 Rip van Winkle has enjoyed a successful season so far
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Trainer Aidan O'Brien is confident Rip van Winkle has recovered from a sore foot and can challenge in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic (2345 GMT).
The Sussex Stakes and QEII Stakes winner is second favourite behind star mare Zenyatta for the race, the richest on the two-day card at Santa Anita.
"Rip is a very brilliant horse but has had a long season and has been swimming against the tide," said O'Brien.
"He's probably the most natural athlete we've ever had."
The three-year-old is among a total of 30 horses who have travelled to California from Europe for the prestigious meeting.
O'Brien came close to winning the race last year when Henrythenavigator finished second to the John Gosden-trained Raven's Pass, while Giants Causeway was runner-up in 2000.
With Rip Van Winkle seemingly recovered from his foot problem, O'Brien believes he represents his best-ever chance of winning the race although Zenyatta, who is racing colts and geldings for the first time, is well fancied by the locals.
O'Brien, who saw his charges go through some work at the track on Wednesday morning, added: "I was very happy, having been a little worried about Rip, as the journey took a lot out of him.
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"His foot seems fine. There was a little bit of an issue on his off-hind - and that's one area that we haven't had a problem with before - but everyone's happy with it and it's been good the last week.
"He's a horse who is very exuberant and you could see from his action that he was moving well.
"I suppose I've no doubt in the world that he is our best chance in the Classic, if the season hasn't taken its toll. If he's anywhere close to how he was at Ascot or Goodwood, then you'd hope and dream that he can win."
Elsewhere on Saturday's card, Goldikova and Conduit are favourites to retain their titles in the Breeders' Cup Mile and Breeders' Cup Turf respectively.
Goldikova's victory 12 months ago saw French trainer Freddy Head become the first man to win a Breeders' Cup race as a jockey and a trainer while Sir Michael Stoute will be hoping for more success with Conduit, who finished fourth to See The Stars in last month's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Henry Cecil, who is aiming for his first Breeders' Cup success, could find it on Friday with Midday in the Filly & Mare Turf and Father Time in the Marathon.
 Olivier Peslier celebrates after Goldikova's victory last year
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Meanwhile, Frankie Dettori, who is the fourth most successful jockey in the 26-year history of the meeting, with eight wins to his name, needs only one winner to go level with Chris McCarron in third place in the standings.
Dettori has seven rides over the two days of the meeting including St Leger winner Mastery in Friday's Marathon and on Saturday with Dar Re Me (Turf), Fleeting Spirit (Sprint) and Delegator (Mile).
"The Breeders' Cup is a championship event. I don't just represent myself, I represent the whole of Europe so I am eager to do well to keep our profile and expectation up," said Dettori.
"I love the track here. I used to come here when I was younger and the first couple of years I was pretty much illegal.
"It is nice to be back now with a licence in the back of my pocket which I can flash around.
"I like the horses, the people and the climate here. It is fabulous racing and I think you would be very hard pressed to find a racecourse as nice as this."
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