Breeders’ Cup Classic could have 14 maximum entries to run over 1 ¼ miles
As of 17 October, 2012, it seemed as if 13 horses will pre-enter the Grade 1, $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on 3 November, 2012, at Santa Anita Park, and the number of entrants is unlikely to go any higher for the major event of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
The abandonment of Stay Thirsty from the Breeders’ Cup Classic yesterday has pretty much confirmed that this year the number of horses participating in the 1 ¼ mile event will not exceed the maximum of 14.
On the other hand, owner of Wise Dan, Morton Fink has not even opted for the Classic, and the horse will not even pre-enter the race. The chance of fewer that could still run the race is more likely as Dullahan and Nonios are both pre-entered in different races including the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but there is still a chance that both of them could opt out.
Breeders’ Cup World Championships give horses and their connections the opportunity to be pre-entered in more than one Breeders’ Cup race, but owner Morton Fink did not even try to use that luxury, as he and owner Charles Lopresti has always pointed, Wise Dan toward the Breeders’ Cup Mile, as the Mile and the Classic are run on the same date, 3 November.
The runner was not even considered for the race, and this means that the number and the level of competition will drop in the 1 ¼ mile Classic.
“I sent in my entry slip three days ago, and just put down the Mile,” Fink said from his home in Chicago. “That’s the only one we’re running in.”
Dale Romans trained Dullahan, who recently defeated the early Classic favourite, Game on Dude to win the Pacific Classic has been cross entered in both the Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt and the 1 ½ miles Turf, but after arriving at Santa Anita on 15 October, Romans indicated that he will work on dirt.
Jerry Hollendorfer trainer, Nonios after finishing second in the Awesome Again is also cross entered the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Classic.
The pre-entries will be officially annnounced on 24 October, 2012.
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