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Silver Anniversary Breeders' Cup Attracts Horses Aplenty

By GREG MELIKOV

Ten of the 14 Breeders' Cup races could have full fields as a record 180 thoroughbreds were pre-entered for the two-day program at Santa Anita Park.

That's good news for horseplayers because the larger the fields, the better the payoffs, Historically, exotic wagers produced big bucks during the 24-year history of America's premier racing day.

Fields this year might average 12.78 compared to 11.69 at Monmouth Park in 2007 when 122 horses were pre-entered in 11 BC contests. That doesn't count horses entered in two races in case they don't get realize their first choice.

Races for 2-year-olds have attracted the largest number of entries during the past two years.

This year's $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile drew the most pre-entries - 21. Surprisingly, no filly was entered in another race despite the field being limited to a dozen.

Last year, 23 were pre-entered in the inaugural Juvenile Turf. This year's $1 million race at 1 1/16 miles attracted 18, including four with second choices, but all make the 12-horse field.

This year's $2 million Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles enticed 17 pre-entries, with none having second choices, so three horses won't race on Oct. 25. The '08 Juvenile Fillies attracted 15 so only one could be left out.

Unlike previous years, there may be as many as two also-eligibles that have a shot to make each race as the scratch time for all contests is the morning of Oct. 24.

The smallest BC field comes in the headliner of the five races worth $8 million on the all-female card Oct. 24. The $2 million Ladies' Classic lured only eight going 1 1/8 miles.

Undefeated Zenyatta, who probably will be the odds-on favorite, apparently scared away some opposition. The 4-year-old is one of two horses (Tiago runs in the Classic Oct. 25) that trainer John Shirreffs entered.

The daughter of Street Cry scored an impressive 3 1/2-length victory in the six-furlong Humana Distaff over the Pro-Ride surface on Sept. 27 during the Oak Tree meeting. Runner-up Hystericalady seeks revenge as does Ginger Punch, who was third to Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Handicap.

Ginger Punch, defending champion of the race previously known as the Distaff, is only one of three horses pre-entered by trainer Dick Mandella. You might recall he had six triumphs in the past two BC events at Santa Anita.

The headliner runs in the Classic. Curlin, '07 Horse of the Year, is attempting to join Tiznow as the only two-time winner. While it's his debut on a synthetic surface, the son of Smart Strike has won on fast and sloppy dirt tracks and ran fairly well on the grass.

Curlin will perform at Santa Anita if his Oct. 13 workout is any indication - breezing five furlongs in 59 seconds flat.

However, he hasn't frightened away any rivals because 16 horses were pre-entered. His trainer Steve Asmussen has entered Student Council and Pyro in the 1 1/4-mile contest.

Two other conditioners are sending out two challengers each, including Aidan O'Brien, who tops all trainers with 10 horses pre-entered in eight races.

His brightest stars, Henrythenavigator and Duke of Marmalade, have numerous Group 1 victories across the Atlantic. Bobby Frankel, with seven horses entered in six races, sends out Hollywood Gold Cup winner Mast Track, the likely pacesetter, and Champs Elysees, third in the Santa Anita Handicap.

Two main contenders are the lightly-race Casino Drive, who toyed with rivals in an Oct. 12 allowance race at Santa Anita, and Go Between, who loves synthetic surfaces as demonstrated by a pair of Grade 1: the Pacific Classic and the Sunshine Millions Classic on the Left Coast.