Based on the pre-entries released Oct. 26 for the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland, a pair of showdowns await in the event's two biggest dirt races.

In the Grade 1 $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, undefeated Flightline is entered off his runaway victory in the Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes but will have to outrun Life Is Good, who this year has won three Grade 1 races and has not lost in North America.

Meanwhile, the Grade 1 $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff offers the always-interesting showdown between an older horse, 4-year-old Malathaat, who earned an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly last year and enters off back-to-back grade 1 wins, and this year's top 3-year-old, Nest, a three-time Grade 1 winner this season who also earned a classic placing when second against males in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. Both fillies are daughters of Curlin, and both are trained by Todd Pletcher.

Like many of this year's Grade 1 races in North America, these races will feature standout horses but small fields. The Classic saw nine horses pre-entered with one of those, Cyberknife, expected to go instead in his first preference, the Grade 1 Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile. The Distaff may be the event's smallest field with just eight fillies and mares pre-entered. Awake At Midnyte 's connections listed the Filly and Mare Sprint as first preference, however, she is drawn on the outside of that full field and the Distaff may be a more likely option for her.

Click here for a full list of pre-entries for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.