By Steve Sherack
DEL MAR, CA – Leading older horse Knicks Go (Paynter) received the nod at 5-2 on the morning-line for Saturday's $6-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic as a field of nine was drawn during Monday's Rood & Riddle Breeders' Cup Post-Position Draw held in the Del Mar paddock.
The speedy 2021 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. and GI Whitney S. winner, hero of last term's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland, will be on the engine from post five in this first attempt at the 1 1/4-mile Classic distance.
Last year's outstanding trainer Brad Cox will also be very well-represented by the 3-1 second-choice in 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit). The 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and champion 2-year-old colt is drawn one to the inside of his stablemate. The Godolphin homebred takes on his elders for the first time off a hard-fought score in the GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga.
The Classic field also includes fellow leading sophomores–GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) (post eight; 4-1) and GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) (post three; 4-1).
Consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million, the two-day 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships feature 169 horses, including seven returning champions.
Saturday's loaded Breeders' Cup program also includes:
• Four-time GISW in 2021 Letruska (Super Saver) (post six; 8-5 favorite) meets GI Kentucky Oaks heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) (post three) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.
• 'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief) is the 3-5 morning line favorite to repeat in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The defending champion female sprinter is drawn in post five in the six-horse affair.
• Talented 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) (post two) is the 6-5 morning-line favorite as he meets his elders for the first time GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.
• CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) (post five), a facile winner of Belmont's GII Kelso H. for Todd Pletcher, returns to Southern California as the overwhelming 4-5 morning-line favorite for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
• Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), owned by the H.H. Aga Khan Studs and trained by Dermot Weld, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite and drawn one from the outside to defend her crown in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf.
• The G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret winner Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (post three) makes the trip across the pond for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. He is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the 14-horse field.
• War Like Goddess (English Channel) (post seven) leads the way in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf off four straight wins, including Saratoga's GI Flower Bowl Invitational. The defending F/M champion Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is drawn wide in post 12.
• Defending GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) is drawn on the rail to defend her title as she faces off against last year's speedy GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) (post three). The latter is the 7-2 morning-line favorite.
The Future Stars Friday program includes:
• A showdown of unbeaten 'TDN Rising Stars' and GISWs is on tap in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile between the rail-drawn 9-5 morning-line favorite Jack Christopher (Munnings) and Corniche (Quality Road), drawn widest of 12.
• 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) puts her perfect three-for-three record on the line in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The 4-5 morning-line favorite is drawn widest of all in post six.
• Euro invader Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), runner-up in the G1 Darley Dewhurst S., will see them all from post 14 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He is the 4-1 morning-line favorite.
• The rail-drawn Bobby Flay homebred and GI Natalma S. runner-up Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) has been installed as the lukewarm 5-1 favorite in a completely wide-open renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
• The unbeaten Wesley Ward-trained filly and three-time stakes winner Averly Jane (Midshipman) (post eight) headlines a full field of 12 set for the GII Juvenile Turf Sprint.
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