By Beth Harris, The Associated Press

ARCADIA, Calif. - Zenyatta was made the early 5-2 favourite Tuesday in a field of 13 for the US$5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, where she'll put her 13-0 record on the line against the boys for the first time.

Zenyatta will break from the No. 4 post in Saturday's 1 1/4-mile race at Santa Anita.

She had also been pre-entered in Friday's $2 million Ladies' Classic, which she won last year.

But owners Jerry and Ann Moss, along with trainer John Shirreffs, had a bigger goal in mind for the five-year-old mare, who has won all four of her starts this year.

"There's an opportunity to make history in the Classic, that's why we chose the Classic," Shirreffs said, referring to the fact that no female horse has ever won in the race's 25-year history.

Zenyatta will be just the fourth female to run in the Classic. Jolypha had the best result, finishing third in 1992. Azeri was fourth in 2004 and Triptych was sixth in 1986.

"I believe she deserves this chance," said Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who rides Zenyatta. "If she gets her opportunity to run her race and she runs it like I know she can, we might see something pretty incredible."

With a victory, Zenyatta would better Personal Ensign's career mark of 13-0 set from 1986-88. That filly retired as the first undefeated champion in American racing in more than 80 years.

"I hope it gets more people interested," Jerry Moss said. "I hope it gets more people watching. I hope they get to appreciate Zenyatta for what she is - a great, unique, special equine athlete."

Missing from America's richest race is Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, the three-year-old filly who won all eight of her races this year, including three victories over male competition.

Her owner, Jess Jackson, shut her down for the year because he doesn't like Santa Anita's synthetic surface, where his two-time Horse of the Year Curlin faded to fourth in last year's Classic.

Zenyatta has won 11 races on synthetic surfaces, including three on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride. Her lone win on traditional dirt came at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

She will take on a loaded field that includes 12 Grade 1 winners, including Ireland-bred Rip Van Winkle, the 7-2 early second choice, and Summer Bird, the 9-2 third choice who swept the Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup but will test himself on synthetics for the first time.

"He's handled this from day one when we first brought him out over the racetrack," said Tim Ice, who trains Summer Bird. "He's feeling out-of-this-world. He's coming into this race as good as he's come into any race."

Rip Van Winkle will try to give Europe a second straight win in the Classic, where Raven's Pass triumphed last year and European horse Henrythenavigator finished second.

Mine That Bird, Canada's two-year-old champion in 2008 co-bred by Toronto's Peter Lamantia, headlines a ten-horse field with Canadian connections that will race on Friday and Saturday.

The Kentucky Derby winner has been shut out in four races since the stunning upset and was listed at 12-1, along with six other horses, including Einstein, owned by Canadian Frank Stronach.

Mine That Bird trainer Chip Woolley Jr. shrugged off his colt's long shot status, saying, "He won the Derby at 50-1."

Trainer Bob Baffert, who will saddle Pacific Classic winner Richard's Kid, saluted the Mosses for giving Zenyatta a shot at the boys.

"That's pretty gutsy," he said. "That's what our sport needs. We need a big boost right now and she's going to be our boost. Rachel (Alexandra) carried us to a certain point and this mare is going to the rest of the way."

The 14 races to be run Friday and Saturday for the second consecutive year at Santa Anita are worth $25.5 million. A total of 149 horses were entered, including 30 from Europe.

Without Zenyatta, the Ladies' Classic attracted a field of eight, led by early 9-5 favourite Music Note.

Baffert will try to repeat in the $2 million Juvenile, where his colt Lookin at Lucky was installed as the 8-5 early favourite. He won a year ago with Midshipman.

The Hall of Fame trainer also has the morning line favourite in the $2 million Sprint with Zensational, who drew the No. 1 post and is listed at 7-5. Baffert is going for his third consecutive win in the six-furlong race.

Ireland-bred Goldikova is back to defend her title in the Mile on the turf as the early 8-5 favourite. Two other Irish-bred horse are favourites in their races. Mastercraftsman is the 6-5 choice in the Dirt Mile, while Conduit is listed at 7-5 in the Turf.

Ventura is the defending champion and 8-5 early favourite in the Filly&Mare Sprint for ailing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who has been away from his stable most of the year because of an undisclosed illness.

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A quick look at Canadian entries at the Breeder's Cup

A quick look at horses with Canadian connections entered in this weekend's Breeder's Cup.

CLASSIC

Mine That Bird: The 2008 Canadian two-year-old champion will race out of post No. 1 in the US$5-million Breeders' Cup Classic. The Kentucky Derby winner was listed at 12-1 along with six other horses. He won the Derby as a 50-1 longshot. Mine That Bird was co-bred in Kentucky by Toronto's Peter Lamantia.

Einstein: The Brazilian-bred six-year-old is owned by Frank Stronach of Aurora, Ont. He will run out of the No. 8 post and was at 12-1 in the current line. He was a finalist in the older male category at the 2008 Eclipse Awards, losing out to Curlin.

LADIES CLASSIC

Careless Jewel: The Woodbine-based mare is owned by Donver Stable of Sherwood Park, Alta., and trained by Toronto's Josie Carroll. She drew the No. 1 post and was listed at 2-1. Careless Jewel will be ridden by Toronto's Robert Landry in the US$2-million race.

JUVENILE FILLIES TURF

Jungle Tale: The Woodbine-based runner, trained by the legendary Steve Asmussen, drew the No. 6 and was at 15-1.

JUVENILE FILLIES

Bickersons: Ontario-bred by Robert Harvey, of Mississauga, Ont., Bickersons drew the No. 5 post and was listed at 20-1.

Biofuel: The Woodbine-based filly is trained by Toronto's Reade Baker and will be ridden by Eurico Rosa da Silva, also of Toronto. She drew the No. 12 post and was 15-1.

JUVENILE TURF

Bridgetown: Owned by Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and ridden by Landry, Bridgetown drew the No. 7 post and was listed at 8-1.

TURF SPRINT

Square Eddie: Finished second in last year's Breeder's Cup Juvenile. The Ontario-bred three-year-old owned by J. Paul Reddam of Windsor, Ont., has since slumped and was listed as a 20-1 longshot. He will run out of the No. 8 post.

SPRINT

Fatal Bullet: Owned by Edmonton's Bear Stables and trained by Baker, Fatal Bullet will be ridden by da Silva out of the No. 3 post. He was listed at 9-2.

TURF

Red Rocks: The Reddam-owned horse drew the No. 3 post and was a 20-1 longshot.