Countdown to The 2006 Breeders' Cup Horse Racing Event

A total of 121 horse contenders were pre-entered for the eight Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships races worth $20 million that will take place on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The numbers were announced by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association on through a media teleconference on Oct. 25.

Here are important updates for the 2006 Breeders Cup event:

• Bernardini and Lava Man gained top odds to win $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic race. But Bernadini was made the early 8-5 favorite by Daily Racing Form oddsmaker Mike Watchmaker.

• Last year's BC Classic 2nd placer, Flower Alley, was excluded from this year's race and placed on the also-eligible list. Meaning he will not be eligible to compete unless another horse is withdrawn from the field before entries are taken Nov. 1.

• His trainer Todd Pletcher called NTRA's decision "a joke."

• Meanwhile, Pletcher has made another record by pre-entering 18 Breeders’ Cup starters all in stride. Pletcher is expected to have at least one starter in seven of the eight championship day races, with the lone exception the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

• Scat Daddy pulled a three-quarter-length victory on Oct. 21 at the 135th running of the $400,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park. Earning him a spot in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

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