(October 17, 2004)- In her last Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships appearance, Storm Flag Flying clinched a divisional championship and an undefeated season with an incredibly game victory after being headed in the stretch of the 2002 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Two years later, Storm Flag Flying will try to make history as the first Juvenile Fillies heroine to come back and win the Breeders' Cup Distaff when she starts in the 1 1/8-mile contest for older females Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff - Presented by Nextel promises to get the Breeders' Cup off to rousing start. Others under consideration for the Distaff include two-time champion Azeri, multiple Grade I winner Island Fashion, last year's runner-up Elloluv, as well as 3-year-old standouts Ashado, Society Selection and Stellar Jayne.

Last time out, Storm Flag Flying finished third behind subsequently retired Sightseek in the Grade I Beldame at Belmont Park. As Sightseek cruised alone on the lead through easy fractions, Storm Flag Flying had little choice but to challenge the Belmont-loving multiple Grade I winner on the turn if there was to be any chance of wearing down the leader.

"That wasn't Storm Flag Flying's style of running in the Beldame," trainer Shug McGaughey said. "We were trying to win and we had to take the race to her (Sightseek). We were in there to try and make a race of it. The pace was slow and it just didn't work out the way we wanted. The way it came up we finished third, but I think things will be different in the next race."

McGaughey said Storm Flag Flying came out of her Beldame effort "very well." The third-generation Breeders' Cup champion (Storm Flag Flying's dam, My Flag, won the 1995 Juvenile Fillies and granddam Personal Ensign won the 1988 Distaff) will have one more official work on Sunday, Oct. 24 before flying to Texas later that morning.

"I'd like to see her improve a little bit coming down there," McGaughey said. "She'll be getting a change of scenery and going two turns and probably getting a pretty good pace."

McGaughey said Jerry Bailey, the all-time leading Breeders' Cup jockey with 14 wins, will ride Storm Flag Flying in place of John Velazquez, who is committed to ride Ashado for his top employer, Todd Pletcher.

Storm Flag Flying could benefit from the ambition of Azeri's connections. The 2002 Distaff winner and Horse of the Year is considering facing males in the $4 million Breeders Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge.

"If Azeri ran in the Breeders' Cup Classic that would take the [probable] favorite out of the Distaff, but we finished in front of her twice so I think we'll be fine regardless," McGaughey said.

Storm Flag Flying outfinished a tiring Azeri in the Grade I Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont in June. In their next clash, the Grade I Personal Ensign Handicap at Saratoga, Storm Flag Flying swept past Azeri in the stretch to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

Freefourinternet Still Peaking, Kuntzweiler Will Keep Mount

Trainer Mike Maker said upset Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup winner Freefourinternet has room to improve in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge following consecutive wins that came off a 4 ½-month break.

"The first two races he was coming off a layoff and we didn't have a lot of work into him and we still got the job done," Maker said. "It was a last minute decision to run at Hawthorne, so I don't think he was at his peak for either of those races. But he's going to need to be for this race."

Freefourinternet will be given only an outsider's chance by most handicappers evaluating his form against top older horses from around the world. But Freefourinternet has repeatedly stepped up to the challenge when he seems most overmatched. He was 27-1 for his second Grade II win in the Hawthorne Gold Cup. He was 20-1 for his first in last year's Kelso Breeders' Cup Handicap at Belmont. Earlier in 2003, he was third by a neck at 61-1 in the Grade II Explosive Bid Handicap at Fair Grounds.

In last year's NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile, Freefourinternet, a 57-1 longshot, was full of run behind horses entering the stretch, but got beat to a brief opening by jockey Jerry Bailey and eventual winner Six Perfections. Freefourinternet finished sixth in a field of 13.

Maker is one who believes Freefourinternet fits with the heavy hitters he'll meet in the Classic, such as defending champion Pleasantly Perfect and fellow Horse of the Year candidates Roses in May and Ghostzapper.

"The way I look at it, they had Perfect Drift ranked third [in the NTRA World Thoroughbred Rankings] and we beat him [in the Hawthorne Gold Cup]," Maker said. "If you use that as a barometer to the other ones, Perfect Drift was close to Pleasantly Perfect [in the Pacific Classic] and close to Roses in May [in the Whitney Handicap]. But if you throw his last two races out we don't fit at all, so it depends how you look at it."

Freefourinternet breezed five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 over a "muddy" Churchill Downs track Saturday. It was the fastest move of 26 at that distance. The 6-year-old son of Tabasco Cat broke off with another Maker horse, 2-year-old Yankee Treaty, to spur him on.

"He did everything we asked him and it was a pretty good work," Maker said. "He's not the greatest workhorse, but this was a very good work and I was very pleased. When we're looking for a softer work we send him by himself, but then he has a tendency to go slower than you'd like. But when you put him with another horse at least he gives you a solid effort."

