Arrogate and Gun Runner Headline 187 BC Pre-Entries

Led by defending GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and the world's all-time leading money earner 'TDN Rising Star' Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), four-time Grade I winner Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}, defending GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the incomparable Lady Eli (Divine Park) and unbeaten juvenile Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), an all-star international cast of 187 of the world's best Thoroughbreds, including a record 45 from overseas, have been pre-entered for the 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Led by defending GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and all-time leading North American money earner 'TDN Rising Star' Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), four-time Grade I winner Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}, defending GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the incomparable Lady Eli (Divine Park) and unbeaten juvenile Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), an all-star international cast of 187 of the world's best Thoroughbreds, including a record 45 from overseas, have been pre-entered for the 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The 34th Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious two-day global event, consisting of 13 Grade I races with purses and awards totaling more than $28 million, will be held for the first time at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4. There will be four Breeders' Cup races on Championship Friday and nine Breeders' Cup races on Championship Saturday.

The Breeders' Cup will be televised live by NBC Sports Network and NBC. The $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic will be broadcast live on Sat., Nov. 4 at 5:35 p.m. PT/8:35 p.m. ET on NBC (8-9 p.m. ET).

Aidan O'Brien has pre-entered 14 horses, the most among trainers, one more than Chad Brown. The Coolmore partnerships led all owners with 14 horses pre-entered.

“I think we have some exceptional horses on this card, but if you want to compete internationally like we are about do in the Breeders' Cup, you have to have a horse that has international class,” said Brown.

This year's Breeders' Cup features nine returning or former champions: Arrogate, Highland Reel, 'TDN Rising Star' Drefong (Gio Ponti), 'TDN Rising Star' Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy), Lady Eli, Champagne Room (Broken Vow), Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Finest City (City Zip) and Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday).

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has pre-entered five horses for the Classic, which would be a record for a Breeders' Cup trainer if all start, breaking the mark of three each for Bill Mott in 2012 and the late Bobby Frankel in 1993.

“I feel fortunate that I have this many nice horses,” said Baffert. “Our barn has always been set up to play at this level and they're all doing well. I give all the credit to the clientele. Without them, you just can't make it happen.”

Baffert, who has 14 Breeders' Cup wins, will be shooting for his fourth consecutive Classic with five horses pre-entered. In addition to Arrogate, who will be rematched with Gun Runner after defeating that rival in the G1 Dubai World Cup in March, Baffert is also poised to saddle dual-Grade I winning 3-year-old West Coast (Flatter), GI Awesome Again S. winner Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Pacific Classic hero Collected (City Zip). Cupid (Tapit) has also been entered, but is designated as first preference for the Dirt Mile.

 

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