The Breeders’ Cup Classic lost two more contenders as Rail Trip and Gitano Hernando will both skip the race their connections reported yesterday.

Trainer Ron Ellis said Rail Trip has had foot problem since running third in the Pacific Classic (G1) last month.

Ellis told the Daily Racing Form, “"I think we'll shut him down. He probably needs about a week or five to seven days to walk."

Rail Trip has won six of his nine starts for earnings of nearly $800,000, and could have been a factor in the Classic.

All of his starts coming over synthetic surfaces including three victories over the Santa Anita Pro Ride.

Gitano Hernando, the upset winner of the Goodwood Stakes (G1) will also skip the Classic according to Barry Irwin of Team Valor International.

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Irwin said he thinks the Goodwood took too much out of his runner, and now Team Valor will point him toward the $10 million Dubai World Cup next March.

It will be the first Dubai World Cup run at the new Meydan Race Course, which had the synthetic surface Taepta installed.

Two more Classic contenders down has to be good news for the Zenyatta camp.

I have been saying all along that owner Jerry Moss and trainer John Shirreffs likely will end up heading back to the Ladies’ Classic unless there are a few defections.

Adding these two to the mix and I’m now thinking we might see her face the boys after all.

To purchase my full card report for Keeneland and Belmont Park that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today, click here.

Here is today's opening race from Keeneland to get our day off to a good start:

KEE Race 1 Md $30,000 (1:05 ET)
#1 Final Ending / #1a Patti's Kitten 7/2
#11 Hooten Town Hill 4/1
#8 Show Trial 5/1
#5 Venice Beach 6/1

Analysis: #1 Final Ending was beaten double digit lengths in both of his starts but now drops back in for a tag and tries poly for the first time. Last out the gelding tracked the early pace along the inside before weakening to finish seventh on the turf at the Spa versus maiden special weight company. The winner Bridgetown came back to win the Summer (G3) in his next outing at Woodbine on Sept. 19. The runner up Billions Boy graduated in his next start, then ran 11th in the Bourbon (G3). The gelding popped a bullet work over the surface here on Oct. 17. The gelding is out of a Kris S. mare that has dropped one other foal to race, stakes winner Romacaca (5 for 9, $163K).

His entry mate is in the Maker barn and is making his debut. #1a Patti's Kitten is by Kitten's Joy (12% winners with debut runners) out of a Chimes Band mare that has dropped three foals to race, all winners, top earner stakes winner Dawn of War ($409K). Decent looking works on the morning tab for a high % barn that is light with firsters, hitting at a 8% clip.

#11 Hooten Town Hill was a good second last out at Ellis on dirt behind repeat winner D'clever Cat, who came back to beat $25K non winners of two on Oct. 14 at Hawthorne. The gelding gets a jock upgrade from a seven pound bug to Albarado.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 1,11 / 1,5,8,11
TRI: 1,11 / 1,5,8,11 / 1,5,6,7,8,11

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 8 Athenia S. G3 (4:38 ET)
#6 Cable 6/1
#5 Namaste's Wish 4/1
#4 Belle Allure 6/5
#7 Kristi With a K 5/1

Analysis: #6 Cable tries stakes company for the first time here off a fourth place finish versus Alw-2 foes off a three month break. The Dynafomer filly makes just her fourth start this year and earned solid numbers in a second and a third at the Alw-2 level. The filly is a half to Exchange Rate ($479K), still looks like she has a ton of upside and this is not a real deep field considering it’s a Grade 3.

#5 Namaste's Wish beat Alw-3 optional claimers in a game win by a neck. Two back she came up a neck shy behind Quiet Harbor, who came back to win the Violet (G3) in her next outing on Oct. 10 at the Big M. She is a half to Purge ($905K). #4 Bella Allure is going to be a light price in here despite coming up short in a restricted stake at the Spa last out. She looks tough in this spot but we can't get too excited about backing her at close to even money.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 5,6 / 4,5,6,7
TRI: 5,6 / 4,5,6,7 / 3,4,5,6,7

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Keeneland:

KEE Race 8 Alw $54,000N2X (4:42 ET)
#1 Silver Mountain 5/1
#2 Laureate Conductor 3/1
#9 Thabazimbi 5/2
#4 Hidden Glance 6/1

Analysis: #1 Silver Mountain is coming off a third place finish in the Ky Cup Turf (G3) over good ground at today's marathon distance. I liked his effort two back a bit more, a third place finish in the restricted Johns Call at the Spa. He caught some traffic while down along the inside on the far turn and finished well when angled to the outside for the stretch drive. He is in good hands with the Proctor barn that is 3 for 10 at the meet and this guy seems like a bargain, purchased for just $2,700 back in '06.

#2 Laureate Conductor is a stakes winner at nine furlongs and will be trying 1 1/2 miles for the first time here. He was off poorly last out in the Kent (G3), made a middle move and faded in the stretch to finish fifth. He gets some class relief here, but not sure pedigree wise whether this guy can get the added ground.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,4,9
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,4,9 / 1,2,4,6,9,12

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Keeneland
R4: #1 Flowering Mesa 12/1
R5: #3 Askbut I Won’ttell 10/1
R5: #2 Queen of Victory 10/1
R7: #5 Hapitano 8/1
R9: #10 Monty Cat 10/1

Belmont Park
R2: #1 Cuvee’s Girl 12/1
R2: #2 Cottage Industry 30/1
R3: #5 Beresford 10/1
R4: #4 Tickle Monster 12/1
R9: #4 Masterofthehouse 8/1

Good luck today!