Maker said Freefourinternet would work one more time Saturday before flying to Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
The trainer also said that Greta Kuntzweiler will retain the mount on Freefourinternet after her biggest career win in the Hawthorne Gold Cup. The Kentucky-based jockey is the subject of a new British car commercial showing an unrehearsed conversation between Kuntzweiler and 14-year-old surfer and shark attack victim Bethany Hamilton.

Friday, October 29 Post Times Announced

Here are Lone Star Park's post times for Friday, October 29 (all times central): Race 1, 1:35 p.m.; Race 2, 2:03 p.m.; Race 3, 2:31 p.m. (Grade 1 JEH Stallion Station Refrigerator Handicap); Race 4, 3:01 p.m.; Race 5, 3:31 p.m.; Race 6, 4:01 p.m.; Race 7, 4:45 p.m. (Grade III Walmac Lone Star Derby); Race 8, 5:15 p.m.; Race 9, 5:45 p.m.; Race 10, 6:15 p.m. ($150,000 Stonerside Stakes); and Race 11, 6:45 p.m.

Friday's program will feature the Grade III, $250,000 Walmac Lone Star Derby, as well as the $150,000 Stonerside Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and the Grade 1, $150,000 JEH Stallion Station Refrigerator Handicap for American Quarter Horses.

Breeders' Cup Pre-Entries Due Monday, Announced Wednesday

Pre-entered fields for all eight Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships races will be announced on Wednesday at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. The 21st Breeders' Cup, with purses and awards totaling a minimum of $14 million, will be run Saturday, Oct. 30 at the Dallas Fort Worth area racetrack.

Breeders' Cup Pre-Entry is the first stage of a two-stage entry process for all owners intending to run a horse in a Breeders' Cup race. At the Pre-Entry stage, the first payment to compete in the Breeders' Cup is due Monday by noon CT. The second payment is due Wednesday, Oct. 27, when entries are taken for all eight Breeders' Cup races. Owners have the option of Pre-Entering a horse in a maximum of two Breeders' Cup races.

Breeders' Cup fields are limited to 14 horses. Should a race have more than 14 horses pre-entered, the race is considered "oversubscribed." The Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel - consisting of seven North American and European racing experts - will convene Tuesday to set fields for the oversubscribed races. In such cases, the seven horses who have earned the highest number of Breeders' Cup Points receive an automatic berth in that Breeders' Cup race. Breeders' Cup Points are earned by finishing first, second or third in American graded stakes races held since Jan. 1. The remaining seven horses are selected by the Panel to fill out the rest of the 14-horse field, with consideration given to horses' positions in the World Thoroughbred Rankings. A preference list is then established beginning with the No. 15 rated horse. Prior to the Oct. 27 Entry deadline, horses will fill vacancies, in order of preference, should there be a defection from the main body of the field.

The latest Breeders' Cup Point standings are available at ntra.com.

$4 million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge
Known probable participants in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles (with trainer): Birdstone (Nick Zito); Bowman's Band (Allen Jerkens); Dynever (Christophe Clement); Fantasticat (Bobby Barnett); Freefourinternet (Mike Maker); Funny Cide (Barclay Tagg); Ghostzapper (Bobby Frankel); Newfoundland (Todd Pletcher); Perfect Drift (Murray Johnson); Personal Rush (Kenji Yamauchi); Pleasantly Perfect (Richard Mandella); and Roses in May (Dale Romans).

Known possibles: Azeri (D. Wayne Lukas); Powerscourt-GB (Aidan O'Brien); and Supah Blitz (Doug O'Neill).

$2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff - Presented by Nextel
Known probable participants in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up, at 1 1/8 miles (with trainers): Ashado (Todd Pletcher); Azeri (D. Wayne Lukas); Bare Necessities (Frank Kirby); Elloluv (Craig Dollase); Indy Groove (Tom Proctor); Island Fashion (Marcelo Polanco); Society Selection (H. Allen Jerkens); Stellar Jayne (D. Wayne Lukas); Storm Flag Flying (Shug McGaughey); and Tamweel (Wayne Catalano).

Known possibles: Island Sand (Larry Jones) and Nebraska Tornado (Andre Fabre).

$2 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf
Known probable participants in the $2 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles on turf (with trainers): Balto Star (Todd Pletcher); Better Talk Now (Graham Motion); Kicken Kris (Michael Matz); Kitten's Joy (Dale Romans); Magistretti (Patrick Biancone); Request for Parole (Stanley Hough); Sarafan (Neil Drysdale); and Star Over the Bay (Mike Mitchell).

