A total of 180 horses, led by 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin, were announced on Thursday as a record number of pre-entries for the 25th Breeders’ Cup, to be held Oct. 24-25 at Santa Anita.

Curlin was one of 16 horses pre-entered in the $5 million Classic, in which he is the defending champion. The Classic is the richest of the 14 races, worth $25.5 million, to be held over the two days. Among those entered against Curlin are the unbeaten Japanese colt Casino Drive, Pacific Classic winner Go Between, Travers winner Colonel John, and three European invaders - Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator, and Raven’s Pass.

Aidan O’Brien, the trainer of Duke of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator, leads all European trainers with 10 pre-entered horses. There were 35 European-based horses pre-entered, a record.

Curlin is one of seven previous Breeders’ Cup winners who were pre-entered. The others are Better Talk Now, Ginger Punch, Indian Blessing, Kip Deville, Midnight Lute, and Red Rocks.

Better Talk Now, 9, won the 2004 Turf and will be competing in the Turf for the fifth straight year, tying him for most Breeders’ Cup appearances with Kona Gold and Perfect Drift. He is the oldest horse in this year’s Breeders’ Cup.

Ginger Punch won last year’s Distaff, and will defend her title in that race, which is now known as the Ladies’ Classic.

Indian Blessing, the winner last year of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, has been pre-entered in the both the Sprint, against males, and the Filly and Mare Sprint, in which she is expected to start.

Kip Deville will be attempting to defend his title in the Mile on turf, and Midnight Lute is back to defend his title in the Sprint.

Red Rocks won the Breeders’ Cup Turf two years ago.

Of the 14 races, the five exclusively for female horses will be run on Oct. 24, with the remaining nine races run on Oct. 25.

The highlight of the Oct. 24 card is the Ladies’ Classic, in which the unbeaten Zenyatta will face Cocoa Beach, Ginger Punch, Hystericalady, and Music Note. Because of the depth of quality in the Ladies’ Classic, only eight horses were entered.

Thursday’s announcement was the first of a two-step entry process. At this point, horses can be pre-entered in as many as two races; 30 horses were cross-entered.

Next Tuesday, final entries are due. Horses who are cross-entered must be put into a single race, and then post positions are drawn for all 14 races.

Most of the races are restricted to 14 starters, but three - the Dirt Mile, Juvenile Turf, and Juvenile Fillies Turf - are limited to 12. Eight of the 14 races were oversubscribed at the pre-entry stage. In those cases, horses in the body of the race were first determined by who had won Win and You’re In qualifying races this calendar year. Then horses were slotted based on points earned during the year in graded stakes races. Finally, a committee of international racing officials ranked the remaining contenders.

For instance, in the Classic, 16 horses were pre-entered. Curlin, Go Between, and Well Armed won Win and You’re In races and were first in. Colonel John, Pyro, Smooth Air, Student Council, and Tiago got the next five slots, based on points in graded stakes. The committee gave the final six spots to Casino Drive, Champs Elysee, Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator, Mast Track, and Raven’s Pass. The committee made Fairbanks and Awesome Gem alternates, in that order. They draw in if someone from the main body of the race defects between now and entry time Tuesday.

In addition, for the first time this year, the Breeders’ Cup will have as many two also-eligibles per race at the final entry stage, giving those on the outside looking in a few more days to draw in. Scratch time for all 14 races is the morning of Oct. 24.

In the Classic, seven of the 16 horses were pre-entered in two races. Fairbanks (Marathon) and Well Armed (Dirt Mile) were denoted as having first preference in other races, so, in essence, all who want to run in the Classic should be able to run.

There were 38 horses who pre-entered Breeders’ Cup races and received automatic qualifying spots through Win and You’re In races.

Big Brown will try and become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 in New York.

Big Brown, trying to become the first horse to sweep the US flat racing Triple Crown in 30 years, arrived here Monday at Belmont Park to begin preparations for next month’s Belmont Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby champion won the Preakness last Saturday to claim the first second jewel in the treble and will try to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to sweep the series at the Belmont Stakes on June 7.

