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| Zenyatta winning 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic |
Greg Avioli, president of Breeders' Cup Limited, noted that the pre-entered horses, including 26 potential starters from overseas, had won a combined 865 races totaling $125 million in purses.
"I think we're in for some record-setting days at Churchill Downs across the board," he said.
All eyes will be on Zenyatta, who takes a 19-for-19 record into the 11/4-mile Classic on Nov. 6 in what is expected to be the final start of her career.
Seventeen of Zenyatta's victories have come on synthetic surfaces in her home state of California, leading many to question how well her exhilarating late-running style will work on the conventional track at Churchill Downs. She twice started on dirt, producing a pair of convincing victories in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
Zenyatta will attempt to join Tiznow (2000-01) as the only horses to win back-to-back Classics. Among her chief rivals will be Blame, Quality Road and Lookin At Lucky.
The Breeders' Cup, which will be televised by ABC/ESPN, consists of 14 races totaling $26 million in purses. This will be the seventh time the Cup has been run at Churchill. Final entries will be taken and post positions drawn Tuesday.
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