As the two-day, 15-race bonanza known as the Breeder’s Cup rapidly approaches, all of the major prep work has been done, and it now becomes only a matter of the horses making it through the next two weeks without a hiccup. The fields for each race are coming into sharper focus by the day, although for a race like the Marathon, things are still in flux to a certain extent.

Casino Host will not run, while Al Khali is a likely starter in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

Al Khali was scratched from the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine last Sunday because of soft ground. Opposite conditions are expected for the BC Turf.

“I’d say we’re leaning that way,” trainer Bill Mott said on Wednesday of the BC Turf. “The owners and I will make the call. There is a big entry fee.”

[BREEDERS' CUP 2012: DRF top 10 lists, video replays, latest news]

On Sunday, Next Question captured the Nearctic Stakes, the last of the 73 Breeders’ Cup Challenge races offered in 2012. That, of course, means he’s guaranteed a spot in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and his trainer, Michael Trombetta, is looking forward to getting him there.

“If he’s well we’re certainly going to take a shot,” said Trombetta, a winner of 1,105 races in his career, which dates back to 1986.

With a week to go before pre-entries are announced, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint remains in a healthy state of flux. The two probable race favorites, the fillies Beholder and Kauai Katie, are still on the fence regarding the six-furlong dash.

Beholder, trained by Richard Mandella, dominated a first-level allowance prep in her first start sprinting on dirt, receiving a 108 Beyer Speed Figure at Santa Anita on Oct. 4. A repeat of that race would make Beholder, a filly by the crack sprinter Henny Hughes, very tough to beat in the Juvenile Sprint.

It’s getting close to decision time, but none has been made as yet regarding It’s Tricky, who will be pre-entered in both the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic and the Filly and Mare Sprint, said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

It’s Tricky began her 4-year-old campaign this year with three graded stakes wins in a row, including the Distaff Handicap at seven furlongs, then suffered consecutive defeats at 1 1/8 miles against Love and Pride and defending Ladies’ Classic winner Royal Delta – who are both going in the Ladies’ Classic.

A slew of workouts for Dirt Mile prospects took place early this week at venues across the continent, with one of the probable favorites, Jersey Town, tuning up Wednesday at Belmont Park with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.20.

It was the second work for Jersey Town since the 6-year-old horse snapped a seven-race, 22-month losing skein by taking the Grade 1 Kelso Mile at Belmont.

“He did everything good,” said trainer Barclay Tagg. “I’m really pleased with the way he’s coming into this thing.”

Dundonnell and Fantastic Moon are two new European candidates being considered for the Juvenile Turf, according to the International Racing Bureau, and both horses have the credentials to make a serious impact on the race.

Dundonnell has won two of four starts, the most important and most recent of which was two starts back in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York. In that race, Dundonnell scored by almost a length over Steeler, who earned high marks winning last month’s Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.

The defection of Stay Thirsty on Wednesday from the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the confirmation that Wise Dan will not even be pre-entered in the race, means that the number of horses expected to be pre-entered in the Classic on Monday should not exceed the maximum of 14. And there is a chance that fewer still could run in the race on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita, since, at the least, Dullahan and Nonios will be pre-entered in two races and could opt out.

Victory over an outstanding field in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic might not be the crowning achievement for the favorite.

Royal Delta has been there, done that. And she is not done yet, according to owner Benjamin Leon.

“As long as she stays healthy, we should be able to get another good year of enjoyment of her,” Leon said this week from London. “So I intend to race her next year, also.”

LEXINGTON , Ky. – A committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to recommend a September meet at Churchill Downs in 2013 after Turfway Park, which had traditionally raced during the month, conceded the dates.