121 thoroughbreds pre-entered for 23rd Breeders' Cup

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Preakness and Travers Stakes winner Bernardini is among the 121 horses who have been pre-entered for this year's $20 million Breeders' Cup World Championships. The 23rd edition of the Breeders' Cup will be conducted at Churchill Downs on Saturday, November 4.

Joining Bernardini in the pre-entries for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic are Pacific Classic and Santa Anita Handicap winner Lava Man and Pimlico Special victor Invasor.

Coming in from overseas for the 1 1/4 mile Classic is three-year-old George Washington. He won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the English 2000 Guineas. George Washington was bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the owners of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

Flower Alley is the top finisher from the 2005 Classic to be pre-entered for this year's race. The four-year-old was runner-up to Saint Liam last year at Belmont Park. This year Flower Alley has just one win in three starts.

Fan favorite Perfect Drift is back for a fifth straight try in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The seven-year-old was third in last year's Classic and fourth in 2004.

Each of the eight Breeders' Cup races will be restricted to 14 starters.

ESPN will broadcast the event for the first time beginning at noon (et) and concluding the program at 7 p.m. (et). NBC televised the first 22 runnings of the Breeders' Cup.