Curlin entered in Breeders' Cup

The Breeders' Cup Classic is going to have American star presence after all. Curlin's connections said Tuesday that the reigning Horse of the Year will defend his title in the $5 million Classic at the Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Oct. 25. The announcement came a day after Big Brown's surprise retirement because of injury.

Majority owner Jess Jackson announced the decision on a conference call, saying, "I owe it to the horse. Curlin tells us he's fit. He loves to compete."

An initial entry payment was due Tuesday. A final payment is due Oct. 21. Horses pre-entered in the 14 Breeders' Cup races will be announced Thursday.

"I want to give hard-core racing fans an opportunity to see him race one more time," said Jackson, quickly adding that he didn't mean Curlin will be retired afterward.

Curlin is expected to take on undefeated Casino Drive of Japan and some of Europe's top horses in the first Breeders' Cup to be run on a synthetic track.

N.Y. JOINS STEROIDS BAN: New York toughened its steroids policy for racehorses Tuesday, following the lead of Kentucky and Maryland, the two other states that hold Triple Crown races. The New York State Racing and Wagering Board said the rules take effect Jan. 1 at all thoroughbred and standardbred tracks. That includes Belmont Park, home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. The new rules set limits for steroids that are permitted.

Nadal advances at Madrid Masters

Rafael Nadal of Spain moved to two wins from clinching the year-end No. 1 ranking, defeating Latvia's Ernests Gulbis 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 Tuesday to reach the third round of the Madrid Masters at Madrid, Spain.

Next up for the 2005 Madrid champion will be 15th-ranked Richard Gasquet. Gasquet overcame 23 aces by Mardy Fish to win 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3.

Nadal was taken to four sets by Gulbis en route to the Wimbledon title.

In other second-round matches, U.S. Open finalist Andy Murray advanced while 11th-seeded James Blake and 13th-seeded Fernando Verdasco lost.

ZURICH OPEN: In Zurich, Switzerland, sixth-seeded Patty Schnyder, who won in Bali last month, was upset by Czech teenager Petra Kvitova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, seventh-seeded Anna Chakvetadze was beaten by Romanian qualifier Monica Niculescu 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, her fifth loss in six matches since reaching the final in New Haven, Conn., in August.

Armstrong doubtful on entering Tour

Lance Armstrong has expressed doubts about racing in next year's Tour de France.

The American, who agreed Monday to ride in next year's Giro d'Italia, said in an interview published Tuesday in Rome that he may not go for an eighth Tour de France title after all.

"Everyone knows its importance, but the problems that I have with the organizers, journalists and fans could distract me from my mission -- focusing the world's attention on the battle against cancer," Armstrong, 37, said in Gazzetta dello Sport.

Armstrong announced last month that he is returning to cycling after three years in retirement, and he wants to draw more attention to his global campaign to fight cancer, a disease he survived before winning seven straight Tours from 1999 to 2005.

Armstrong has feuded for years with Tour de France officials over drug-testing issues, but Tour director Christian Prudhomme has said he and the Astana team will be allowed to race next year as long as they avoid doping problems. Astana was banned from this year's Tour.

The 100th anniversary edition of the Giro is scheduled for May 9-31. The Tour de France starts July 4.

CERA TESTS COMPLETED: The French Anti-Doping agency has finished retesting Tour de France samples for banned blood-booster CERA and plans to hang onto those tests until next year "in case there are new [testing] procedures that are put into place," FLD chief Pierre Bordry said in Paris.