Street Sense looks to exit on winning note

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An all-star field headed by Kentucky Derby champion Street Sense and Europe's Dylan Thomas will take the Breeders' Cup spotlight at Monmouth Park at the weekend battling for a share of $24 million in prize money.

The thoroughbred series has attracted 123 of the world's top horses, jockeys and trainers to the Jersey Shores for 11 Breeders' Cup races that will, for the first time, be contested over two days at the renovated Oceanport, New Jersey track.

Three new races on Friday will serve as an appetizer to a full card on Saturday highlighted by the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic in which the three top finishers from the Kentucky Derby renew rivalries over 1 1/4 miles that could also decide horse of the year honors.

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense grabbed the early headlines but Lawyer Ron, the runaway winner of the Whitney Handicap and Woodward Stakes, is the early favorite in a powerful nine horse field at 5-2.

Street Sense, to be retired to stud after the race, will break from post two with regular jockey Calvin Borel back in the irons and was installed as joint second favorite alongside Preakness winner Curlin at 3-1.

Hard Spun, runner-up to Street Sense in Kentucky, was handed 8-1 odds while European hope George Washington, winner of four Group I races, was dismissed at 20-1.

Lawyer Ron will be one of 11 horses trainer Todd Pletcher will send out in six races this weekend as he looks to celebrate the Breeders' Cup win that eluded him last year at Churchill Down.

Pletcher, the nation's leading trainer, saddled 17 horses in Kentucky and came away empty handed.

"I don't think the inside will bother him," said jockey John Velazquez, after Lawyer Ron drew the rail for Saturday's showcase. "He will be forwardly placed like he always is. The key is to get him to relax.

"I'm not so worried about the distance, I just have to get him to settle early."

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE

Twenty horses from Europe will be racing in the Breeders' Cup, including a pair of Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-olds, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe champion Dylan Thomas in the $3 million Turf and George Washington.

Dylan Thomas arrived at Monmouth with four of his stable mates on Tuesday and is expected to take his first look at the New Jersey track on Thursday after getting the all clear from officials.

With five wins in eight starts this year, including the Arc and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot, the classy Irish bay impressed the American odds-makers who installed him as the biggest favorite on the card at 7-5.

"He's drawn seven of nine," Dylan Thomas jockey John Murtagh told reporters. "He's got speed and I think on this track speed will be important.

"He's a big horse, a big galloping horse but pretty agile."

The Breeders' Cup Classic and Turf are the two main events on Saturday that includes six other multi-million races: the $2 million Juvenile, $2 million Juvenile Fillies, $2 million Filly & Mare Turf, $2 million Sprint, the $2.6 million Mile and the $2 million Distaff.

The three new Breeders' Cup races scheduled for Friday, the Filly and Mare Sprint, the Juvenile Turf and the Dirt Mile, each carry a $1 million purse.

(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto)