Horsemen Filling Also-Eligible Slots for Breeders' Cup

A large number of horsemen this year are willing to chase the Breeders' Cup dream even if it means the extra step of waiting out the possible scratches of other potential runners. For this year's World Championships Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland, there are 16 horses entered for 17 also-eligible entries in the 14 Breeders' Cup races. While none of the seven Breeders' Cup dirt races includes an also-eligible, the option is well supported in the event's turf races where all seven events have at least one also-eligible. "Certainly, our recruitment efforts are never with the idea that too many horses is too many horses," said Breeders' Cup executive vice president and chief racing officer Dora Delgado. "We want to make sure that we have the depth of field in case we do have scratches." A number of small things can go wrong with a horse in the nine to 10 days from when pre-entries are announced, as well as the four to five days from entry to race day, that would keep it from racing, especially considering how many horses are traveling from throughout the country and from overseas for the Breeders' Cup. Scrutiny is high from horsemen as well as regulatory vets ahead of the races. Having the option to add a horse off the also-eligible list gives other connections an opportunity and for Breeders' Cup it helps ensure as large of a field as possible for each race. "Just this morning, we had two juveniles that have pulled out because of illness," Delgado said. "That's not veterinary scrutiny; they're babies and they get sick. So having the depth of field on some of these turf races, especially, allows us to pull those also-eligibles in." Some of those also-eligible horses got the call-up Wednesday as Breeders' Cup announced planned scratches of a number of horses including Go for Launch (No. 2) from the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), Scottish Lassie (No. 5) from the Distaff (G1), Gaudreau (No. 2) from the Juvenile (G1), Induction (No. 1) from the Juvenile Turf (G1T), Evershed (IRE) (No. 2) from the Filly and Mare Turf (G1T), and Zulu Kingdom (IRE) (No. 6) from the Mile (G1T). While the dirt scratches from the Breeders' Cup races will not be filled, Breeders' Cup said Silent Beauty (IRE) draws into the Juvenile Fillies Turf (No. 15), while Popcorn (No. 15) is expected to fill the open spot in the Juvenile Turf, and Vina Arana (IRE) (No. 15) to fill the open spot in the Filly and Mare Turf (Vina Arana was also entered as the lone AE for the Mile, but will not contest that event). "We made a rule change a number of years ago to extend those also-eligibles to four on 14-horse fields and six on 12-horse fields," Delgado said. "That allows, especially in those turf races that are very popular, other owners the opportunity to run at this level." Larger field sizes are tied to increased pari-mutuel handle as well, generating additional money for Breeders' Cup and horsemen. Races such as the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) also have expanded the number of also-eligibles allowed in recent years. The Derby allows up to four also-eligible entries. Once in the field, horses have taken advantage of the opportunity. This year two horses ran in the Kentucky Derby off the also-eligible list with Ocelli finishing third in the race. In 2022, Rich Strike won the Derby as first off the also-eligible list. Jamie Eads, president and CEO of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation, said it has adjusted rules on also-eligibles in recent years. She said with year-round racing in the state, the regulator wants to do what it can to provide horsemen opportunities and tracks large fields.