Saintly old clergymen likely starters in books, but (as before) this is real life.

Brown, one of several likely new starters next season, turned back when someone pointed to the entrance to his new dressing quarters.

He will scare off all but four or five rivals, and none of the likely starters is particularly talented or necessarily headed for the Derby.

Neither trainer seems terribly concerned about the six other likely starters in the race.

When final entries are taken here Wednesday morning, they will account for 24 of the 87 likely starters - 27.5 percent of all the horses in the Breeders' Cup.

The likely starters include the outstanding European fillies Miesque, Milligram and Sonic Lady.

They could provide much-needed depth and versatility behind the likely starters, Chris Calloway and Ike Hilliard.

Michael Strahan and Jamal Duff are the likely starters at this point, and there is also Robert Harris, who might be moved inside.

Although "letters of intent" from likely starters are encouraged, any rider may turn up on the day to participate.

Any limit, though, only encourages some owners, who see 15 or 16 likely starters and begin to think that they should join the crowd.