This is the second straight year the World Championships are being held at Santa Anita.

Friday's program consisted of six races, including all five for fillies and mares.

Zenyatta was held out of the Ladies' Classic to run in Saturday's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic versus the males. Also absent from the race was three- year-old filly Rachel Alexandra who is on vacation till next year.

Post-time favorite Careless Jewel set the pace in the 1 1/8 mile event for fillies and mares. The three-year-old filly led by as much as 10-lengths on Santa Anita's synthetic track.

Informed Decision was the 3-1 second choice behind 4-5 favorite Ventura.

The victory means that Informed Decision is perfect in seven career starts on artificial tracks.

The pace in the 1 1/4 mile grass race was set by Visit. Dynaforce was running in second with Rutherienne in third. Forever Together was racing in the rear of the eight horse field.

Around the turn for home Forever Together began her rally from the back of the pack.

The two-year-old filly was ridden by Julien Leparoux for owner Nancy Mazzoni.

She Be Wild was racing second and third in the 1 1/16 mile race behind pacesetter Always a Princess and Connie and Michael. Always a Princess still had the lead around the final turn as the field began to bunch up heading into the stretch.

Rose Catherine set the pace in the one-mile turf event with Tapitsfly running in second followed by Potosina and Hatheer.

Rose Catherine, with Javier Castellano riding, had the lead around the turn for home as Tapitsfly continued in second.

Ridden by John Murtagh, Man of Iron defeated Cloudy's Knight by a nose in the 1 3/4 mile race.

The Breeders' Cup began under sunny skies with a post-time temperature of 70 degrees.

That all could change this Saturday when Zenyatta hits Santa Anita searching for her 14th consecutive victory . The five-year-old mare has never been beaten in 13 starts, but this will be her first test against the boys. If she wins, she'll surpass the legendary Personal Ensign, who also began her career with 13 straight first-place finishes.

That filly did something Zenyatta has yet to accomplish and that's knocking off the colts.

This year the Breeders' Cup is again being held at Santa Anita Park just like last year. Santa Anita has a synthetic main track which has forced the owners of top thoroughbred Rachel Alexandra to put her on the shelf until 2010.

However, just about every other star racehorse in North America and many from Europe will be competing Friday and Saturday.

The two-day event features 14 championship races worth a total of $25.5 million. This is the second straight year Santa Anita is hosting the Breeders' Cup. Churchill Downs will be the 2010 host track.

Friday's lineup of races will consist of the $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon, $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, $2 million Juvenile Fillies, $2 million Filly & Mare Turf, $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint and $2 million Ladies' Classic. The Marathon will go off at 3:35 P.M. (et).

The World Championships take place on Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra remains in first place with 18 first- place votes and 189 points. Undefeated this year in eight starts, the filly is being given some time off until she resumes racing in 2010.

The Breeders' Cup Sports and Racing Excellence Award honors an individual who has established a career of excellence in a chosen profession and also maintains a passionate interest as an owner, breeder or participant in the Thoroughbred racing industry.

"I am chuffed at being selected for this inaugural award," said Player from his stud farm in South Africa, "and delighted to accept it on behalf of all horse lovers around the world. If I had to choose golf over horses, I would miss my clubs." Gary Player Stud Farm is recognized throughout the world for breeding high quality thoroughbred race horses.

Zenyatta, owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, is expected to start in the 1 1/4 mile race on Santa Anita's synthetic track in an effort to get her named 2009 Horse of the Year.

"Zenyatta not only is 13 for 13, she has been the favorite in her last nine races," said Jon White, Oak Tree's new morning-line oddsmaker. "Granted, this would be the first time Zenyatta has run against males, plus she's never gone farther than a mile and an eighth. But Zenyatta likes Santa Anita's main track and it looks like she actually might thrive going a mile and a quarter. I also think she will get a lot of play because of her big-time reputation." Last year's Classic was won by European invader Raven's

The feel good story going into the Run for the Roses was the one horse stable of Tom McCarthy. The former high school principal had made headlines as the owner, trainer and groom of General Quarters.

General Quarters was down in Florida while McCarthy was remaining up in Kentucky.

The two-day event is scheduled for Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7.

"Based on the strength of the pre-entries, in a little more than a week at Santa Anita," said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Greg Avioli, "racing fans around the world will be treated to full fields of the best horses from both the U.S. and abroad and to two very enticing days of watching, wagering and rooting for their favorites." The undefeated Zenyatta has been pre-entered to defend her crown in the $2 million Ladies' Classic as well as the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic versus the boys.

The track will restart simulcast operations on Thursday, April 1, 2010.

Live racing at the western Kentucky facility will begin in 2010 on Saturday, July 10 and continue through Labor Day, September 6 with a total of 27 live race days scheduled.

Einstein, owned by Stronach Stable, has a chance to step forward with a victory in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, November 7 at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Helen Pitts, Einstein is the winner of 11 of his 28 career starts and $2,903,324.

Monday morning Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird worked five-furlongs in a very fast time of 58 1/5-seconds. Trainer Chip Woolley had the gelding gallop two miles Saturday morning in preparation of the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

The Classic will be at 1 1/4-miles, the same distance as the Kentucky Derby which Mine That Bird won as a 50-1 longshot. The last two runnings of the race have been won by three-year-olds, Curlin in 2007 and last year by Raven's Pass.

Owned by Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick, 'Rachel' has 189 points, 15 more than champion mare Zenyatta. However, unlike the five-year-old, 'Rachel' will not run in this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park.

Zenyatta and three-year-old colt Summer Bird each received one first-place vote.

Larry, who is married to Cindy, has had a great few years to conclude his career.

Two years ago Hard Spun gave him the excitement of mixing it up the best three-year-olds in the country. The colt won the Lane's End Stakes, was second in the Run for the Roses and third in the Preakness Stakes.

The filly leads the five-year-old by 14 points in the latest voting.

Owned by Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick, 'Rachel' has 19 first-place votes and 199 points. The three-year-old has been shelved for the rest of year and is expected to return for a 2010 campaign.

Two of his sons, Mine That Bird and Summer Bird, won two of the three Triple Crown races and will meet for the third time in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, November 7 at Santa Anita Park.

In their first meeting Mine That Bird shocked the racing world as a 50-1 longshot by winning the Kentucky Derby.

Each winner has automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup next month through the "Win and You're In" program.

Champs Elysees, with Garrett Gomez riding, surged down the stretch in the $2 million Canadian International putting him into the Breeders' Cup Turf. Lahaleeb captured the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes and can now start in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Marsh Side, winner of the 2008 Canadian International, heads a field of eight grass runners for the 1 1/2 mile event.

A win in the International means guaranteed entry into the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf and the Taylor victor goes to the $2 million Filly and Mare Turf.

Second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Square Eddie finished sixth in the six-furlong sprint. The colt broke from the far outside post in the 10 horse field with Rafael Bejarano in the saddle.

"He needed the race, and it's definitely something to build on," said Dennis O'Neill, assistant to his brother Doug. "We'll see where we're at and go from there." After finishing third in the Lexington Stakes as the favorite, Square Eddie was held out of the Triple Crown series with shin problems.