What a field for Breeders Cup Classic
NEW YORK -- The top three Kentucky Derby finishers -- Street Sense, Hard Spun and Curlin -- will meet again in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic in a race that most likely will settle Horse of the Year.
"This is possibly the deepest Breeders' Cup field, if not the deepest, we've ever had," Breeders' Cup president Greg Avioli said Wednesday after nine horses were pre-entered for the 1ΒΌ-mile Classic at New Jersey's Monmouth Park on Oct. 27.
Add two other formidable 3-year-olds in Haskell Invitational winner Any Given Saturday and Goodwood Handicap winner Tiago, plus leading older horse Lawyer Ron and European standout George Washington, and it's easy to see why most will agree with Avioli's assessment.
"These horses have been beating each other all year," Street Sense trainer Carl Nafzger said during a conference call. "This race has got everything you want. It's going to be a great Classic, and I'm glad to be part of it."
A total of 141 horses were pre-entered for the $23 million, 11-race Breeders' Cup World Championships, held over two days for the first time.
Final entries and the post-position draw are Tuesday.