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Primed For A 'Classic' Showdown

October 25, 2000 / 5:33 PM EDT / AP

Fusaichi Pegasus, the Kentucky Derby winner who has raced only once since May 20, and Lemon Drop Kid, who has raced once a month since March, are a step closer to meeting in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

The two were pre-entered Wednesday, and both are expected to start in the featured event of eight Breeders' Cup races Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

Fusaichi Pegasus, who could become the seventh 3-year-old winner in 17 Classics, was made the 5-2 early favorite by Mike Watchmaker, national handicapper for the Daily Racing Form.

"He's trained very well coming into the Classic," Neil Drysdale, Fusaichi Pegasus' trainer, said from Churchill Downs in a conference call.

As for doubts that the colt might still not start in the Classic, Drysdale said, "He worked yesterday. If he wasn't going to run, why would he work?"

The 4-year-old Lemon Drop Kid, who had a string of four graded-stakes wins snapped with a fifth in the Jockey Gold Cup, was second choice at 9-2. He was followed by 6-1 by Albert the Great, a 3-year-old who won the Jockey Club Gold Cup Oct. 14 at Belmont Park.

Trainer Scotty Schulhofer throws out Lemon Drop Kid's Gold Cup performance, noting that the colt was badly bumped at the start.

"He's as good as he's ever been," Schulhofer said. "In fact, he might be a little better."

Cat Thief, who won the Classic in 1999 as a 3-year-old, was 20-1. He is winless in nine starts this year.

Fusaichi Pegasus, sold during the summer for a reported $60 million, won his first five starts this year, including the Derby, before finishing second in the Preakness. He then was held out of the Belmont because of foot problems.

On Sept. 23, the colt won the one-mile Jerome Handicap at Belmont, then missed the Jockey Club Gold Cup at the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles because of what Drysdale termed a minor foot problem.

A record number of 135 horses were pre-entered for the eight Breeders' Cup races. Official entries will be taken next Wednesday.

Each race is limited to 14 starters, so all will have full fields except the $2 million Distaff, for which only 11 were pre-entered. A record number of 18 horses were supplemented to the various races, which is expected to boost the total purse money to more than $15 million.

Top contenders in other races:

Distaff: Brazilian-bred Riboletta, winner of six straight graded stakes; Beautiful Pleasure, last year's Distaff winner, who has two victories and two seconds in her last four starts, and Plenty of Light, winner of Keeneland's Spinster in her last start.

Since many people think Riboletta already has clinched the older filly and mare championship, owner Aaron U. Jones was asked why he decided to supplement her to the race.

"I think (trainer) Eduardo Inda has done a wonderful job with her and I just felt I was obligated to running her for him," said Jones, also wner of Plenty of Light, trained by Elliott Walden

Juvenile Fillies: Raging Fever, unbeaten in five starts.

Mile (on the turf): Ladies Din, winner of Del Mar's Eddie Read Handicap, and Indian Lodge, winner of four of seven starts this year in England and France.

Sprint: Kona Gold, winner of three straight stakes and second by a half-length to Artax in the 1999 Sprint.

Filly & Mare Turf: Petrushka, supplemented for $90,000, winner of four of six starts this year in Britain, Ireland and France, and Perfect Sting, winner of four of five starts this year.

Juvenile: Flame Thrower, unbeaten in four starts, and A P Valentine, winner of Belmont's Champagne in only his third start.

Turf: Irish-bred Montjeur, Kalanisi and Manndar. Montjeur won four important stakes in six starts this year in England and France. Manndar won two Grade I stakes, at Churchill Downs and Belmont, in his last two starts. Kalanisi has two wins and three seconds in five starts this year in England.

A decision on whether to start Montjeur, who would have to be supplemented for $180,000, will come after a workout Thursday at Chantilly, France.