In the 21 years that the Breeders' Cup Distaff has been run, only one horse has been able to capture the race twice. That is the challenge Ashado will face this year, as she tries to join Bayakoa as a repeat winner of the Distaff.

Bayakoa won her second Distaff in 1990 at Belmont Park, and that is where Ashado will make her attempt on Oct. 29. Ashado was the dominant 3-year-old filly in the country last year, when her victories included the Kentucky Oaks and the Distaff.

In each of the last two years, a Southern California-based 2-year-old proved dominant in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Jeff Mullins hopes that trend continues another year.

Mullins trains Wild Fit, who in a span of 13 days at Del Mar won a maiden race by four lengths and the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante by two. She will complete her preparations for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 29 at Belmont when she runs in the Grade 2, $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.

When summer began, the sprint division was as deep and talented as it has been in years. But that situation changed drastically because of the death of Saratoga County, the recent retirement of Forest Danger, and the uncertain status of Pico Central.

Despite the loss of several marquee performers, the 2005 Breeders' Cup Sprint will still be one of the most talked about races on Breeders' Cup Day, scheduled for Oct. 29 at Belmont Park. The reason is the emergence of one of the sport's brightest prospects, the undefeated 3-year-old Lost in the Fog.

Defending Breeders' Cup Turf titleholder Better Talk Now appears headed in the right direction after his victory in the Man o' War last Saturday, which like last year will be his final prep for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf on Oct. 29 at Belmont Park. Winner of the 1 3/8-mile United Nations, Better Talk Now can be forgiven for his dull fourth in the Arlington Million, as 1 1/4 miles in top-class company is just too short for him. The Turf will be run at 1 1/2 miles.

Six weeks out, and the Breeders' Cup Mile is looking something like Bobby Frankel vs. the Europeans.

Frankel said this week that four of his horses - two of them fillies - are possible for the Mile. The leader of that pack, Leroidesanimaux, runs this weekend in one of the major Mile preps, the Atto Mile at Woodbine

With a final round of crucial preps set for the weekend of Oct. 1-2, the picture for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Oct. 29 at Belmont Park still has some crystallizing to come.

Perhaps the most compelling prospect for the 1 1/4-mile turf race is Ouija Board, if only because the British filly won this race last year at Lone Star Park as the odds-on favorite. Now 4, Ouija Board has had nothing but trouble this year, and her chances of a repeat are very much in jeopardy unless she can suddenly return to top form in what will be her lone prep race.

All-sources wagering on the eight Breeders' Cup races last Saturday was $109,838,668, a record for the event and a 2.1 percent increase over last year's figures, Breeders' Cup announced Friday.

The wagering was bolstered by $16.4 million from outside the United States.

Canadians bet $4,930,127 on the card in separate-pool wagers. Canada is expected to wager directly into Breeders' Cup's commingled pools next year. French bettors placed $2,120,643 in commingled wagers and another $1,409,666 in separate-pool bets.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Pleasantly Perfect, who conquered a heart virus as a young horse, then conquered the Breeders' Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup as an older horse, has been retired to stud, trainer Richard Mandella announced Tuesday.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Seven of the eight Breeders' Cup race winners on Saturday, including Classic hero , will remain in training next year, their respective trainers said.

Although no one had all six winners on the Breeders' Cup pick six, five of the 61 consolation tickets were purchased by one massive group, the customers of the online wagering service America Tab.

America Tab allowed its customers to bet a minimum of $10 for a piece of a huge Breeders' Cup pick six play that ultimately cost $44,280. The play returned five consolation tickets with a total payoff of $280,745 - $210,563 after taxes - giving players a return of 4.76-1.