Belmont offers the longest challenge of the Triple Crown at 1 1/2 miles but trainer Richard Dutrow, who predicted Big Brown’s two wins this month, was confident Monday his horse was ready for the test.

Big Brown, who could become the 12th Triple Crown champion, has won his five career races by an average of nearly eight lengths.

In the 30 years sinced Affirmed’s treble, 10 horses have won both the Derby and Preakness but were beaten at Belmont, the most recent of those being Smarty Jones in 2004.

The 2008 Derby will be known for the tragic death of Eight Belles. Her death overshadowed the perfomance of Big Brown that day. With the Preakness and the potential of a Triple Crown betting sweep coming up on May 17th, Eight Belles death will bring back the memory of Barbaro in 2006. That is what I remember when I think of the Preakness.

People are saying that 3rd place finished Denis of Cork should be encouraged to run in the Preakness after his showing in the Derby. They have to understand that Pimlico race course is a speed favoring track and that is good for Big Brown. Denis of Cork is a come-from-behind horse and that goes well at this racetrack. My guess is that he will probably go in the last leg of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park on June 17th. This will give him an extra 1/4 mile and could allow him to catch a tired Big Brown from running 3 races in 5 weeks.

I would love to see a Triple Crown winner in my lifetime and it could be this year. I think Big Brown is an incredible horse and should win it, but I would have loved to see that rematch with Eight Belles. Big Brown should win the Preakness with ease in what is going to be a short field, and then on to Belmont to try to complete his quest for the Triple Crown on June 17th.

As of Tuesday afternoon there were seven confirmed starters for the 1 3/16 mile race:

Big Brown; Behindatthebar; Giant Moon; Kentucky Bear; Stevil; Tres Borrachos and Yankee Bravo. A decision has not been made regarding Recapturethglory, fifth in the Kentucky Derby.

El Gato Malo, a winner of three of five career races, is now being pointed toward this Saturday’s Lone Star Derby in Texas. Terry Finley, founder and President of West Point Thoroughbreds, made the announcement Tuesday morning.

“The decision certainly had to do with Big Brown’s performance,” Finley said. “We are probably going to be 8-5 in Texas and 15-1 at Pimlico. He is a gelding and we are really focused on earning with this horse so that worked into the decision. If he were a colt and eventually a stallion we probably would be headed to the Preakness.”

Finley indicated that Derby Trial winner Macho Again is now possible for the Preakness, depending on the field size.

“We’ll see how he trains but he seems to have come out of the Derby Trial in fine fashion,” added Finley. “It is not out of the question. We’ll keep track of the Preakness field.”

If he does not run in the second leg of racing’s Triple Crown, Macho Again would travel to suburban Cleveland on May 31 for the Ohio Derby at Thistledown.

Lexington Stakes runner Riley Tucker is now a Preakness probable. Trained by Bill Mott, Riley Tucker was third to Behindatthebar in the Lexington. In seven lifetime starts he has been in the money six times. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado would have the mount on Riley Tucker.

Recapturetheglory’s co-owner Ronnie Lamarque said from New Orleans on Tuesday that he and Louie Roussel, the trainer and co-owner, were “still thinking about the Preakness.” Like the connections of Macho Again, Lamarque is concerned with the size of the field for the Preakness.

“Louie and Ronnie are still talking about it,” said Lara Van Deren, assistant to Roussel who also serves as Recapturetheglory’s exercise rider. “They want to see how many horses are likely to be in there before they make a decision.”

Lamrque and Roussel won the Preakness Stakes in 1988 with Risen Star.

So many of them should not bother this year. At this point, it is extremely difficult to imagine any horse other than Pyro, Big Brown or Colonel John winning the 134th Derby.

Pyro, who will have his final prep in the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland, and Florida Derby winner Big Brown are generally considered the top two 3-year-olds in the country, but Colonel John also deserves mention and could upset both of them in 25 days.

Although he has yet to prove himself on conventional dirt, Colonel John was very professional in his best win, in the Santa Anita Derby. Being a son of two time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow, he also should have no trouble with the Derby distance of 1 ¼ miles.

Colonel John was the only winner of a Derby prep on Saturday who is a legitimate contender in Louisville.

