Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Pre-entries for the 15 Breeders' Cup World Championship races have been announced with a total of 180 horses. This a reduction from last year's record number of 193 pre-entered thoroughbreds.
The 29th Breeders' Cup will be held at Santa Anita Park with six races set for Friday, Nov. 2, and nine on Saturday, Nov. 3. This will be the second year that 15 championship events are to be conducted over the two days.
The $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic received 14 pre-entered horses topped by last year's runner-up Game On Dude. The five-year-old gelding is joined by Pacific Classic winner Dullahan, two-time Jockey Club Gold Cup champ Flat Out and Whitney Handicap winner Fort Larned
Also pre-entered for the 1 1/4-mile Classic are Alpha, Brilliant Speed, Handsome Mike, Mucho Macho Man, Nonios, Pool Play, Richard's Kid, Ron the Greek and To Honor and Serve.
Royal Delta, 2011 3-year-old filly champion, is pre-entered in both the Classic and $2 million Ladies' Classic, a race she won last year as the 2-1 favorite.
Only eight other fillies and mares have been pre-entered in the 1 1/8-mile Ladies' Classic. Joining the defending winner are Awesome Feather, Class Included, Grace Hall, In Lingerie, Include Me Out, Love and Pride, My Miss Aurelia and Questing.
Other horses returning to defend their crowns are Musical Romance in the Filly and Mare Sprint, Amazombie for the Sprint and St Nicholas Abbey in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
A maximum of 14 horses will be allowed to start each race.
10/24 11:56:56 ET
