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Breeders' Cup Limited and six foremost U.S. tracks combined this year to inaugurate "Win and You're In" the BC hunt. A total of winners of 24 qualifying races were guaranteed berths in seven of the eight stakes on Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park.

So far, only a lone qualifier won't run because of an injury. Fabulous Strike, one of five winners that automatically earned entry into the BC Sprint, contracted a lung infection shortly after capturing the Grade 1 Vosburgh by 5 ¾ lengths at Belmont Park on Sept. 30.

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Off Duty won the Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 6, but his owners must decide whether to risk the $180,000 supplemental fee to make the deep Sprint field that will automatically include three others:

Vanderbilt victor Diabolical at Saratoga on July 28, Pat O'Brien winner Greg's Gold at Del Mar on Aug. 19 and Ancient Title champ Idiot Proof at Oak Tree (Santa Anita) on Oct. 7.

Several other winners are in the same financial boat, including BC Distaff qualifiers Ginger Punch and Tough Tiz's Sis. However, both are likely to run.

Unbridled Belle, who scored in the Beldame at Belmont on Sept. 30, is one of six millionaires that would have made their respective BC divisions anyway.

One mare that won't make the Distaff is Take D' Tour, who came out of a last-place finish in the Beldame with an injury to her left foreleg and was retired.

Four of the millionaires that didn't need to win to be in the $5 million BC Classic did. But Del Mar's Pacific Classic winner Student Council is opting for the $2.3 million Japan Cup Dirt on Nov. 24.

It appears quite a few others will dodge Saratoga's Whitney victor Lawyer Ron, Belmont's Jockey Gold Cup champ Curlin and Oak Tree's Goodwood winner Tiago.

And don't forget Kentucky Derby/Travers standout Street Sense, the top money-winning horse for 2007 with earnings of nearly $3 million, or Hard Spun, No. 3 on the list behind Curlin, who also captured the Preakness.

And don't forget Any Given Saturday, who reeled off three straight wins in the Dwyer, Haskell and Brooklyn. He fell only $5,680 short of making a million.

Its no wonder the Classic probably will have the shortest field of the 11 BC contests Oct. 26-27.

However, Lava Man, No. 4 on the money-winning list, won't make the trip to the track by the Jersey shore. Instead, the trailer in the Oak Tree Mile, according to his interests, will be pointed to the $250,000 California Cup Class for state-breds at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. Besides, Lava Man has been ice cold racing off the Left Coast.

English Channel, the 12th and last millionaire on the list, is in the BC Turf because of his victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont on Sept. 30. He will face two winners of Arlington Million Day Aug. 11: Jambalaya in the showcase race and Shamdinan in the Secretariat.

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English Channel won't have to worry about two game runners: Hirsch runner-up The Tin Man and the game Shakespeare.

"I can't see (the 9-year-old) going," trainer Richard Mandella said. "We'll probably think about the Citation (at Hollywood Park Nov. 23) for him."

As for Shakespeare, his comeback from a serious tendon injury was cut short after winning the Woodbine Mile. He suffered another tear in the tendon of his left foreleg.

"After consulting with the vet we decided we were not going to push on," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "He's a star - it's unfortunate. It's a tough part of the game."