Breeders' Cup Veterans Invited to Japan Cup

The top three finishers from the Breeders' Cup Turf and Classic winner Tiznow head a list of horses invited to the Japan Cup and Japan Cup Dirt that will be run at Tokyo Racecourse the weekend of Nov. 24-25.

The invitations were issued Monday by the Japan Racing Association, which also released a list of invitees who have confirmed their status in the two grade I races.

North American horses invited to the $3.96-million Japan Cup, to be run Nov. 25 at the distance of about 1 1/2 miles on grass, are Timboroa (3rd, Breeders' Cup Turf), With Anticipation (7th, Turf), and White Heart. The Euro invitees are Fantastic Light, Galileo (6th, Classic), Milan (2nd, Turf), Lailani (8th, Filly & Mare Turf), Golan, and Paolini. Horses that have confirmed for the race are Timboroa, With Anticipation, White Heart, Golan, and Paolini.

Tiznow is joined on the invite list for the $2.06-million Japan Cup Dirt, to be contested at about 1 1/16 miles, by Include (7th, Classic), Freedom Crest (13th, Classic), Generous Rosi, Dig For It, and Lido Palace from North America. Only two European horses--Bach (3rd. Turf) and Black Minnaloushe (10th, Classic)--have been invited to the Japan Cup Dirt. Confirmed participants are Dig For It, Generous Rosi, and Lido Palace.

Both races are limited to 16 horses, with 10 coming from outside Japan for the grass race and eight from other countries for the Japan Cup Dirt. The remainder of each field will consist of Japanese horses.