Though this could be called the year of the female in thoroughbred racing, Ladies' Day at the Breeders' Cup Friday is lacking in star power.

With unbeaten mare Zenyatta putting her 13-0 record on the line against males on Saturday and dominant filly Rachel Alexandra bowing out of the Breeders' Cup and done for the year, lesser known ladies will be left to chase the Cup's seven-figure purses.

After the $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon opens the day, Friday's other five races belong to the females, with the $2 million Ladies' Classic the headliner.

While the absence of defending champion Zenyatta will leave the Ladies' Classic a lot less classic, it should leave it a lot more competitive.

The connections of her would-be competitors are not exactly upset at the absence of marquee names.

"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 formerly known as the Distaff.

"It breaks my heart that Zenyatta is not in the race," joked Marty Wygod, owner of Ladies Classic contender Life is Sweet, who has fruitlessly chased her stablemate Zenyatta all year.

Careless Jewel, a gray 3-year-old, has used her front-running style under jockey Robert Landry to win five straight races, including the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga in August. She's likely to go straight to the lead Friday if she can get out of the No. 1 post, which Carroll expects she can.

"She'll have to jump out of there," Carroll said. "She has enough tactical speed, we're not concerned about that."

The filly has already benefited from absent girls running against boys. She was fortunate enough to miss fellow 3-year-old Rachel Alexandra _ who ran against males and won three times _ all year, and now she has been able to dodge Zenyatta.

Asked if she would like to face Zenyatta, Carroll said: "Maybe next year when she's a 4-year-old."

Careless Jewel could see the pace pressed by 9-5 morning-line favorite Music Note, who ran third in last year's Ladies Classic. The 4-year-old filly from Godolphin is coming off Grade 1 wins in the Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park and the Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga. She has won big races with both early leads and late rallies.

"She can lay anywhere," said Rick Mettee, assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

Another Godolphin entry, Cocoa Beach, was second in last year's Ladies' Classic but hasn't won a major stakes in nearly a year. She's 8-1 on Friday's morning line. Continued...