BREEDERS' CUP Sport's biggest names take aim at $14 million in Grand Prairie, Texas

Wealthy trainer Bob Baffert has just one contender.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (AP) -- If D. Wayne Lukas, Bob Baffert, Bobby Frankel, Jerry Bailey and Pat Day are at the same track on the same day, it must be the Breeders' Cup.
Some of the sport's biggest names are taking aim at eight races worth $14 million. Some, such as Baffert, are less loaded than in other years.
The white-haired trainer has just one contender, Roman Ruler in the Juvenile. Typically, Baffert is busy saddling multiple entries, although his 40 starters have produced just three victories, including Vindication in the 2002 Juvenile.
Roman Ruler has three career victories and just missed a fourth when he was beaten by a neck at Del Mar in September.
"Everything is very good," Baffert said Monday. "He's ready."
Lukas will saddle Azeri in either the Distaff or the Classic, Stellar Jayne in the Distaff, and Consolidator in the Juvenile. The 69-year-old trainer has a record 140 Breeders' Cup starters, with 17 victories and more than $18 million in earnings.
The Juvenile has produced Lukas' greatest success, with five winners, but none since Boston Harbor in 1996 at Woodbine.
Favorite
Azeri will be the favorite in the Distaff if she stays in the race instead of the Classic. She won the Distaff in 2002 on her way to being selected horse of the year. She struggled last year, but won the Spinster Stakes this month at Keeneland and beat Sightseek at Saratoga in the summer.
Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkins has two chances to end his 0-for-6 Breeders' Cup winless streak. He'll run Bowman's Band in the Classic and Society Selection in the Distaff.
Only six of the 100 horses entered in the Breeders' Cup have run at Lone Star Park. Bowman's Band, Society Selection and other horses aren't used to the recent hot, humid weather in Texas after coming from chilly New York. So Jerkens plans to clip their hair.
Funny Cide
Funny Cide, last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, will arrive at Lone Star on Wednesday. A year ago, he beat only one horse in the Classic at Santa Anita, where temperatures were nearly 100 degrees and wildfires created a smoky environment. Saturday's forecast is for temperatures in the high 70s.
"That's still a little hot, but he'll deal with it," said Robin Smullen, Funny Cide's assistant trainer.
Dale Romans isn't taking any chances. He arrived from Churchill Downs with Classic contender Roses in May and Turf entrant Kitten's Joy on Oct. 19. They will be his first starters in the event.
"It was hot and we wanted to get used to the weather," he said. "I'm glad we got here early because they have settled in nicely."
One chance
A year after winning a record four Breeders' Cup races, Richard Mandella is back with only one chance. Pleasantly Perfect will try to become the second horse to win the $4 million Classic two years in a row.
"He's as good or better than he's ever been," Mandella said. "In the last year, he's gotten smarter and better in his racing."
Bailey, who has a record 14 victories and more than $17 million in Breeders' Cup earnings, will be busy Saturday. He'll ride Pleasantly Perfect and defending champion Six Perfections in the Mile.
He'll also be aboard Storm Flag Flying in the Distaff, Balletto in the Juvenile Fillies, Kela in the Sprint, and Aubonne in the Filly & amp; Mare Turf.
Day, who leads the jockeys with more than $22 million in Breeders' Cup earnings, will ride Azeri in the Distaff or Classic, in addition to some other mounts.
Frankel's starters include Ghostzapper in the $4 million Classic.