Bernardini, 13 to 1 longshot winner by 6 3/4 lengths in the 2006 Preakness Stakes, with the breakdown of 1-2 favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, is the even-money morning line favorite to win the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old son of 1992 Classic winner A.P. Indy is the only clear favorite in eight divisions of the Breeders Cup World Championships.

While trainer Tom Albertrani, 48, is saddling his second Breeders Cup starter in Bernardini, owned by Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai’s Darley Stable, Todd Pletcher, 39, has already made history as the trainer with the most entries ever entered in one Breeders Cup Championship card. Pletcher will saddle 17 horses in seven of the eight races, including two morning line favorites, Circular Quay in the Juvenile, and Fleet Indian in the Distaff, as well as three others rated as number two among the morning favorites.

Wayne Lukas, who Pletcher (pictured) worked for as assistant from 1991 through 1995, was the previous Breeders Cup record entry holder with 14 starters in 1987. With nearly two months left in 2006, Pletcher has already tied Lukas’ 19-year record of 53 graded stakes wins in one season, and broken his own 2005 single-season record for trainer earnings with $23 million.

“We have had a tremendous year, and the biggest factors have been that we have had horses that have stayed healthy and that have run consistently,” said Pletcher. “If you look at the records of our horses, you will see that they have been consistent and competitive in all of their races this year.”

Invasor and Lava Man, installed on the morning line at 5 to 1 and 6 to 1, respectively, are Bernardini’s most highly regarded challengers in the 1 1/4-mile Classic. Invasor, an Argentine-bred, trained by Kiaran McGlaughlin, another former Wayne Lukas assistant, is the winner of three Grade 1 stakes, including his last start, the Whitney Handicap on August 5. The 4-year-old colt, sired by Candy Stripes, is owned by Sheikh Hamden bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stable.

Lava Man, undefeated in seven starts this year in California, is trained by Doug O’Neill, who claimed him at Delmar Park in 2004 for $50,000. The 5-year-old Slew City Slew-sired gelding has since earned nearly $3.8 million for current owners, STD Racing and Jason Wood.