race well enough but then he had a niggle, so we’re out.”

Overseas books listed Crystal Ocean as a 10-1 shot. The defection assuredly allows in the Michael McCarthy-trained Liam the Charmer, who has won both his starts following a layoff of more than a year, most recently the Santa Anita Turf Championship (G2).

Stoute will still saddle two Breeders' Cup contenders, both in the Mile: Expert Eye and Mustashry.

As for Enable and her peers, who landed in Louisville around 10 p.m. Friday, then unloaded at Churchill Downs around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

“It was really cool to see them get off the plane," said Kevin Kerstein, the track's publicity manager.

"What these horses are going to have to do now, they’ll quarantine for 42 hours in Barn 48 here in Churchill Downs. Once they pass the quarantine required by the USDA, they may be able to train on Monday morning at the earliest.”

A second wave of Euros is scheduled to arrive Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs before a final flight ships in Monday.