A dozen pre-enter, but only 10 likely to run

After dwindling to a precious handful of potential starters during the last couple weeks, the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf swelled by the time pre-entries closed Monday afternoon, although of the 12 horses pre-entered only 10 are expected to start.

Ouija Board, who won the 2004 Filly and Mare Turf at Lone Star and finished second last year at Belmont, tops the pre-entry list. Back for her third Breeders' Cup, Ouija Board, supplemented in 2004, should share favoritism come race day with Wait a While, one of three horses pre-entered by trainer Todd Pletcher, and Gorella, if trainer Patrick Biancone chooses the Filly and Mare Turf over the BC Mile for his grass star.

Gorella, supplemented last year, was cross-entered in the Mile, and has first preference for that race, but Biancone said he hadn't scrutinized the BC pre-entries, and would wait as long as possible to make final plans. Biancone also cross-entered Mauralakana - second in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup last out and recently nominated - in the Filly and Mare Turf and the Mile, and Biancone said he would separate the two fillies. Another Biancone horse, Asi Siempre, was entered in the Filly and Mare Turf, but has first preference in the Distaff and is slated for that race, Biancone said. She was recently supplemented to the Breeders' Cup.

In final Breeders' Cup preparations, Mauralakana works Saturday on the Keeneland grass course, Gorella on Sunday over the Polytrack there.

Wait a While, one of two 3-year-olds among the Pletcher trio, easily won the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita last out, and has never lost on turf. Even so, Dancing Edie, a distant second to Wait a While in the Yellow Ribbon, will be back for more in the Filly and Mare Turf as the lone West Coast representative in the race. Pletcher also pre-entered Quiet Royal, a French import who finished third in the QE II in her U.S. debut, and the formidable 5-year-old Honey Ryder, a 12-time winner of multiple Grade 1 stakes. Honey Ryder has second preference in the Turf, but seems much more likely for the Filly and Mare Turf.

"I'll talk to [co-owner] John Greathouse and we'll make our decision," Pletcher said. "Probably the mile and a half is the main advantage of the Turf."

Film Maker, second by a nose to Honey Ryder in the Oct. 7 Flower Bowl at Belmont, also makes her third Filly and Mare Turf appearance for trainer Graham Motion and owner Donald Adam. Film Maker finished second to Ouija Board two years ago, and third behind Intercontinental and Ouija Board last fall at Belmont.

Joining Ouija Board on an international flight Sunday will be Satwa Queen, who finished second in her most recent start, the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera on Oct. 1 at Longchamp. Based in France with trainer Jean de Roualle, Satwa Queen never has won a Group 1 race and had to be supplemented to the Breeders' Cup.

Rounding out the pre-entries are Germance, who made her U.S. debut in the QE II, finishing a decent fourth at a distant shorter than her best; and My Typhoon, who was a distant third behind Gorella in the Oct. 14 First Lady at Keeneland.