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200 Entries For Breeders Cup Races

3 minute read

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Pacific Classic heroine Beholder and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victor Golden Horn headline a group of 200 entries for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships to be held at Keeneland next week.

American Pharoah
American Pharoah Picture: Racing and Sports

A record 44 horses qualified for automatic starting positions through the “Win and You’re In” program and 32 entrants come from overseas.

There are 13 Breeders’ Cup races and 10 have been oversubscribed with more than the starter maximum of 14 horses.

The exceptions are the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf, which are limited to 12 starters.

Chad Brown has the biggest entry list among trainers with 14 and while Coolmore leads the owners with 10 pre-entrants.

American Pharoah and Beholder lead the an imposing list 10 entries for the BC Classic boasting a combined 29 G1 victories.

The Triple Crown winner, who has not raced since finishing second to fellow Classic contender Keen Ice in the GI Travers Stakes on August 29, will be facing older horses for the first time.

Keen Ice also enters the BC Classic off an eight-week layoff since the Travers for trainer Dale Romans.

Dual Eclipse winner Beholder will attempt to be the first horse to win three different Breeders’ Cup races after taking the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2012 and GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 2013.

Conditioner Richard Mandella reported that she is completely back to normal and “jumping out of her hide” after spiking a slight fever and is ready to take on the Classic.

Beholder has only run outside of California twice, finishing second in the 2013 G1 Kentucky Oaks and fourth in the G1 Ogden Phipps Stakes.

Untapable does not come into the Breeders’ Cup off the type of stellar season she had last term, but she cannot be counted out as she attempts to defend her title in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

She faces a strong field of G1 winners that includes Wedding Toast, Curalina, I’m a Chatterbox, Sheer Drama and Got Lucky.

One of the likely Distaff favorites, Wedding Toast enters on a three-win streak at Belmont, most recently capturing the G1 Beldame Invitational on September 26.

Also looking to defend his title is Karakontie, who will face several top European milers as well as Tepin and Grand Arch who headline the American contingent in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Woodward Stakes hero Liam’s Map headlines the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile while Stephanie’s Kitten and Big Blue Kitten look to continue strong seasons in the GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf and GI Breeders’ Cup Turf respectively.

Both will face major challenges from the European contingent, which is highly represented in both races by several G1 winners.

The GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint looks to be a duel between speed balls Runhappy and Private Zone while Judy The Beauty looks to return to previous form and capture her second GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint against Cavorting, who enters off a trio of victories that includes the GI Test Stakes.

Bobby’s Kitten hopes to get back on track and become a two-time winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint where he will face Lady Shipman, Ageless and Undrafted.

The juvenile races all boast very strong fields with the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies featuring royally-bred Rachel’s Valentina and Songbird.

The GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is headlined by G1 winners Nyquist, Ralis, Greenpointcrusader and Brody’s Cause.

After a disappointing debut effort on the turf the Dale Romans-trained Brody’s Cause came charging late when switched to the dirt at Churchill Downs and displayed that same late turn of foot when winning Keeneland’s GI Breeders’ Futurity Stakes on October 3.


Racing and Sports

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