DRAW HIGHLIGHTS
The Breeders’ Cup draw made headlines with lady luck attempting to equalize the playing field against some of the most dominant entities this year.
The first instance of which came in the juvenile division, where Aidan O’Brien’s top two contenders took a blow with outside draws, the first of which coming with Precise drawing the 13 slot in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1). That said it may not be enough to stop her getting the job done and she has only eased in the market slightly since.
Her stablemate Gstaad - current second favourite for the 2000 Guineas – was dealt a similar fate with post 14, which is a theoretically precarious position in the one mile two-turn Juvenile Turf (Grade 1). That said he should still be able to convert having been so far clear on performance ratings and possessing speed that could help in a tactically tough run. The stats are certainly against him, however (courtesy of DRF):
Since 2020, horses breaking from post 14 in one-mile Del Mar grass races are winless in 14 starts; two finished third or better. Post 13 is 1 for 28 and only 3 for 28 in the top 3.
In the centrepiece Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade 1), the ever-entertaining Fierceness (USA) drew gate 1, harking back to earlier in the year and the Pacific Classic (Grade 1) where he prevailed from the same slot – though this will be an even tougher task and he will also have to overcome a pacemaker drawn outside him in Contrary Thinking (#4) (who is in there to set up for defending champion #7 Sierra Leone). The short-priced favourite going into the week – Sovereignty – was drawn in six but has since scratched.