All Gong Back For More in BC 'Chase

Defending steeplechase champion and Breeders' Cup Steeplechase winner All Gong is among the nine horses pre-entered Tuesday in the $250,000 Breeders' Cup Steeplechase set for Oct. 20 at Far Hills Races in Far Hills, N.J.

Second in all four of his starts this year, All Gong, owned by Calvin Houghland, hasn't won since his course-record performance at Far Hills last fall, but trainer Bruce Miller doesn't seem concerned.

"He's coming up to it probably better than last year," Miller said. "The race he had at Shawan Downs (on Sept. 29) was a better prep than he had last year, and he's better than he was this time last year."

The Breeders' Cup Steeplechase, the richest race run over fences in the United States, will be run at 2 5/8 miles. The weight-for-age race is part of a championship day at Far Hills, which will offer six races worth $475,000. The steeplechase meet benefits New Jersey's Somerset Medical Center, and has contributed more than
$12 million over the years.

The Breeders' Cup Steeplechase will be televised on a one-day delay as part of the "NTRA Racing to the Breeders' Cup" series final installment Oct. 21 on ESPN2 from 2-2:30 p.m. EDT.

Here are the nine pre-entries, with owner and trainer:

1 All Gong, Houghland, Miller

2 Praise The Prince, Augustin Stable, Sanna Neilson

3 Pinkie Swear, Arcadia Stable, Jack Fisher

4 It's A Giggle, Bill Pape, Jonathan Sheppard

5 Yellowroad, Kay Jeffords, Bruce Miller

6 Flasher, Daybreak Stable, Jimmy Day

7 Hokan, Nancy Gerry, Janet Elliot

8 Quel Senor, Coppertree Stable, Tom Voss

9 Lord Zada, Augustin Stable, Sanna Neilson