ARCADIA, Calif., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships normally go a long way toward deciding Horse of the Year honors.
This year's edition, to be run Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park, will offer that chance to several horses.
A total of 101 horses were pre-entered Thursday for the eight races, worth $14 million in purse money.
While the races are all competitive, the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge has the most marquee value, with this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide among the prospective starters. Funny Cide, however, has run poorly in his lat two races and likely will be overshadowed by several others in the field, including Perfect Drift, Medalia d'Oro and Ten Most Wanted.
But the $2 million Distaff - Presented by Nextel includes the reigning Horse of the Year, Azeri, and at least two talented challengers among the eight pre-entrants - Sightseek and Got Koko.
Any of the top prospects in those races could stake a claim to year-end honors with a smashing performance at Santa Anita. If none of them steps up, the honor might go by default to the recently retired Mineshaft, who dominated older horses for most of the year.
The $2 million John Deere Turf will feature a showdown between defending champion High Chaparral and one of this year's top European performers, Falbrav. Also in that field are Arlington Million winner Sulamani and the horse who finished first in the Million only to be disqualified, Storming Home.
European influence dominates the $1 million Filly & Mare Turf, with five of the pre-entrants coming directly from a European start and several others with significant racing experience on the continent or in England and Ireland.
The $1 million NetJets Mile pits local favorite Special Ring against several European hopefuls.
The $1 million Sprint, run at 6 furlongs, appears wide open with Aldebaran possibly the favorite off a pair of impressive wins in New York.
The $1 million Bessemer Trust Juvenile, for 2-year-old colts and geldings, and the $1 million Juvenile Fillies, for 2-year-old fillies, both drew big and competitive fields. Cuvee, winner of the Futurity at Belmont Park last time out, may be favored in the Juvenile and Halfbridled, undefeated in three starts, is the likely pick in the Juvenile Fillies.
The Breeders' Cup last was run at Santa Anita in 1993. On that day, California-based horses dominated most of the races except for the Classic. That edition of the Classic was won by French shipper Arcangues at odds of 133-1. His $269.20 win payoff established a Breeders' Cup record.
