FILL THE CUP

READE BAKER will enter BEAR NOW in the BREEDERS’ CUP DISTAFF today, entry day for the 2-day World Championships at Monmouth Park.

Bear Now worked 6 furlongs in 1:14 and change yesterday on the Woodbine training track and will have a 5 furlong prep next weekend before heading to New Jersey.

The Tiznow filly is owned by Danny Dion’s Bear Stables and Jerry Baird will ride.

She has 6 points but defeated Octave in the Cotillion so she figures to get into the field.

Canadian Horse of the Year from a year ago, ARRAVALE is also expected to be entered in the Breeders' Cup.

Here are the filly and mare point leaders (some horses are retired or are grass horses):

(courtesy BreedersCup.com)

Ginger Punch (S09%)Robert J. FrankelStronach Stables, Inc.

Panty RaidTodd A. PletcherGlencrest Farm LLC

Tough Tiz's Sis (S09%)Bob BaffertWatson and Weitman Performances, LLCUnbridled BelleTodd A.

PletcherTeam Valor46

Rags to Riches (OUT)Todd A. PletcherMichael Tabor , Derrick Smith44

OctaveTodd A. PletcherStarlight Stables, Donald Lucarelli30

HystericaladyJerry HollendorferRancho San Miguel, Jerry Hollendorfer , George Todaro28

Miss ShopH.

Allen JerkensHobeau Farm Ltd.26

BalanceDavid E. HofmansMr. & Mrs. John W. Amerman26

Lady JoanneCarl A. NafzgerBentley Smith24

Christmas KidJames A. JerkensEdward P. Evans22

ErmineRonny WernerOxbow Racing, LLC22

Lear's Princ

essKiaran P. McLaughlinWest Point Thoroughbreds, Inc.22

Nashoba's KeyCarla GainesWarren Williamson20

Indian ValeTodd A. PletcherMelnyk Racing Stables, Inc.20

Sugar Shake (S09%)Robert J. FrankelStronach Stables, Inc.18

Boca GrandeCl

aude R. McGaughey IIIPhipps Stable18

TeammateH. Allen JerkensJoseph Allen13

High AgainWilliam I. MottZayat Stables, LLC12

Asi Siempre (out)

Patrick L. BianconeMartin S. Schwartz12

Bai and Bai (S09%)Craig DollaseRobert B. & Beverly Lewis Trust12

High HeelsGary G. HartlageAnita Ebert12

Silver SwallowB

ruce HeadleyBruce Headley , Irwin Molasky12

Winning PointEdmond D. GaudetMorris Bailey , Team Valor11

Kettleoneup

Mike TomlinsonTom Crouch9

MariettaEoin G. HartyDarley Stable8

River Savage (

BRZ) (S09%)Antonio C. AvilaL-Bo Racing, Monte Pyle7

Mistical Plan (S09%)Doug F. O'NeillJ. Paul Reddam7

Rolling Sea (S09%)Steven M. AsmussenMillennium Farms6

Bear NowReade

BakerBear Stables6

Fiery PursuitD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm6

IndiaTodd A. Plet

cherLyon Stables6

Leah's SecretHelen PittsFirst Klass Stable, LLC6

Moon CatcherTim F. RitcheyCJZ Racing Stable & Tim F. Ritchey6

Promenade GirlLawrence E. MurrayBender & Bender LLC6

Rahys' Appeal

Thomas M. BushGallagher's Stud6

Trainer Todd Pletcher will enter about 12 horses in the Breeders’ Cup races – none in the Juvenile or Juvenile Fillies. SUNRIVER may be entered in the Turf but is expected to be here at Woodbine for Sunday’s Canadian International.

COUNTDOWN TO BREEDERS' CUP
By Maryjean Wall - FROM KENTUCKY.COM

Any more Breeders' Cup hopefuls coming out of this weekend's racing will have little time to consider their options.

Pre-entry day is Monday for the $23 million event on Oct. 26-27. Announcement of pre-entries is scheduled for Tuesday. Let the Cup begin. Before we all troop off to Monmouth Park, for the first Breeders' Cup held at that track at Oceanport, N.J., here's a summary of what we've seen and expect to see in the countdown to the Cup.

Juvenile

The Daily Racing Form oddsmaker, Mike Watchmaker, has War Pass (Nick Zito, trainer) the 3-1 favorite for the Juvenile. Ready's Image is out with injury. Wicked Style, upset winner last week at Keeneland in the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity, is one of two listed at 8-1. The DRF's prospective Juvenile field: War Pass, Tale of Ekati, Kodiak Kowboy, Majestic Warrior, Dixie Chatter, Wicked Style, Pyro, Slew's Tiznow, Salute the Sarge, and Z Humor.

Juvenile Turf

DRF makes Rio de la Plata the 8-5 morning-line favorite in a field that could include Prussian, Gio Ponti, Old Man Buck, The Leopard, Nownownow, Shore Do, Cherokee Triangle, Caberneigh, and Texas Fever.

Juvenile Fillies

Mike Watchmaker makes Indian Blessing the 5-2 morning line favorite. Irish Smoke, the favorite who ran last in the Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland last week, is going to this race -- while the winner, Country Star, is not going.

