Wed Oct 17 14:09:24 2007

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Record number pre-entered for 24th Breeders' Cup

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Oceanport, NJ (Sports Network) - Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and Preakness champ Curlin are two of the record 141 thoroughbreds who have been pre-entered for all 11 Breeders' Cup races scheduled for October 26 and 27 at Monmouth Park. For the first time since the Breeders' Cup began in 1984, the event will conducted over two days.

Post positions for all 11 Breeders' Cup World Championships races will be drawn on Tuesday, October 23 at Monmouth Park. There will be three new $1 million Breeders' Cup races run on Breeders' Cup Friday and eight Breeders' Cup races on Breeders' Cup Saturday.

Nine thoroughbreds have been pre-entered for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic. In addition to Street Sense and Curlin, the other possible contenders are Any Given Saturday, Awesome Gem, Diamond Stripes, George Washington, Hard Spun, Lawyer Ron and Tiago.

The $3 million Turf has a dozen horses pre-entered including 2004 winner Better Talk Now and 2006 champ Red Rocks.

The three new Breeders' Cup races, to be conducted on Friday, October 26, helped push the total of pre-entered thoroughbreds to the 141 total.

The $1 million Dirt Mile has 11 pre-entered horses, including Met Mile winner Corinthian and veteran runners Commentator and Wanderin Boy. Five of the horses named for the Dirt Mile have also been pre-entered for other Breeders' Cup races.

The first ever $1 million Juvenile Turf race has 23 horses pre-entered, with five of them cross-entered for the two Juvenile races scheduled for Saturday, October 27.

The $1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint has attracted 12 pre-entered females for its initial running. Hystercalady, winner of the Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park, will among the favorites.

The $2 million Juvenile Fillies and Juvenile races have each drawn 16 pre- entered two-year-olds. Last year's Juvenile champ Street Sense went on to become the first winner to capture the Kentucky Derby.

Among the pre-entered two-year-old fillies are Spinaway Stakes winner Irish Smoke and highly regarded Indian Blessing. Some of the two-year-old colts are Hopeful Stakes champ Majestic Warrior, Belmont Futurity winner Tale of Ekati and Kodiak Kowboy, winner of the Saratoga Special.

Honey Ryder, third in last year's Filly & Mare Turf, is one of 13 females to be pre-entered for the $2 million grass race. Juddmonte Spinster Stakes winner Panty Raid is also pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

The six-furlong $2 million Sprint has 15 horses pre-entered. Among the 15 thoroughbreds are Forego Stakes winner Midnight Lute, Smokey Stover, who has won five races this year and Smile Sprint winner Mach Ride.

The $2 million Mile has 18 pre-entered thoroughbreds. Among those pre-entered for the one-mile turf event are Del Mar Handicap winner After Market, Wood Memorial champ Nobiz Like Shobiz and multiple stakes winner Kip Deville.

The 1 1/8 mile $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff has 15 ladies pre-entered. Topping the list are Alabama Stakes winner Lady Joanne, Clement Hirsh Handicap champ Nashoba's Key and Octave, winner of the Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks.

The first three Breeders' Cup races will be televised on Friday by ESPN2 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. (et). On Saturday ESPN will broadcast from 12:00-7:00 p.m. (et) with the remaining eight races.