Undefeated Zenyatta entered in Classic, Ladies’ Classic for Breeders’ Cup

Zenyatta, Mine That Bird entered in Breeders’ Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. — Zenyatta will try to extend her record to 14 straight victories when she runs in the Breeders’ Cup, after being pre-entered Wednesday in both the $5 million Classic featuring male horses and the $2 million Ladies’ Classic.

A total of 166 horses were pre-entered for the $25.5 million, 14-race Breeders’ Cup world championships at Santa Anita on Nov. 6-7. That’s down from last year’s record 180 horses.

Zenyatta won the Ladies’ Classic last year on Santa Anita’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface. Horse racing’s richest two days is returning to the same track for the first time in consecutive years.

The track’s surface, however, will prevent a showdown between Zenyatta and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, whose owner refused to run because he dislikes synthetic surfaces.

Zenyatta’s owners will have to disclose their choice of race for the 5-year-old mare by Tuesday, when final entries and the post-position draw is set. She has never run against male competition.

Zenyatta has won all four of her starts this year. If she wins either race, she will surpass the mark of Personal Ensign, who won all 13 of her career races, and could contend for Horse of the Year honors.

The full field of 14 pre-entries for the 1¼-mile Classic include Belmont and Travers winner Summer Bird; Irish standouts Rip Van Winkle and Mastercraftsman, who also was pre-entered in the Dirt Mile; Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird; Arlington Million winner Gio Ponti; and Santa Anita Handicap winner Einstein.

Other Classic entries include Pacific Classic winner Richard’s Kid, trained by Bob Baffert, and Quality Road, trained by Todd Pletcher. Quality Road, an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, missed the race because of injury.

Last year, European horses won five Breeders’ Cup races, including the 1-2 finish of Raven’s Pass and Henrythenavigator in the Classic. This year, 37 European runners were pre-entered, with Irishman Aidan O’Brien the only trainer with two Classic horses.

Saeed bin Suroor, who trains for Goldolphin, has a leading 17 pre-entries. Pletcher has 12.

Baffert will go for his third consecutive win in the Sprint with Zensational, and his second straight win in the Juvenile with Lookin at Lucky.

Ailing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel has three entries, including Proviso in the Ladies’ Classic. He has been away from his stable much of the year because of an undisclosed illness.

Zenyatta is one of a record 10 defending or former Breeders’ Cup winners among the pre-entries. The others are: Ventura (Filly & Mare Sprint); Forever Together (Filly & Mare Turf); Maram (Juvenile Fillies Turf); Muhannak (Marathon); Desert Code (Turf Sprint); Goldikova (Mile); Midshipman (Juvenile); Conduit (Turf) and Red Rocks (2006 Turf).

If Zenyatta’s owners opt for the Classic, her stablemate Life is Sweet was pre-entered in the Ladies’ Classic, along with Alabama winner Careless Jewel and Beldame winner Music Note.

Composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber owns 4-year-old filly Dar Re Mi, who was pre-entered in both the $3 million Turf and the Filly & Mare Turf.

A maximum of 14 starters are allowed in each race, except for the Juvenile Turf, Juvenile Fillies Turf and the Dirt Mile, which are limited to 12.

Six of the 14 races were oversubscribed, including the Classic with 16 horses. For those races, fields are chosen based on three factors: BC Challenge winners; a points system; and a selection committee after the first seven starters have been determined.