Circular Quay tepid choice in full field

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Of the record 18 horses pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup by trainer Todd Pletcher, three are in the $2 million Juvenile, including Circular Quay, who, despite suffering his first defeat in his last start is the lukewarm 4-1 favorite on the early line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form's national handicapper.

Watchmaker's price reflects the wide-open nature of the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile, which will determine the male Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old for the year.

Circular Quay won his first three starts before finishing second to Great Hunter in the Breeders' Futurity over Keeneland's Polytrack surface on Oct. 7. Circular Quay will be returning here to Churchill Downs, where he won his first two starts, including the Bashford Manor Stakes on July 8.

Pletcher also pre-entered King of the Roxy, the Belmont Futurity winner, and Scat Daddy, the Champagne Stakes winner. All three are scheduled to have their final workouts this weekend at Belmont Park before traveling to Kentucky.

The Juvenile was one of six races that had more than the maximum of 14 horses entered. In such cases, seven horses get in based on points earned in graded stakes during the year, the next seven are determined by a seven-member committee of international racing officials, and the rest are put on an also-eligible list. With 15 pre-entered in the Juvenile, the only horse on the outside looking in is Zanjero, who defeated maidens at Keeneland in his third lifetime start in his most recent race on Oct. 12.

Scott Blasi, the trainer of Zanjero, on Wednesday said he would merely "look for another spot" if Zanjero didn't get in. He said the colt, now based at Keeneland, was scheduled to work this weekend at either Keeneland or Churchill Downs.

Great Hunter is training at Keeneland and is scheduled to have his final work there on Friday before traveling by van to Churchill Downs on Saturday, trainer Doug O'Neill said.

Teuflesberg also has been at Keeneland, but was scheduled to relocate to Churchill late this week and have his final drill here, trainer Jamie Sanders said.

Skip Code, who arrived at Churchill from Woodbine on Monday, is scheduled for his final work here on Friday, according to trainer Mark Casse.

C P West is scheduled for his final work on Saturday at Churchill Downs, trainer Nick Zito said.

Got the Last Laugh, Pegasus Wind, Street Sense, and U D Ghetto are also already at Churchill.

Malt Magic, Principle Secret, and Stormello all will have their final works in California this weekend and then travel either Sunday or Tuesday to Kentucky.

The Juvenile field, including jockeys, is: C P West (Rafael Bejarano the rider), Circular Quay (Garrett Gomez), Got the Last Laugh (Rene Douglas), Great Hunter (Corey Nakatani), King of the Roxy (Edgar Prado), Malt Magic (Jon Court), Pegasus Wind (Mike Luzzi), Principle Secret (Victor Espinoza), Scat Daddy (John Velazquez), Skip Code (Patrick Husbands), Stormello (Kent Desormeaux), Street Sense (Calvin Borel), Teuflesberg (Robby Albarado), and U D Ghetto (Mike Smith), with Zanjero (Shaun Bridgmohan) hoping to get in before final entries close on Wednesday.