Kentucky Derby champion Fusaichi Pegasus, 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid, Brazilian-bred Beldame winner Riboletta and defending Distaff champion Beautiful Pleasure were among a record 135 horses pre-entered on Wednesday for the Breeders Cup.
The $4 million Breeders` Cup Classic, one of eight Grade I races in the November 4 programme at Churchill Downs, boasts an outstanding field that could bring Horse of the Year honours to the winner.
Three-year-old Fusaichi Pegasus returns to Churchill Downs where he electrified the racing world last spring by winning the Kentucky Derby in a dominant performance.
Other challengers include Lemon Drop Kid, who has assembled some impressive major stakes victories over the past two years, including consecutive wins in the Brooklyn, Suburban, Whitney and Woodward Handicaps.
Europe provides another formidable runner in the Classic with Giant`s Causeway. Trained by Aidan O`Brien, Giant`s Causeway has won five group I races in Europe this year, including the Irish Champion Stakes in September.
The opening race of the Breeders` Cup card, the $2 million Distaff, features a showdown between Riboletta, the nation`s top older female, against defending champion Beautiful Pleasure.
The Turf, run at 1 1/2 miles, features a powerful contingent of European entries led by 4-year-old Montjeu. Another strong starter should be Kalanisi.
Trainer Bob Baffert has pre-entered a potentially powerful group of horses for both the Juvenile and the Juvenile Fillies. For the Juvenile, Baffert has pre-entered Flame Thrower and Arabian Light. Another top contender should be the Nick Zito-trained A P Valentine.
Baffert won the 1998 Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs with Silverbulletday. This time he brings in Notable Career, a fourth-length winner of the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita. She faces a stern test from Raging Fever, who is unbeaten in five career starts.
Reuters