The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct was an ugly affair. Tale of Ekati prevailed despite a turtle-like final eighth of a mile. Rest assured, the last furlong of the Kentucky Derby won’t take more than 14 seconds to complete.

As for War Pass, the Derby is the last place he should compete in three weeks from Saturday. If the 2-year-old champion of 2007 couldn’t win the Wood after being hounded early through some quick fractions by a hopeless longshot, how is he going to take the heat of Big Brown at Churchill Downs and keep going? War Pass is a one-dimensional speed horse who needs everything in his favor, and that is not a trip he is going to get on the first Saturday of next month. If he does start, a 16th or 17th place finish - or worse — is in his future.

All the Illinois Derby showed, which was won by front-running longshot Recapturetheglory, is that Atoned, Denis of Cork and Z Humor aren’t legitimate Derby threats. Recapturetheglory, whose only win before Saturday came against maidens, will never get an easier trip. All he will be in the Derby is another pace casualty.

Of all the stakes races run around the country Saturday, no winner was more impressive than Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

The massive daughter of Street Cry blew away a field that included Ginger Punch, the 2007 older filly/mare champion, for her fourth win in as many starts for owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs.

It would be exciting to see Zenyatta take on males in the coming months because there is no handicap horse in California that could touch her. Her presence would spice up the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, which will be run June 28 at Hollywood Park.


Kentucky Derby Fever heats Up:

So, this is how horse racing clears up the picture for its May 3 Kentucky Derby? A weekend of three Derby prep races and not one favorite wins?

In the Wood Memorial, here at Aqueduct Racetrack, favorite War Pass ran hard but was beaten by a half length by Tale of Ekati, who had finished sixth in his previous race.

In Chicago, Illinois Derby favorite Denis of Cork suffered his first career defeat, finishing fifth. Recapturetheglory, whose only other victory had come in a maiden race, won for trainer and owner Louie Roussel.

Roussel’s name is not totally unfamiliar. Though he has been out of the training business for four years, Roussel is known for training Risen Star to victories in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1988. Yes, that is 20 years ago.

And, in California, favorite El Gato Malo finished fifth in the Santa Anita Derby, while Colonel John punched his ticket to the Derby by coming from ninth place to win by a half length.

Colonel John’s trainer, Eoin Harty, noted horses who run well in the Santa Anita “historically” show up and do well on Kentucky Derby day.

“That’s what we’re hoping,” Harty told the media there after the race.

Lately, though, California horses have not been held in high regard outside that state. This year, with the tracks there having switched to artificial surfaces, their abilities are being regarded as even more suspect.

That means going into this Saturday’s races - the Grade I, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Grade II, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park - Big Brown and Pyro remain at the top of the list of Derby prospects. Big Brown dominated the Florida Derby, and Pyro won the Louisiana Derby last time out.

Tampa Bay Derby winner Big Truck, who like Tale of Ekati is trained by Barclay Tagg, could move forward with another winning performance if he goes in the Blue Grass.

But the competition will be stiff.

Cool Coal Man, trained by Nick Zito and winner of the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes, is in the field, as is Pyro and possibly several of trainer Todd Pletcher’s prospects, as well as Gotham winner Visionaire, trained by Michael Matz.

The horse who wins the Blue Grass will leave no one in doubt of his credentials.

Tagg had no doubt about Tale of Ekati’s credentials yesterday after watching a replay of his horse stalking the pace Saturday in the Wood and then coming on strong down the stretch to snatch a half- length victory from War Pass.

Saturday night Tagg and Tale of Ekati flew to Keeneland, where the trainer said yesterday: “Everything is right. He’s going into the Kentucky Derby in the right way.”

Tagg said he still has to make a final decision on his two other prospects, Big Truck and Elysium Fields.

“I’m still not sure if I am going to run both of them here in the Blue Grass or run one here and one in the Arkansas Derby,” he said.

Zito was still in New York yesterday morning, but War Pass had already shipped out. The trainer said he also felt good about the results of the Wood.

“It’s the only big race that I finished second in that I appreciated it as a win,” Zito said. “He ran as tough as he could and showed what kind of horse he is.”

