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.

An overflow of 15 horses were pre-entered for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff, including 14 Grade 1 winners, making this the deepest field assembled in the 23-year history of the race.

It is only the third time that the Distaff field has oversubscribed and the first time since 1992 when 15 horses were pre-entered. All Breeders' Cup fields are limited to 14 starters.

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.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The inevitable happened Wednesday when pre-entries were announced for the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, which drew an overflow field of 24 entries. Some horsemen were delighted to see their fillies among the chosen starters, while others expressed dismay to see their representatives stuck on an 10-horse alternate list, capable of starting only if defections occur between now and when post positions are drawn Nov. 1.

Bernardini and Discreet Cat walked onto Belmont Park's main track simultaneously Wednesday morning for workouts. Unfortunately, that's as close as race fans can expect them to get over the next 10 days.

This year's edition of the cavalry charge known as the Breeders' Cup Sprint again figures to feature a full complement of the world's fastest horses after 16 runners - including division leaders Bordonaro and Henny Hughes - were pre-entered Monday for the six-furlong dash at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.

The Sprint will crown a new champion in 2006. Silver Train, who captured the 2005 Sprint at Belmont Park, was not among the horses pre-entered for the race.

Races are displayed in the order in which they will be run.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

ARCADIA, Calif. - An untimely virus has knocked the 2-year-old filly Point Ashley out of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, and will keep the Grade 1 winner sidelined until the Santa Anita meet that begins Dec. 26. Trainer Bob Baffert said Point Ashley was not pre-entered this week in the Breeders' Cup, and instead would be freshened for winter.

Brother Derek, who finished second to Lava Man in the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap earlier this month, will remain at Santa Anita to complete his serious training for the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Classic, rather than ship to Churchill Downs this week for his final work.

On Monday, Brother Derek had his next-to-last work for the Classic when he traveled seven furlongs in 1:26.20 with his regular jockey, Alex Solis.

CHICAGO - Vacare, the unbeaten winner of the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, was not pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, trainer Chris Block said Monday afternoon.

Block said several factors working in conjunction made the Filly and Mare Turf seem like an overly demanding spot. Vacare would be coming back on three weeks rest while facing older horses for the first time. Moreover, Vacare has never raced beyond 1 1/8 miles, and the Filly and Mare Turf is run at 1 3/8 miles.

"Everything put together makes it a large hill to climb," Block said.