Dirt Mile

Discreet Cat is the morning-line favorite here, with other possible starters to include Diamond Stripes, Corinthian, Commentator, Daaher, High Finance, Surf Cat, Gottcha Gold, Wanderin Boy and Park Avenue Ball.

Mile

Nobiz Like Shobiz is under consideration, after winning the Lexington Stakes at Belmont last Saturday. Purim, winner of Keeneland's Shadwell Turf Mile, is expected to go, although that's not certain. Other possibilities include George Washington, Excellent Art, Ramonti, After Market, Kip Deville, Remarkable News, Shakis, and Trippi's Storm. Watchmaker has George Washington the 3-1 favorite.

Sprint

A lung infection has knocked out Fabulous Strike. Possibilities still include Midnight Lute, Smokey Stover, Greg's Gold, Benny the Bull, Mach Ride, Idiot Proof, Attila's Storm, Kelly's Landing, and Talent Search.

Filly AND Mare Turf

DRF has Nashoba's Key a slight favorite over Wait a While in the morning line. Other possibles: Citronnade, Honey Ryder, Passage of Time, Rosinka, Lahudood, Royal Highness, Vacare (winner of Keeneland's First Lady), and Danzon.

Filly AND Mare Sprint

Dream Rush leads the possibles for this race, with others under consideration to include: La Traviata, Baroness Thatcher, Maryfield, Miss Macy Sue, Wild Gams (Thoroughbred Club of America winner at Keeneland), Oprah Winney, Burmilla, Sugar Swirl, and Shaggy Mane.

Distaff

Look for Ginger Punch to lead the betting in a field that should include Unbridled Belle, Indian Vale, Lear's Princess, Hystericalady, Lady Joanne, Octave, Panty Raid (Juddmonte Spinster winner), Balance, and Tough Tiz's Sis.

Turf

Dylan Thomas is the talk of the turf, after winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last weekend in France. Other possibilities are English Channel, After Market, Red Rocks, Zambezi Sun, Sunriver, Better Talk Now, Grand Couturier, and Shamdinan. The Tin Man is not going.

Classic

The potential lineup looks awesome: Curlin, Lawyer Ron, Street Sense, Any Given Saturday, Hard Spun, Tiago, Diamond Stripes, Awesome Gem, and Student Council.

WOODBINE SUNDAY...

Owner DAVID JAMES appears to have another nice prospect in DEPUTIFORMER, winner of the Cup and Saucer Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf yesterday at Woodbine.

The 2yo Silver Deputy – Barney’s Mistress (Dynaformer) gelding wove his way through 12 other 2yos to win the $250,000 race. He was taken right back to last out of the gate by jockey JONO JONES (yes, the same guy who won both stakes races on Saturday) and moved to the rail before launching a bid around the turn.

The yielding grass did not slow down the gelding, who was making his 4^th career start and winning his maiden in the process.

A $90K Keeneland Sept. yearling, Deputiformer was bred by Windfields Farm in Ontario.

YOLIE became the 3^rd horse on the circuit to win 5 races along with DASHING ADMIRAL and JACKNOWS when she won for the 5^th time this year (in only her 11th career start). The Menifeemiss won the $77,500 claiming race with a late surge to win by a short head.

In race 3 – SMART SKATER, a 6yo Smart Strike mare who has been in poor form, was claimed for $9,500 by Will Farish and trainer Mark Casse in order to be bred.

Casse unleashed another super 2yo when Farish’s MINER’S CLAIM wore down Hey Now (Forestry) to win the 4^th race. The jet black Mineshaft colt, a $175K Keeneland yearling purchase is a half brother to Shaniko and Silky Smooth, both stakes winners.

Trainer Peter Berringer won races on both days of the weekend including Oxbridge’s homebred VALEISHA in an off-the-turf event for maiden fillies. The 3yo Kentucky bred is by Include and she had shown improvement on turf but was very game in her Poly score yesterday. In that race, first time starter STROKE THE TIGER did her best impression of a bucking bronco in the gate and jockey Rob Landry was lucky he was not seriously injured.

ROVING ANGEL has turned into a come-from-behind sprinter now – winning the Ontario Fashion prep with good tactics yesterday. The 5yo mare by Cape Canaveral (who recently moved to Canada for stud duty) had been blanked in 5 races this year this year after a strong stakes winning season in 2006, mostly at route distances.

Trainer LORNA PERKINS made a nice claim when she took PLEASANT MIX for $20K 2 races ago. The grey Alphabet Soup Ontario bred was presumably claimed for the grass and was 4^th in her turf outing for Perkins. The race yesterday, an allowance race, came off the turf but the filly rallied inside to win anyway.

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL/E.P. TAYLOR

Woodbine is going to be all hustle and bustle this week as horses arrive for the big races on Sunday, the last big day of racing in Canada this year.

A plane load of reportedly 8 equines came in from Europe last night and QUIJANO, a favourite for Sunday's race, is already here.

You can see some neat photos (all by Michael Burns photography) of all the International horses in their training on the International website...

http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/thoroughbred/raceevents/ci/index.asp

Among the pictures are FOUR (4) identical pictures of longshot WINDWARD ISLANDS, all working all galloping head-on to the camera.