Possible: King's Drama-IRE (Bobby Frankel); Mustanfar (Kiaran McLaughlin); Ouija Board-GB (Ed Dunlop); Powerscourt-GB (Aidan O'Brien); and Simple Exchange (Dermot Weld).

$1.5 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile
Known probable participants in the $1.5 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile for 3-year-olds and up at one mile on turf (with trainers): Artie Schiller (Jimmy Jerkens); Blackdoun-FR (Julio Canani); Honor and War (Paul McGee); Mr. O'Brien-IRE (Robin Graham); Nothing to Lose (Bobby Frankel); Royal Regalia (Justin Nixon); Silver Tree (Bill Mott); Singletary (Don Chatlos Jr.); Six Perfections-FR (Pascal Bary); Soaring Free (Mark Frostad); Special Ring (Julio Canani); and Whipper (Robert Collet).

Known possibles: Antonius Pius (Aidan O'Brien); Balto Star (Todd Pletcher); Cacique-IRE (Andre Fabre); Diamond Green-FR (Andre Fabre); Domestic Dispute (Paddy Gallagher); and Grand Reward (Aidan O'Brien).

$1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Known probable participants in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf for fillies and mares, 3-years-olds and up, at 1 3/8 miles on turf (with trainers): Crimson Palace-SAF (Saeed bin Suroor); Film Maker (Graham Motion); Katdogawn-GB (James Cassidy); Light Jig-GB (Bobby Frankel); Moscow Burning (James Cassidy); Nebraska Tornado (Andre Fabre); Shaconage (Mitch Shirota); Stay Forever (Marty Wolfson); Super Brand-SAF (Kiaran McLaughlin); Wonder Again (James Toner); and Yesterday-IRE (Aidan O'Brien).

Known possibles: Aubonne-GER (Eric Libuad); Megahertz-GB (Bobby Frankel); Ouija Board-GB (Ed Dunlop); and Riskaverse (Patrick Kelly).

$1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint
Known probable participants in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs (with trainers): Abbondanza (Timothy Tullock Jr.); Beau's Town (Cole Norman); Bwana Charlie (Steve Asmussen); Champali (Greg Foley); Cajun Beat (Bobby Frankel); Clock Stopper (Dallas Stewart); Cuvee (Steve Asmussen); Gold Strom ("Bubba" Cascio); Kela (Mike Mitchell); Midas Eyes (Bobby Frankel); Our New Recruit (John Sadler); Pt's Grey Eagle (Craig Dollase); and Speightstown (Todd Pletcher)

Known possibles: A Huevo (Michael Dickinson); Domestic Dispute (Paddy Gallagher); Grand Reward (Aidan O'Brien); Hombre Rapido (John Sadler); Medallist (Allen Jerkens); My Cousin Matt (Jeff Mullins); Super Fuse (Steve Asmussen); and Voodoo (James Jerkens)

$1.5 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Known probable participants in the $1.5 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile for 2-year-old colts and geldings at 1 1/16 miles (with trainers): Afleet Alex (Tim Richey); Bellamy Road (Michael Dickinson); Boston Glory (Eoin Harty); Consolidator (D. Wayne Lukas); Diamond Isle (Ken McPeek); Proud Accolade (Todd Pletcher); Rebuttal (Brian Meehan); Roman Ruler (Bob Baffert); Sun King (Nick Zito); and Wilko (Jeremy Noseda).

Known possible: Scandinavia (Aidan O'Brien) and Storied Cat (D. Wayne Lukas).

$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Known probable participants in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles (with trainers): Balletto-UAE (Thomas Albertrani); Culinary (Mike Stidham); Culture Clash (Marcello Polanco); Enduring Will (Al Stall Jr.); Dabce Away Capote (Graham Motion); Higher World (Mark Casse); In The Gold (Nick Zito); Memorette (Bill Curran); Play With Fire (Mark Hennig); Ready's Gal (Todd Pletcher); Runway Model (Bernie Flint); Sense of Style (Patrick Biancone); Sharp Lisa (Doug O'Neill); and Sweet Catomine (Julio Canani).

Known possible: Mona Lisa-GB (Aidan O'Brien).

