Flower Alley & George Washington, Breeders Cup Classic Contenders

NEW YORK (AP) -- Bernardini will have plenty of competition when the leading Horse of the Year contender enters the starting gate for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.
Flower Alley, second in last year's Breeders Cup Classic, will be back for another try, trainer Todd Pletcher's assistant Mike McCarthy said Monday from The Downs.

Also headed to the 1-mile Classic is Europe's leading miler, George Washington, trainer Aidan O'Brien told The Independent.

The Classic field is limited to 14 starters, but more are being considered for the richest race in North America, which raised its' purse from $4 million last year.

The 4-year-old Flower Alley finished seventh in the Whitney and the Woodward this year, but won the Jim Dandy and the Travers at Saratoga last year before his runner-up finish to Saint Liam in the 2005 Classic.

George Washington was bred by Gretchen and Roy Jackson, the owners of injured Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

Bernardini, the expected favorite, takes a six-race winning streak into the Classic, including victories in the Preakness, the Travers and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. There were only six horses in the Travers, and four in the Gold Cup.

Other horses with Classic plans include: Lava Man, winner of seven in a row; Invasor, winner in eight of nine career starts; Santa Anita Derby winner Brother Derek; Super Derby winner Strong Contender; 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo; and Andromeda's Hero, David Junior, Lawyer Ron, Perfect Drift, Premium Tap, Suave, Sun King and Super Frolic.

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