The Breeders’ Cup Championship
One hundred twenty-eight horses have been pre-entered in the eight Breeders' Cup Championship races to be run Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The announcement, and the rundown on the horses seeking a share of the $13 million in purses, was made at the elegant Williams Island Club in North Miami-Dade County.
Tom Durkin, the voice of the Breeders' Cup who gave up his regular Gulfstream assignment for more free time, did the honors at a special luncheon where film of the 1998 races was shown.
Entries in the first two races on the card are assured of being in Wednesday's post position draw at Gulfstream. Fields are limited to 14, but the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up has only 11 horses. That may shrink because the 1 1/8 miles contest on the
main track is the second choice of two horses.
The race, however, will be most competitive: Silverbulletday, one of trainer Bob Baffert's six campaigners; Beautiful Pleasure, who defeated Silverbulletday in the muddy Beldame Stakes; and Banshee Breeze, second in this race last year at Churchill Downs.
There are 10 entries in the $1 million BC Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, topped by another Baffert horse, Chilukki, undefeated in six outings.
The most pre-entries, 25, are in the $1 million BC Mile on the turf for 3-year-olds and up. This is where the top eight BC point earners have the edge -- contenders like Hawksley Hill, Middlesex Drive, Garbu and Silic automatically qualify. The other six were selected by the BC racing directors/secretaries panel.
If there are any defections or withdrawals, some of the other 11 pre-entered horses would be allowed to fill vacancies up until 10 a.m. Wednesday, 90 minutes before post positions are drawn.
There are 23 pre-entries for the $1 million BC Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs on the main track. The contenders guaranteed to make the starting gate include Artax, who broke track records at Belmont and Saratoga this year; Foresty, another Baffert standout; and Affirmed Success,
trained by Richard Schosberg. Son of a Pistol, trained by Bruce Headley, was supplemented.
This will be the first running of the BC Filly & Mare Turf for 3-year-olds and up. The 1 3/8 miles contest is worth $1 million. Contenders include Soaring Softly, Perfect Sting, Spanish Fern and Coretta.
The $1 million BC Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles on the main track has been won five of the 15 runnings by trainer D. Wayne Lukas. His High Yield, who captured the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, will have plenty of talented company: Forest Camp, the Del Mar Futurity winner; Captain Steve, a supplemental entry who won the Breeders' Futurity at Kenneland; and Dixie Union, winner of the Norfolk at Santa Anita.
The copyright of the article The Breeders’ Cup Championship in Horse Racing is owned by Greg Melikov. Permission to republish The Breeders’ Cup Championship in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Go To Page:
1
2
Articles in this Topic
Discussions in this Topic
|
Latest Articles