Known Arrival Dates

• MONDAY, OCT. 18 (LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY TO DALLAS LOVE FIELD; SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE AT 8:30 A.M. CT) - Magistretti (Turf) and Sense of Style (Juvenile Fillies); both Patrick Biancone-trained horses will be bedded down in Keith Desormeaux's Barn A2.
• TUESDAY, OCT. 19 (KENTUCKY) - Culinary (Juvenile Fillies), Indy Groove (Distaff), Kitten's Joy (Turf), Roses in May (Classic) and Wonder Again (Filly & Mare Turf).
• FRIDAY, OCT. 22 (PRIVATE CHARTER FROM NEW YORK) - Crimson Palace (Filly & Mare Turf)
• SATURDAY, OCT. 23 (PRIVATE CHARTER FROM ALBANY, NEW YORK) - Birdstone (Classic), In the Gold (Juvenile Fillies) and Sun King (Juvenile)
• SUNDAY, OCT. 24 (NEW YORK/KENTUCKY) - Bowman's Band (Classic), Runway Model (Juvenile Fillies); Society Selection (Distaff); and Storm Flag Flying (Distaff).
• MONDAY, OCT. 25 (CALIFORNIA) - Blackdoun (Mile), Kela (Sprint), Our New Recruit (Sprint), Pleasantly Perfect (Classic), Special Ring (Mile), Star Over the Bay (Turf) and Sweet Catomine (Juvenile Fillies)
• MONDAY, OCT. 25 (ENGLAND/IRELAND/FRANCE) - Antonius Pius (Mile); Cacique-IRE (Mile); Diamond Green (Mile); Grand Reward (Sprint or Mile); Mona Lisa (Juvenile Fillies); Nebraska Tornado (Filly & Mare Turf or Distaff); Ouija Board (Turf or Filly & Mare Turf); Powerscourt (Turf or Classic); Rebuttal (Juvenile); Scandinavia (Juvenile); Simple Exchange (Turf); Six Perfections (Mile); Whipper (Mile); Wilko (Juvenile); and Yesterday (Filly & Mare Turf).
• MONDAY, OCT. 25 (FED-EX FROM CALIFORNIA) - Personal Rush (Classic)
• TUESDAY, OCT. 26 (KENTUCKY) - Azeri (Classic or Distaff), Champali (Sprint); Clock Stopper (Sprint), Consolidator (Juvenile), Freefourinternet (Classic), Perfect Drift (Classic) and Stellar Jayne (Distaff)
• TUESDAY, OCT. 26 (CALIFORNIA) - TBA
• WEDNESDAY, OCT. 27 (NEW YORK) - Cajun Beat (Sprint); Funny Cide (Classic); Ghostzapper (Classic); and Midas Eyes (Sprint).
• WEDNESDAY, OCT. 27 (CALIFORNIA) - Roman Ruler (Juvenile)

Scheduled Workouts at Lone Star Park

• Saturday, Oct. 23 - Kitten's Joy (Turf); Roses In May (Classic); Sense of Style (Juvenile Fillies)

Did You Know?

Like major sporting events and venues around the country, Lone Star Park has enhanced security procedures to ensure that the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships provide maximum safety with minimum inconvenience to all guests.

Certain items will not be permitted on the premises Breeders' Cup Day. To ensure that your day goes off without a hitch, please plan on attending without the following on your person: liquor, bottles, food or beverages (other than approved items for medical purposes which must be accompanied by official documentation), coolers, backpacks, carryall bags, large bags, containers, umbrellas, folding chairs or tables; animals other than handicap-assisting canines; balls, Frisbees, balloons, skateboards, bicycles, kites, or roller blades; weapons or items that Lone Star Park deem unlawful, dangerous or obnoxious.

Down The Stretch

Ticker Tape, co-owned by Jack Sweesy of Dallas, won Saturday's Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by a half-length. It was the second Grade I of the year for Ticker Tape, who also won the American Oaks in July. The daughter of Royal Applause finished the 1 1/8-mile turf race in 1:51.35 and paid $5.40 as the favorite. Sweesy hopes to be represented on Breeders' Cup Day in the Sprint by Grade III Phoenix Breeders' Cup Handicap runner-up Gold Storm, owned in partnership with Keith McKinney...Daybreak at Lone Star will offer racing fans a chance to see Breeders' Cup horses train up close from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. from Thursday until the day before the Breeders' Cup on Friday, Oct. 29. Admission through the East Gate entrance is free and breakfast will be available for purchase at 7 a.m. Track announcer Michael Wrona will provide commentary...FanFest: Texas...The Experience will showcase Texas traditions at Lone Star Park from Friday to Sunday. The celebration includes cowboys, roping, live music, artisans, celebrity chef cook-offs and Texas beer and wine tastings. FanFest is free with paid admission to the races...Leg Two of the FanFest Texas Two-Step, a five kilometer race and concurrent Fun Run sponsored by the Grand Prairie YMCA, is Saturday at 8 a.m. The entry fee is $15. For more information, call (972) 264-2323...A free FanFest Trail Ride is planned for Saturday at 8:30 a.m. starting at Bagdad Road in Grand Prairie and ending at Lone Star Park. For more information, call (972) 262 3161...Saturday there's a FanFest Evening Hot Air Balloon Glow in the Lone Star Park parking area beginning after dark at about 8:30 p.m. The event is free. For more information, call (972) 641-1030.