Arcadia, Nov 6 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Ladies’ Day at the Breeders’ Cup Friday is lacking in star power this year. The $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon will start the season and on Friday’s there are other five races too.

The defending champion Zenyatta will make the races a lot more competitive and it remains to be seen who would make the eventual cut.

“If you’re going to run in a race like this, you’re certainly happy to see an undefeated filly go elsewhere,” said trainer Josie Carroll, whose Careless Jewel is the 2-1 second choice in the race.

“It breaks my heart that Zenyatta is not in the race,” joked Marty Wygod, owner of Ladies Classic contender Life is Sweet. “She’ll have to jump out of there,” Carroll said. “She has enough tactical speed, we’re not concerned about that.”

Gary Player likes Zenyatta. And refers to the horse as ‘her’. “Her and Rip Van Winkle, it’s their race to lose,” he said. “They’re the most talented horses.”

British trainer Aidan O’Brien, has Rip Van Winkle who is the prime challenger to Zenyatta in the male Classic, saddles Lillie Langtry, the 3-1 early favorites in Friday’s $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf.