BC Classic is a good fit for Drosselmeyer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The 11/4-mile distance of the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic could be an obstacle on Saturday for several horses.

It should pose no problem for Drosselmeyer, winner of the 11/2-mile Belmont Stakes last year who is 15-1 on the morning line in the richest race of Breeders' Cup weekend.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Drosselmeyer is 1-for-6 since the Belmont victory, but the 4-year-old seems to be rounding into form. He was second behind Flat Out most recently in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. And he can handle this track, scoring his first win at Churchill Downs in 2009.

"Drosselmeyer's first couple of races this year were very mediocre but since the middle of August he's had a reawakening," Mott said. "He trained very well and ran very well in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Flat Out was clearly an easy winner. We ran hard to beat everybody else. We're just hoping he'll continue to improve off that race."

Mott is also hoping for enough early speed to benefit Drosselmeyer's late-running style.

"He's a horse you know is going to keep coming," Mott said. "With the right type of pace scenario, we're hoping he can get a big piece of it."

Drosselmeyer reunites with Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith for the first time since the Belmont victory.

Mott also sends out Pennsylvania Derby winner To Honor and Serve in the Classic. The colt is 12-1.

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HURT EYE: Stacelita has been battling an eye injury as she prepares for the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf on Friday as the 2-1 early favorite.

She came out of her victory in the Flower Bowl at Belmont with an infected left eye. As a precaution, Stacelita has been training with a clear plastic cup over the eye to prevent further irritation or damage.

Trainer Chad Brown is considering keeping the cup on for the race.

"A couple of days after the last race, the eye was a little puffy and ended up with a little ulcer," he said. "We've been treating that and cleared it up but it's not quite 100 percent yet. It's a tough area of the body to heal for anybody, horse or human."

After a successful career in her native France, owner Martin Schwartz brought the 5-year-old to the U.S. with the Breeders' Cup in mind. She has run three times here, all Grade 1 stakes. She was third in the United Nations against the boys at Monmouth Park before winning two races against fillies and mares: the Beverly D at Arlington Park and the Flower Bowl.

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CHARGING AHEAD: Owner Mike Repole named Stopshoppingmaria for his wife Maria, who favors boutiques over backstretches.

"While I'm here right now, she is picking out all her shopping places for today and tomorrow," Repole said Wednesday on the Churchill Downs backstretch. "She's only packed like nine dresses for two days. I think she's going to change every Breeders' Cup race. She brought 12 pairs of shoes. Today when I left, I said, 'You want to come to the barn?' She said, 'I need shoes.'"

Repole previously had a filly named Stopspendingmaria, and he promises to continue the trend.

"Every year I'm going to name a filly after her shopping habits," Repole said. "I'm so happy that horse is in the Breeders' Cup because it gets her name out there. But it kind of backfired in that it motivates her to shop even more to live up to her reputation."

Stopshoppingmaria is 8-1 in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday, making her first start on the turf after going 1-1-1 in three starts on the main track.

Repole, a beverage and fast-foot entrepreneur, also has Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty in the Classic.

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ALL CLEAR: While rain is forecast for the Louisville area on Thursday, the outlook brightens for Breeders' Cup weekend.

Friday and Saturday should both be sunny days with temperatures topping out in the low 60s.