War Pass was coming back from a 27-length defeat in the Tampa Bay Derby in which he broke badly, was squeezed by two horses and then suffered breathing problems.

• Note // Bsharpsonata came out of the Grade I Ashland Stakes, in which she ran second, in good shape according to John Salzman, who is handling the horse’s training for his son, Tim, who is based at Laurel Park. The elder Salzman said the filly is expected to go today to Churchill Downs, where she will train up to the Grade I Kentucky Oaks, which is run the day before the Derby.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby:Jan. 27 — California Derby, Golden Gate, 1 1/16 miles (Yankee Bravo, Cafe Tortoni, Victory Pete)

Feb. 2 — Robert B. Lewis, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles (Crown of Thorns, Coast Guard, Reflect Times)

Feb. 2 — Swale, Gulfstream, 6 1/2f (Eaton’s Gift, Surrealdeal, Wincat)

Feb. 2 — Whirlaway, Aqueduct, 1 1/16 miles (Barrier Reef, Roman Emperor, Texas Wildcatter)

Feb. 9 — Risen Star, Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 miles (Pyro, Z Fortune, Visionaire)

Feb. 10 — San Vicente, Santa Anita, 7f (Georgie Boy, Into Mischief, Massive Drama)

Feb. 16 — Borderland Derby, Sunland Park, 1 1/16 miles (Poni Colada, Cape Time, No Jepordy)

Feb. 16 — Sam F. Davis, Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles (Fierce Wind, Big Truck, Smooth Air)

Feb. 18 — Southwest, Oaklawn Park, 1m (Denis of Cork, Sierra Sunset, Liberty Bull/Sacred Journey-dead heat)

Feb. 24 — Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream, 1 1/8 miles (Cool Coal Man, Elysium Fields, Court Vision)

Mar. 1 — Sham, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 miles (Colonel John, El Gato Malo, Victory Pete)

Mar. 1 — John Battaglia Memorial, Turfway Park, 1 1/16 miles (Absolutely Cindy, Your Round, Dixie Decision)

Mar. 8 — El Camino Real Derby, Bay Meadows, 1 1/16 miles (Autism Awareness, Nikki’sgoldensteed, Tres Borrachos)

Mar. 8 — Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 miles (Pyro, My Pal Charlie, Yankee Bravo)

Mar. 8 — Gotham, Aqueduct, 1 1/16 miles (Visionaire, Texas Wildcatter, Larrys Revenge)

Mar. 15 — Rebel, Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16 miles (Sierra Sunset, King’s Silver Son, Isabull)

Mar. 15 — San Felipe, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles (Georgie Boy, Gayego, Bob Black Jack)

Mar. 15 — Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles (Big Truck, Atoned, Dynamic Wayne)

Mar. 16 — Winstar Derby, Sunland Park, 1 1/8 miles (Liberty Bull, Screen to Screen, Ablaze With Spirit)

Mar. 22 — Lane’s End, Turfway Park, 1 1/8 miles (Adriano, Halo Najib, Medjool)

Mar. 22 — Rushaway, Turfway Park, 1 1/16 miles (Big Glen, Miner’s Claim, Icabad Crane)

Mar. 22 — Private Terms, Laurel, 1m (Double Or Nothing, Regal Solo, Vanderkaay)

Mar. 29 — Florida Derby, Gulfstream, 1 1/8 miles (Big Brown, Smooth Air, Tomcito)

Mar. 29 — San Miguel, Santa Anita, 6f (Salute the Sarge, Leonides, Sea of Pleasure)

Apr. 5 — Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 miles (Colonel John, Bob Black Jack, Coast Guard)

Apr. 5 — Bay Shore, Aqueduct, 7f (J Be K, Gattopardo, Jockey Ridge)

Apr. 5 — Wood Memorial, Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles (Tale of Ekati, War Pass, Court Vision)

Apr. 5 — Illinois Derby, Hawthorne, 1 1/8 miles (Recapturetheglory, Golden Spikes, Z Humor)

Apr. 6 — Lafayette, Keeneland, 7f (Keep Laughing, Hatta Fort, Eaton’s Gift)

Apr. 12 — Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, 1 1/8 miles

Apr. 12 — Blue Grass, Keeneland, 1 1/8 miles

Apr. 12 — Holy Bull, Gulfstream, 1 3 /16 miles

Apr. 19 — Federico Tesio, Pimlico, 1 1/8 miles

Apr. 19 — Lexington, Keeneland, 1 1/16 miles

Apr. 26 — Derby Trial, Churchill Downs, 1m

Apr. 26 — Withers, Aqueduct, 1mile

May 3 — Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, 1 1/4 miles

So, this is how horse racing clears up the picture for its May 3 Kentucky Derby? A weekend of three Derby prep races and not one favorite wins?

In the Wood Memorial, here at Aqueduct Racetrack, favorite War Pass ran hard but was beaten by a half length by Tale of Ekati, who had finished sixth in his previous race.

In Chicago, Illinois Derby favorite Denis of Cork suffered his first career defeat, finishing fifth. Recapturetheglory, whose only other victory had come in a maiden race, won for trainer and owner Louie Roussel.

Roussel’s name is not totally unfamiliar. Though he has been out of the training business for four years, Roussel is known for training Risen Star to victories in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1988. Yes, that is 20 years ago.

And, in California, favorite El Gato Malo finished fifth in the Santa Anita Derby, while Colonel John punched his ticket to the Derby by coming from ninth place to win by a half length.

Colonel John’s trainer, Eoin Harty, noted horses who run well in the Santa Anita “historically” show up and do well on Kentucky Derby day.

“That’s what we’re hoping,” Harty told the media there after the race.

Lately, though, California horses have not been held in high regard outside that state. This year, with the tracks there having switched to artificial surfaces, their abilities are being regarded as even more suspect.

That means going into this Saturday’s races - the Grade I, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Grade II, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park - Big Brown and Pyro remain at the top of the list of Derby prospects. Big Brown dominated the Florida Derby, and Pyro won the Louisiana Derby last time out.

Tampa Bay Derby winner Big Truck, who like Tale of Ekati is trained by Barclay Tagg, could move forward with another winning performance if he goes in the Blue Grass.

But the competition will be stiff.

Cool Coal Man, trained by Nick Zito and winner of the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes, is in the field, as is Pyro and possibly several of trainer Todd Pletcher’s prospects, as well as Gotham winner Visionaire, trained by Michael Matz.

The horse who wins the Blue Grass will leave no one in doubt of his credentials.

Tagg had no doubt about Tale of Ekati’s credentials yesterday after watching a replay of his horse stalking the pace Saturday in the Wood and then coming on strong down the stretch to snatch a half- length victory from War Pass.

Saturday night Tagg and Tale of Ekati flew to Keeneland, where the trainer said yesterday: “Everything is right. He’s going into the Kentucky Derby in the right way.”

Tagg said he still has to make a final decision on his two other prospects, Big Truck and Elysium Fields.

“I’m still not sure if I am going to run both of them here in the Blue Grass or run one here and one in the Arkansas Derby,” he said.

Zito was still in New York yesterday morning, but War Pass had already shipped out. The trainer said he also felt good about the results of the Wood.

“It’s the only big race that I finished second in that I appreciated it as a win,” Zito said. “He ran as tough as he could and showed what kind of horse he is.”

War Pass was coming back from a 27-length defeat in the Tampa Bay Derby in which he broke badly, was squeezed by two horses and then suffered breathing problems.

• Note // Bsharpsonata came out of the Grade I Ashland Stakes, in which she ran second, in good shape according to John Salzman, who is handling the horse’s training for his son, Tim, who is based at Laurel Park. The elder Salzman said the filly is expected to go today to Churchill Downs, where she will train up to the Grade I Kentucky Oaks, which is run the day before the Derby.

2007 Leaders in Thoroughbred Racing

(through Sept. 30)

LEADING HORSES
    Name                     Starts     1sts    2nds    3rds         Purses
 1. Invasor (ARG)                 2        2       0       0     $3,900,000
 2. Street Sense                  7        4       3       0     $2,950,000
 3. Curlin                        8        5       1       2     $2,402,800
 4. Hard Spun                     9        4       2       1     $1,572,500
 5. Lava Man                      6        3       1       0     $1,405,000
 6. Rags to Riches                6        5       1       0     $1,340,028
 7. Lawyer Ron                    7        4       2       1     $1,320,000
 8. Kelly's Landing               3        2       0       0     $1,263,000
 9. Tiago                         7        4       0       1     $1,109,750
10. Unbridled Belle               4        2       2       0     $1,060,000

LEADING JOCKEYS
    Name                     Mounts     1sts    2nds    3rds         Purses
 1. Garrett K. Gomez            985      199     163     150    $16,455,724
 2. John R. Velazquez           907      170     123     124    $13,556,385
 3. Robby Albarado              910      191     154     143    $13,069,397
 4. Edgar S. Prado              979      181     155     126    $12,314,024
 5. Ramon A. Dominguez         1051      266     178     166    $11,895,339
 6. Rafael Bejarano            1186      186     198     152    $10,751,878
 7. Cornelio H. Velasquez      1315      211     173     172    $10,607,858
 8. Eibar Coa                  1254      217     206     179    $10,377,441
 9. Victor Espinoza             897      156     130     113     $9,875,088
10. Kent J. Desormeaux          869      159     141     108     $9,859,023

LEADING TRAINERS
    Name                     Starts     1sts    2nds    3rds         Purses
 1. Todd A. Pletcher            983      233     144     151    $22,463,273
 2. Steven M. Asmussen         1689      356     308     232    $15,687,138
 3. Kiaran P. McLaughlin        396       93      69      45    $10,005,809
 4. Doug F. O'Neill             810      128     110     115     $9,082,894
 5. Robert J. Frankel           403       97      84      55     $7,787,931
 6. Scott A. Lake              1769      357     334     258     $7,363,978
 7. William I. Mott             574      120      80      79     $7,253,844
 8. Gary C. Contessa            970      141     140     155     $6,105,235
 9. Richard E. Dutrow Jr.       520      133      88      82     $5,989,862
10. Jerry Hollendorfer          722      182     133      98     $5,098,607

Get ready for horse betting action. Here is a rundown of the important Breeders Cup prep races this weekend:

Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland: This might end up being a match-up race between Shakis, winner of the Grade II Bernard Baruch in August and the hard trying, never say die, Silver Tree. Shakis will go off at low odds, but be careful - - Trainer Kieran McLaughlin may be using the Shadwell Turf Mile as a prep for the Breeders Cup and Shakis is going from 11 furlongs to 8. It will be quite a battle between these two turf horses!

Champagne Stakes at Belmont: Every year the Champagne Stakes produces one of the favorites, and usually the favorite, in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. This year will probably be no different as two of the highest rated two-year old colts in the country do battle in the Champagne. The favorite will be Majestic Warrior and he should be after romping in this past summer’s Hopeful Stakes. But, the Warrior is not a lock! Can Ready’s Image, out of the powerful Todd Pletcher barn, bounce back from his horrible Hopeful run? Can Steve Asmussen trained Kodiak Kowboy take the next step towards Breeders Cup glory? You won’t want to miss wagering on this one!

Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Oak Tree at Santa Anita: This race lost some luster when trainer John Shireffs decided to send After Market to the East Coast and run him in the Kelso Stakes. That turned the Clement L. Hirsch from a major prep for After Market into a wide open affair. What that means is that the horse that wins this race could be a live long-shot come Breeders Cup Day!

Jerome Handicap at Belmont: Both EZ Warrior and First Defense decided to take on freakish sprinter, Fabolous Strike, in the Grade I Vosburgh. That means the Jerome is much like the Clement L. Hirsch. Will an up and coming three-year old make his presence felt in the Jerome? Will there be a colt that questions the divisional supremacy of Hard Spun, Street Sense, and Curlin?

Lady’s Secret Stakes at Oak Tree at Santa Anita: The question going into this race is how good is Fun Logic? With the best Distaffers showing their stuff on the East Coast, it is up the Bill Currin trained Fun Logic to keep the fire going for the west coast fillies and mares. Fun Logic has a terrific chance in the Lady’s Secret to stamp herself as a contender in the Breeders Cup Distaff!

