Ten jumpers, including the race's two previous winners, pre-entered Tuesday for the Oct. 19 Breeders' Cup Steeplechase (NSA-I). The 2 5/8-mile race will be run at the Far Hills Races in Far Hills, N.J. Final entries for the race close Oct. 15.
Quel Senor, who won last year's race, hasn't won over jumps this year. He won a flat race in his last start on Sept. 29. All Gong, the winner in 2000, finished third in his last race, the Sept. 28 Legacy Chase.
Although these two have experience on their side, they could face It's a Giggle, a winner of three of his five starts this year and a formidable opponent from Jonathan Sheppard's barn. Sheppard also pre-entered Double Leaf, who was second in this year's New York Turf Writers' Cup (NSA-I). Sheppard saddled Highland Bud to win the 1989 running of the race. Highland Bud and It's A Giggle are both by Northern Baby.
The Breeders' Cup Steeplechase will be broadcast the day after its running as part of NTRA 2Day at the Races on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. The purse is $250,000, but for non-Breeders' Cup eligible horses it is $175,000.
All 10 of the horses nominated to the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase with trainers and probable jockeys:
All Gong, Bruce Miller, Chip Miller
Anofferucantrefuse, Tom Voss, Roger Horgan
Double Leaf, Jonathan Sheppard, Michael Traurig
Flat Top, Janet Elliot, Rob Massey
It's a Giggle, Jonathan Sheppard, Gus Brown
Pelagos, Bruce Miller, Tom Foley
Quel Senor, Tom Voss, Cyril Murphy
Tres Touche, Ricky Hendriks, Dave Bentley
Turkish Corner, Bruce Miller, TBA
Zabenz, Robert Smerdon, Craig Thornton
