LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Trainer Dale Romans said Saturday at Keeneland that owner Ken Ramsey has decided John Velazquez will be the jockey on Kitten's Joy in the Breeders' Cup Turf, the $2 million race for which the standout 3-year-old colt is the likely favorite.

Velazquez got the call over Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who had ridden Kitten's Joy in five of six races before Velazquez got his first ride on the colt in an impressive romp in the Oct. 2 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park. Velazquez picked up the mount after Bailey was sidelined with a fractured wrist.

Bailey, away since Sept. 1, is scheduled to return to action Wednesday at Keeneland.

Romans said Kitten's Joy, based at Churchill Downs, may ship as early as Oct. 18 to Lone Star Park, where the eight Breeders' Cup championships will be held Oct. 30.