Oak Tree Mile at Oak Tree at Santa Anita: This race gained huge amounts of luster as the great Lava Man, a former $50,000 claimer who has won over 5 million dollars goes back to the grass in this graded event! But, the Lava isn’t alone as trainer Bruce Headley has confirmed that his sprinting star, Surf Cat, is going to run in this one mile event on the grass. As for Lava Man, he is Hollywood and the big question will be if he still has it. If he runs well on the grass, then expect his connections to either put the Lava in the Breeders Cup Mile or the Breeders Cup Turf!

Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland: The Distaff Division is wide open and trainer Carl Nafzger, who also trains 3-year old Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, will try to get his Distaff hopeful, Lady Joanne, ready to make her presence felt on Breeders Cup Day. Lady Joanne beat both Octave and Lear’s Princess in her last race and she will try to turn her win into a winning streak by taking this important prep race on the road to the Breeders Cup Championships!

A little over a month ago, Dettori had slipped away from Sandown Park knowing - or at least suspecting - that his tactics in the Eclipse Stakes had cost Authorized victory. Ryan Moore stole the glory that day with a brave, lonely run up the stands’ rail on Notnowcato, and suddenly the merit of Authorized’s five-length win in the Derby was called into question.

Yesterday, though, the doubts melted away as Authorized galloped powerfully for just over a mile and then kicked clear of Dylan Thomas, the King George winner, with a furlong to run. Dylan Thomas was not ideally positioned as the race reached its climax, and Johnny Murtagh, his jockey, was forced to let Dettori have first run, but he still had a length to find at the line and it was a fair measure of the winner’s superiority. Notnowcato was another three lengths back in third place, which seemed to confirm that the Eclipse was decided by jockeys, not horses.

“Ryan Moore outfoxed me in the Eclipse,” Dettori said. “It was the one that got away, but today there was nowhere to hide and we put the record straight.

“Between the three and the one-and-a-half, the further he was travelling, the more I was struggling to hold him. When I saw Dylan Thomas angling out, I kicked and got three lengths and the race was over. He has a tremendous cruising speed, that’s what separates the normal champion from the great champion.”

Authorized is versatile too, and this Group One victory over 10 furlongs will be a particular delight for Sheikh Mohammed, who will stand him at stud next year. Before that, Authorized will have what may well be his last race, in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, when Dylan Thomas and Manduro, another recent purchase by the Sheikh, are likely opponents.

“I can’t wait for that, he’s got every tick in the box for the Arc,” Dettori said. “He stays, he loves soft ground, he’s got a tremendous cruising speed and a good kick.”

Totesport’s offer of 5-2 is the best price against Authorized for the Arc with a major layer, and Peter Chapple-Hyam, his trainer, seems inclined to send him straight to Paris without another race.

Murtagh’s passage on Dylan Thomas was strikingly similar to his ride on Yellowstone in the preceding race, though while Jimmy Fortune, on Lucarno, did well to keep him in, it was also hard to argue that the result was seriously affected.

A length was again the margin of victory as Lucarno stayed on well through the final furlong, and he shortened rapidly in the betting for next month’s St Leger at Doncaster, although John Gosden, his trainer, is not certain he will run.

“We’d freshened him up specifically for this and he’s done it beautifully,” Gosden said. “The Leger could be the way to go though I’ll have to discuss it with George Strawbridge, his owner. He’s got the speed to win over a mile and a quarter, but the Leger is a massive race and the track would suit. We just have to debate whether to send him over an extended mile and six.”

In all, Murtagh rode four runners-up, including Lucifer Sam, who was no match for Fast Company in the Acomb Stakes, a race that may well prove to be one of the best Group Three events of the season.

“I’ve never seen a two-year-old win a Group Three like that without even a flick of the whip,” Fiona Shaw, European racing manager for Earle Mack, Fast Company’s owner, said. “He is a serious horse. We will have to decide now whether to go for the Dewhurst or the Champagne Stakes.”

Murtagh’s day was not a complete disappointment as he steered Septimus to a comfortable win in the Lonsdale Cup. The Irish St Leger and the Melbourne Cup are possible targets for the colt.