Record number of Breeders' Cup pre-entries revealed

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Pre-entries for the 15 Breeders' Cup World Championship races have been announced and the total of 193 sets a record for the 28th edition. This will be the first year that 15 championship events are to be conducted over the two days.

The $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic received 16 pre-entered horses topped by leading thoroughbred Havre de Grace. The four-year-old filly is joined by 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Uncle Mo and his stablemate Stay Thirsty, both trained by Todd Pletcher.

"We pre-entered 11 altogether," Pletcher said. "Hunt Crossing (Juvenile Sprint), Stopshoppingmaria (Juvenile Fillies), Sweet Cat (Juvenile Fillies Turf), Her Smile (Filly & Mare Sprint), Super Espresso (Ladies' Classic), Finale (Juvenile Turf), Rule (Dirt Mile), Sidney's Candy (Mile), and Aikenite who was cross-entered in the Sprint and Dirt Mile, plus Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty."

Also pre-entered for the 1 1/4-mile Classic are Await the Dawn, Drosselmeyer, Flat Out, Game on Dude, 2009 runner-up Gio Ponti, Headache, Ice Box, Prayer for Relief, Rattlesnake Bridge, Ruler On Ice, So You Think and To Honor and Serve. Tizway was pre-entered on Monday, but an injury discovered Tuesday has forced the six-year-old to be retired.

Gio Ponti was also pre-entered for the Mile, a race in which he finished second last year to three-time winner Goldikova. Goldikova is back for a fourth championship title.

Other horses returning to defend their crowns are Eldaafer, Shared Account, Big Drama and Chamberlain Bridge.

A maximum of 14 horses will be allowed to start each race.

The 28th Breeders' Cup will be held for the second straight year at Churchill Downs. Six races are set for Friday, November 4 and nine on Saturday, November 5. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint for two-year-olds over six-furlongs is a new addition to the program and will begin the World Championships on the first day.