War Envoy© Photo Healy Racing
War Envoy attempts to give Aidan O'Brien his third victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Friday night.
O'Brien saddled Wrote to success in 2011 and George Vancouver to glory 12 months later and although this year's Ballydoyle representative has failed to get his head in front since making a winning debut at Naas in April, he has run well in defeat at Pattern level.
"War Envoy has a nice draw and has progressed from his run at Doncaster to his run in Paris. I think the fast ground will suit him," said O'Brien.
Trainer Wesley Ward is confident Royal Ascot hero Hootenanny is "cranked to the maximum" ahead of his bid for glory.
Ward has become well known to British racegoers in recent years thanks to his exploits at the Royal meeting, and Hootenanny was regarded by many as one of the bankers of the week in the Windsor Castle Stakes in June.
The American challenger did not let his supporters down, showing blistering pace over the straight five furlongs to seal a runaway success.
The Coolmore-owned juvenile then headed to France to fill the runner-up spot behind The Wow Signal in the Prix Morny at Deauville. That fine effort over six furlongs in testing French conditions has given connections hope the two-turn mile at the California circuit is within reach in the hands of Frankie Dettori.
Ward, who also runs course-and-distance winner Luck Of The Kitten, told Press Association Sport: "He came back from Deauville absolutely fantastic and I think he's going into the Breeders' Cup really smoking. He's as sound as new money and I think I've got him as cranked to the maximum going to Santa Anita.
"The screws are tightened and it's up to Frankie to come through for us now, but I don't think he feels the pressure.
"Both Hootenanny and Luck Of The Kitten are drawn good and I think Luck Of The Kitten will probably go forward and be the speed horse. Frankie should be able to place Hootenanny where he wants to. Hopefully he gets a good trip, hopefully the best horse wins, and hopefully we have the one-two!"
Charlie Hills enjoyed Breeders' Cup success for the first time with the ill-fated Chriselliam in last year's Juvenile Fillies Turf and has an interesting contender in Commemorative, who won the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.
Big-race jockey James Doyle said: "I'm pleased with my draw in four, as he is quite a big horse. I gave him a good practice session (on Wednesday), when I let him dip down to the rail and scoot round the bends. That should help him quite a lot when he goes out there to run."
Hugo Palmer has never made any secret of the regard in which he holds Aktabantay, who claimed the Solario Stakes at Sandown on his penultimate start before failing to get the breaks at Longchamp.
"He was unlucky in France last time. In the view of the handicapper, that was a career-best performance," said Palmer.
"You can mark up his Solario performance because he doesn't like soft ground. The handicapper didn't move him up for winning a Group Three, which is fairly unusual.
"He came from last, up that hill and only got up in the shadow of the post to win, so I think he won under sufferance that day. I hope he's not just a juvenile. He's not a giant, but he's got a lot of scope and he's always been very muscular."
