Breeders' Cup 2018 pre-entries: Fields for all 14 races
A record 221 individual Breeders' Cup pre-entries for all 14 championship races Nov. 2-3 at Churchill Downs were revealed Wednesday.
Some fields were over-subscribed, with this a key step in the process toward making the gate. As many as 14 can go postward, and each race can contain two also-eligibles. A combination of points earned from graded stakes finishes and input from a panel of experts determine who makes it in each race.
Twenty-five horses were cross-entered in two races for a total of 246 entries. Five past Breeders' Cup winners will run: Talismanic, Roy H, Oscar Performance, Stormy Liberal and Mendelssohn.
Final entries will be taken and post positions drawn on Monday.
$6 million Classic
It's the big one, and there had to be some tough decisions. As far as those pre-entered, each of Bravazo, Gunnevera, Seeking the Soul, Collected and Toast of New York are on the outside looking in. Those are listed in order of preference. City of Light and Bravazo list the Dirt Mile as first preference. So there are decisions to be made.
A race dominated by European contenders has a clear favorite despite a large prospective field. The one to beat, squarely, is the 4-year-old Enable. The 2017 winner Talismanic will be back to defend his title.
It's a meeting between the top older female, Abel Tasman, and best 3-year-old filly, Monomoy Girl, at 1 1/8 miles.
With most of the top Europeans targeting the Turf, here's an opportunity for domestic runners to capitalize, including Oscar Performance, a previous Breeders' Cup winner.
What a race. Roy H and Imperial Hint, the 1-2 finishers from last year, will be challenged by X Y Jet, Promises Fulfilled and a number of others in one of the strongest Sprints ever.
It's the Chad Brown invitational, essentially, as his Sistercharlie leads as many as five runners from that barn.
This race -- as you can see -- has a number of moving parts. Some will go to the Classic and others the Sprint. The also-eligibles should make it in. Undefeated Catalina Cruiser will go as the favorite.
Defending winner Stormy Liberal is back to take on Richard's Boy and Disco Partner, who also hit the board last year at Del Mar.
Another where trainer Bob Baffert holds a strong hand, this race features last out Prioress (G2) winner Dream Tree, while Marley's Freedom also shipped to win at Saratoga, taking the Ballerina (G1).
Fifteen were pre-entered for this spot, most of them familiar names who have already competed in the early Kentucky Derby preps. Game Winner, the Bob Baffert-trained unbeaten, should go as the favorite.
The Aidan O'Brien barn and Coolmore connections will look to follow up Mendelssohn's 2017 victory with Anthony Van Dyck. Current won the domestic "Win and You're In" prep, Keeneland's Bourbon Stakes (G3).
West Coast-based Bellafina, a multiple Grade 1 winner, leads the way with Sippican Harbor having won Saratoga's Spinaway (G1) and Serengeti Empress a dominant last out Churchill winner.
$1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf
Chad Brown-trained Newspaperofrecord will look to continue his run of good fortune in this race, following up on Rushing Fall's 2017 victory.
This 5 1/2-furlong event features six horses pre-entered by trainer Wesley Ward, including Shang Shang Shang, a Royal Ascot. A total of 15 horses were pre-entered but did not make this prospective group of 14.