Record 201 horses pre-entered for Breeders’ Cup

A record 201 horses, including 38 from overseas, have been pre-entered for the 31st Breeders’ Cup World Championships set for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

There are 13 Breeders’ Cup races worth $26 million scheduled over two days at the Arcadia track. The $5-million Classic, at 1 1/4 miles, drew 15 horses, led by unbeaten 3-year-old Shared Belief and Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome.

With two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan unable to run, 25 horses were pre-entered in $2-million Mile on the turf.

The previous record for pre-entries was 194 in 2011, when there were 15 Breeders’ Cup races.

When asked for the reason of record entries, Craig Fravel, president and CEO for the Breeders’ Cup, said in a statement: “Excellent communication from our racing department with connections domestically and overseas; confidence in the surfaces at Santa Anita and it means so much to be a Breeders’ Cup Champion.”

Twitter: @LATSondheimer