(October 15, 2004)- The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships gained a budding international star Friday when owner Tomiro Fukami chose to pre-enter nine-length Japanese Group 1 winner Personal Rush in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge. Frankie Dettori, a three-time Breeders' Cup winner and the runaway leading jockey in Europe this season, has been booked to ride.

The 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Wild Rush out of the Alydar mare Personally was an eye-popping winner of the Group 1 Derby Grand Prix, a $774,000 race against older horses at Japan's Morloka racecourse on Sept. 20. His time of 2:02 4/5 for the 1 ¼ miles on dirt was a track record.

"We believe that Personal Rush is the best three-year-old colt here in Japan, as he has already beat top older horses," said Murayama Bloodstock Agency's Takuya "Taki" Murayama, the authorized agent for Fukami. "The reason why we have decided to try Personal Rush in the Breeders' Cup Classic is very simple. He is so talented and getting improved a lot in this autumn. Obviously, Breeders' Cup is one of the most prestigious races in the world and therefore, it is natural for all the horsemen to consider contending the best horse for the best race."

Personal Rush is currently in export-quarantine at the Japan Racing Association's facility and will be flown to Los Angeles on Thursday. He'll quarantine at Hollywood Park from Oct. 22 through Oct. 24 before hopping aboard a Fed-Ex flight to the Dallas Fort Worth area on Monday, Oct. 25.

A winner of five races - including three stakes - and $1,234,820 in nine starts, Personal Rush will be challenging a deep and contentious lineup in the 21st running of the Classic, set for Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

As many as 13 are expected to compete including defending champ and $6 million Dubai World Cup winner Pleasantly Perfect; Woodward Stakes winner Ghostzapper, who recorded the highest published Beyer Speed Figure of all time (128) two starts back; Roses in May, unbeaten in five starts this year; 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide; and this year's Belmont and Travers Stakes hero Birdstone.

Other probable starters are Bowman's Band, Domestic Dispute, Dynever, Fantasticat, Freefourinternet, Newfoundland and Perfect Drift.

Two-time champion mare and 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Powerscourt are listed as possible, but more likely to run in the Distaff and Turf, respectively.

Personal Rush, trained by Kenji Yamauchi, was sold at the 2002 Keeneland September yearling sale for $57,000, then was purchased for $240,000 at the 2003 Barretts Equine Limited March sale of 2-year-olds in training. He was bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. M.L. Wood.

Pre-entries for all eight Breeders' Cup races will be taken Monday and will be announced Wednesday.

Ouija Board Could Face Males in Turf

Trainer Ed Dunlop told The Racing Post that 3-year-old filly Ouija Board, the third place finisher in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, could face males in the $2 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf rather than the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. A final decision on her Breeders' Cup participation will be made at pre-entry time on Monday.

"She seems to have come out of her last race well," Dunlop told The Racing Post. "She lost 13 kilos (28 ½ pounds), but she has put that weight back on now. She seems very fresh and her coat is still okay. There are discussions ongoing with Lord Derby, Peter Stanley, Kieren Fallon and myself. We will make a decision very soon."

Ouija Board, winner of the English and Irish Oaks this year, has won four of seven starts and $938,568. Because she is not Breeders' Cup nominated, she would have to be supplemented to either the Turf or Filly & Mare Turf.

'Forgotten' Island Fashion Coming to Hand for Distaff

Before her game victory in the Oct. 3 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita, it had been six months since 4-year-old filly Island Fashion made her last start in North America. Even though she's won three Grade I events and finished second against top males in the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap, the gray daughter of Petionville is somewhat of an underdog for her engagement with Storm Flag Flying, Ashado and possibly two-time champion Azeri in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff - Presented by Nextel.

Trainer Marcelo Polanco says Island Fashion is "going to make some noise" in the Distaff. After a poor showing in Japan's Group 1 Yasuda Kinen and a slight bout with pneumonia that kept her away from the races this summer, Island Fashion is back on track and on the improve.

"She was very impressive coming back from a four-month layoff and I didn't have to train her very hard," Polanco said. "She'll improve. I'm very happy with the way she came out of the race - eating, training and doing everything very strong. I couldn't be any happier."

Island Fashion started the year with a win in the Grade I Santa Monica Handicap. Her runner-up finish in Santa Anita's Big 'Cap was followed by a disappointing fourth in Oaklawn's Apple Blossom and the substandard Japan excursion.

"Right after the race in Japan, we sent her out for a couple months," Polanco said. "She got a little bit of pneumonia, but we caught it in time and she came out of it fine. She was very sick and that's why we sent her to Alamo Pintado [Equine Medical Center in California]. She had a very good campaign at the beginning of the year. She's a good filly and she's been forgotten, but we're going to make some noise now."

Island Fashion breezed three furlongs in :35 1/5 at Santa Anita on Monday.

"I told my girl just to take her to the track and take it very easy, let her gallop and work an easy three-eighths, and that's what she did," Polanco said. "It was nice and easy. She's coming up [to the Breeders' Cup] much the same as she was coming into the last race. She's fresh, strong and doing everything the right way."

The trainer said Island Fashion will likely be on the Wednesday, Oct. 27 flight from Southern California to Texas.

"I'll work her before she leaves and keep her nice and fresh," Polanco said. "I couldn't be happier."

Polanco also said a decision on a rider for Island Fashion won't come until after he consults with owner Jeff Nielsen of Everest Stables.

Lineup Finalized for All Star Announcers Day October 29

Eleven acclaimed racecallers from around the United States will showcase their talents on All Star Announcers Day at Lone Star Park, to be held Friday, Oct. 29 on the eve of the 21st Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

The cast for All Star Announcers Day will include Tom Durkin, voice of the Breeders' Cup and the New York Racing Association; Dave Johnson, the television veteran known for his trademark "And down the stretch they come!" expression; Trevor Denman of Santa Anita Park; and, of course, Michael Wrona of Lone Star Park.

Also participating will be Mike Battaglia of Turfway Park and NBC Sports; Michael Chamberlain of Sam Houston Race Park; Larry Collmus of Suffolk Downs and Monmouth Park; Luke Kruytbosch of Churchill Downs; Dave Rodman of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park; Vic Stauffer of Gulfstream Park and Hollywood Park; and Terry Wallace of Oaklawn Park.

Each announcer will call one event on the afternoon's 11-race card. The program is highlighted by the Grade III, $250,000 Walmac Lone Star Derby and also includes the $150,000 Stonerside Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and the Grade 1, $150,000 Refrigerator Handicap for American Quarter Horses.

The first live race on Friday, Oct. 29 is set for 1:35 p.m. CT.

Breeders' Cup Ticket Giveaway Saturday at Lone Star

Racing fans attending Saturday's 10-race program in person will get a chance to win a pair of tickets for the already sold-out Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, to be held at Lone Star Park two weeks later on Oct. 30. A free entry blank for the prize drawing will be distributed to patrons with paid admission.

Gates open at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and the first live race is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Entry deadline for the ticket drawing is 2 p.m. There are two pairs of tickets up for grabs.

Other promotions this weekend include the Heineken "Party at the Park" with live music by Johnny Lovett on Friday and Senior Citizens' Day with free admission for fans 62 and older on Sunday.

The first live race Thursday and Friday is at 6:35 p.m. Weekend racing begins at 1:35 p.m.