Led by three-time Mile winner Goldikova and Horse of the Year candidate Havre de Grace, who will take on the boys in the Classic, there were 193 horses pre-entered in this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, which will be held at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4-5.

Although it might be hard to top the last two runnings of the Classic, which featured Zenyatta being the first female to beat the boys in 2009, followed by the brilliant mare having her prefect record spoiled by Blame last year, this year’s Classic has the making of being another intriguing betting race.

Havre de Grace will be taking on the boys for the second time, already beating males in the Woodward (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 3.

The Larry Jones trainee has won five of her six starts this year, her lone defeat coming at the hands of Blind Luck, who beat her by a nose in the Delaware Handicap (G2).

Among her rivals in the Classic include 2010 champion two-year-old Uncle Mo, who looks back on track after missing the Triple Crown races this year due to a liver ailment.

The Todd Pletcher trainee was a very impressive winner of the Kelso Handicap (G2) on Oct. 1 at Belmont Park.

Other top contenders include Goodwood (G1) winner Game On Dude, Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Flat Out, Travers (G1) winner Stay Thirsty, and the European invader So You Think, a three time Group 1 winner this year.

Here are the top contenders for this year’s Classic with future prices provided by Bodog.eu:

Uncle Mo 3/1
Havre de Grace 9/2
So You Think 5/1
Flat Out 8/1
Await the Dawn 11/1
Stay Thirsty 12/1
To Honor and Serve 12/1
Game On Dude 14/1
Gio Ponti 16/1
Prayer for Relief 20/1
Ruler On Ice 20/1

To lock your Classic prices in now go to Bodog.eu.

Goldikova Goes for Fourth Mile Victory
The six-year-old mare Goldikova has won 14 Grade or Group 1 races in her career under the care of trainer Freddy Head, and will be seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory in the Mile.

Goldikova has won twice this year in five starts, winning the Prix d’Ispahan in May and the Prix Rothschild at Deauville in July.

Among the foes trying to end her streak will be three-time Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti, who is coming off a sharp score in the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in his last prep for the Mile.

The Christophe Clement trainee ran second to Goldikova last year. Gio Ponti is also entered in the Classic, but his connections have indicated that he will run in the Mile.

There are eight returning or former Breeders’ Cup Champions pre-entered. They are Uncle Mo, Big Drama, California Flag, Chamberlain Bridge, Eldaafer, Goldikova, Midday and Shared Account.