USA: HORSE RACING - The Breeder's Cup Classic this weekend is being billed as a showdown between two accomplished horses

The Preakness and Travers Stakes winner Bernadini was made the even-money choice for Saturday's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, the showcase event at the $20 million, eight-race Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs. Bernardini, owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, drew the No. 3 post position on Wednesday (November 1). The 3-year-old colt will be ridden by Javier Castellano. Bernardini, a son of A.P. Indy, is owned by Sheik Mohammed's Darley Stable and trained by Tom Albertrani. Lava Man, the pride of the California with a 7-for-7 mark this year, was 6-1 and the race is being billed as a showdown between two powerhouses. Lava Man, with Corey Nakatani up, leaves from the No. 8 post. "The turnaround for Lava Man was the previous connections putting him in for a tag (Claiming race),building his confidence and then we put him in for a tag (Claiming race) brought him up in class and got him going again. He's a big, good looking, powerful gelding, he almost looks like a stud. He's very muscular and just to look at him you wouldn't think he covers the ground the way he does," Trainer Doug O'Neil said. Todd Pletcher, the nation's leading trainer, will send out long shots Flower Alley and Lawyer Ron in the Classic as 17 of his record 18 pre-entries got into races. He has two of the morning-line favorites selected by Churchill's oddsmaker Mike Battaglia - Circular Quay, 5-2 in the $2 million Juvenile, and Fleet Indian, 8-5 in the $2 million Distaff. Whitney Handicap winner Invasor was the 5-1 second choice. Invasor, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, is owned Shadwell Stable's Sheik Hamdan, the older brother of Dubai's ruler Shiek Mohammed. Invasor, with Fernando Jara aboard, drew the No. 11 post.Lava Man, with Corey Nakatani up, leaves from the No. 8 post. Two European stars were at 10-1 - George Washington and David Junior. George Washington is Europe's leading 3-year-old; the 4-year-old David Junior won the Eclipse Stakes in his last start. Also entered were Brother Derek, Flower Alley, 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, Lawyer Ron, Perfect Drift, Premium Tap, Suave and Sun King. Super Frolic was pre-entered in the Classic, but when final entries were taken the 6-year-old was entered in the $2 million Mile. Bernardini comes into the Classic with six wins in a row by a combined 40 lengths but has never faced a field with so many accomplished challengers. Perfect Drift will be running in the Classic for a record fifth time - the 6-year-old gelding was third last year. His trainer Murray Johnson has been impressed with Bernardini but says winning the Classic will be a tall order. "If you look at his record at Churchill Downs , he has a very good record. Nine starts and he's been on the board all nine times and if you look his record at a mile and a quarter he's earned the majority of his money at a mile and a quarter and that''s where he thrives," Johnson said. "He's going to have to step up. He's in the pros now and against the very best. All the other horses have been doing it for a long time against other good horses over the years. He's going to have to show that he can do it." Favorites for the others races: Cash Included (3-1, Juveniles Fillies); Ouija Board (8-5, Filly & Mare Turf); Henny Hughes (2-1, $2 million Sprint); Gorella (4-1, Mile); and Hurricane Run (3-1, Turf). Pletcher has three second choices in Scat Daddy in the Juvenile, Wait a While in the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf and English Channel in the $3 million Turf. His Awesome Ashley was not among the full field selected for the $2 million Juvenile Fillies. Last year, two of eight favorites won - Saint Liam took the Classic and Folklore the Juvenile Fillies.

ITN Source | November 3, 2006

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