2011 Breeders Cup: Top Trainers Will Reap Rewards from Multiple Entries

The 2011 Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky is chock-full of big names, and not just among the horses.

The top trainers in the sport, including Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, Bill Mott and Aidan O'Brien, have descended on what is essentially the world championships of horse racing, each bringing with him a long list of entries and the tremendous prospects of big winnings that come with it.

Baffert, the legendary maven based out of California, returns to the Breeders' Cup with nine entries after two years away from the event. He would have had 10 in the running over the two days of races but decided instead to withdraw Prayer for Relief, a 30-to-1 long shot, from Saturday's Classic on account of illness.

Even without all of his horses in play, Baffert could still make history at Churchill Downs thanks to Game On Dude. He'll be saddled by Chantal Sutherland, who is looking to become the first female jockey to win the Classic.

As well-known and highly regarded as Baffert is, he is not the top trainer in horse racing today. That distinction belongs to Todd Pletcher, who has nine contestants of his own, including Classic favorite Uncle Mo and fellow big-money entry Stay Thirsty.

Historically speaking though, no trainer has ever had more success at Churchill Downs than Bill Mott. He has only five horses running at the Breeders' Cup, but can still boast 650 wins at the famed Louisville track. Mott has two horses slated to run in the Classic—reigning Belmont Stakes champion Drosselmeyer and up-and-comer To Honor and Serve—along with entries in the Ladies' Classic (Royal Delta), the Mile (Courageous Cat) and the Marathon (Birdrun).

The honor of "Most Horses Entered" belongs to Ireland's Aidan O'Brien, who has 11 entries in the Breeders' Cup, one of which (St. Nicholas Abbey) will be ridden by his son Joseph in the Turf on Saturday.

All told, don't be surprised if these four titans of the track walk away from Churchill Downs with their pockets much deeper and fatter than when they came.