All you need to know about what is on everyone’s mind at the 36th Breeders’ Cup is that the post position draw was sponsored by an equine hospital.
The Rood & Riddle post draw was held a Santa Anita Monday afternoon with 14 races drawn for the two-day World Championships amidst a backdrop of nervous excitement and the hope for a safe and wonderful two days of racing.
It has not been a great year for Santa Anita after 30 racehorse deaths in the winter and several others in recent days. The event has powered on, however, and many of the best horses in the world will contest races on grass and dirt on Friday and Saturday with championships on the line for a lot of the starters.
Canadian hope EL TORMENTA is the lone horse from the north as the Sam-Son Farms’ Ontario-bred will start from post 8 in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) worth $2 million. The Gail Cox trainee has Eurico Rosa Da Silva on board and the pair come off a win in the Woodbine Mile (G1), often a super stepping stone to the BC Mile.
But ‘Tormenta is 12 to 1 in the morning compared to 3 to 1 favourite CIRCUS MAXIMUS, a Galileo colt from the Aidan O’Brien yard. This 3-year-old won the Prix de Moulin de Longchamps in his most recent race and he also won the St James Palace Stakes in June.
The filly GOT STORMY is 7 to 2 off her runner-up placing to El Tormenta at Woodbine as is UNI, a brilliant mare who has won 6 of her last 7 and was third in the Fourstardave to Got Stormy.
The Mile field has very little early speed types and it appears as if El Tormenta will be on or very close to the pace with Got Stormy also very close. It could be a sprint to the finish for the Woodbine Mile runners with a couple of closers making it interesting. El Tormenta has a good chance to be in the top three.
The Mile is on Saturday as the 6th race of the 9 Breeders’ Cup races – post at about 6:20 p.m.
Here are the post position images from Breeders’ Cup for all 14 races beginning with the $6 million Classic on Saturday (8:44 p.m. Eastern) and going back in race order .
SATURDAY:
FUTURE STARS FRIDAY
In order from first Breeders’ Cup race to the Juvenile:
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Conditions: 5 furlongs on turf for 2-year-olds. Purse: $1 million. Grade: 2. Post time: 4:12 p.m. EDT Friday.
Post position, horse name, trainer, morning-line odds
1. Chimney Rock, Mike Maker, 10-1
2. Band Practice, Archie Watson, 12-1
3. Another Miracle, Gary Contessa, 15-1
4. Dream Shot, James Tate, 15-1
5. Encoder, John Sadler, 15-1
6. Alligator Alley, Joseph O’Brien, 12-1
7., Kimari, Wesley Ward, 7-2
8. Dr. Simpson, Tom Dascombe, 15-1
9. Four Wheel Drive, Wesley Ward, 3-1
10. A’Ali, Simon Crisford, 6-1
11. King Neptune, Aidan O’Brien, 15-1
12. Cambria, Wesley Ward, 12-1
Also eligible
13. Bulletproof One, Peter Miller
14. Air Force Jet, Joseph O’Brien
15. Fore Left, Doug O’Neill
16. Karak, Wesley Ward
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Conditions: 1 mile on turf for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Purse: $1 million. Grade: 1. Post time: 4:52 p.m. EDT Friday.
Post position, horse, trainer, morning-line odds
1. Our Country, George Weaver, 15-1
2. Structor, Chad Brown, 5-1
3. Peace Achieved, Mark Casse, 10-1
4. Decorated Invader, Christophe Clement, 4-1
5. Vitalogy, Brendan Walsh, 10-1
6. Graceful Kitten, Amador Sanchez, 15-1
7. Andesite, Brad Cox, 12-1
8. Billy Batts, Peter Miller, 20-1
9. Gear Jockey, Rusty Arnold, 20-1
10. War Beast, Doug O’Neill, 20-1
11. Proven Strategies, Mark Casse, 30-1
12. Arizona, Aidan O’Brien, 5-2
13. Fort Myers, Aidan O’Brien, 12-1
14. Hit the Road, Dan Blacker, 10-1
Also eligible
15. Deviant, Danny Pish
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Conditions: 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies. Purse: $2 million. Grade: 1. Post time: 5:32 p.m. EDT Friday.
Post position, horse, trainer, morning-line odds
1. Donna Veloce, Simon Callaghan, 3-1
2. Two Sixty, Mark Casse, 15-1
3. Perfect Alibi, Mark Casse, 10-1
4. British Idiom, Brad Cox, 7-2
5. Lazy Daisy, Doug O’Neill, 12-1
6. Bast, Bob Baffert, 7-2
7. Wicked Whisper, Steve Asmussen, 7-2
8. K P Dreamin, Jeff Mullins, 20-1
9. Comical, Doug O’Neill, 8-1
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