Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite Arabian Knight draws the No. 12 post
PASADENA — Three of the four horses back to defend their 2022 Breeders’ Cup titles – Cody’s Wish, Elite Power and Goodnight Olive – were installed as morning-line favorites Monday during the post-position draw at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for this year’s championship races.
The two-day world championships, which includes 14 races worth more than $31 million in purses and awards, drew 205 horses including 59 from five foreign countries to Santa Anita. The track is hosting the event for a record 11th time on the 40th anniversary of the event.
Future Stars Friday includes five races that spotlight the juveniles and will begin at 11:30 a.m. with four undercard races. Saturday’s action, highlighted by the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, kicks off at 10:10 a.m. with two undercard races.
Cody’s Wish, most everyone’s sentimental favorite, drew the No. 3 post position and is 9-5 on the morning line in the Dirt Mile. Elite Power is the 9-5 choice in the Sprint and will try to become the third horse to win the race in multiple years. Goodnight Olive is the 6-5 favorite in the Filly & Mare Sprint. While Caravel is not the favorite in the Turf Sprint after last year’s victory, he’s the co-second choice on the morning line at 5-1.
The Bob Baffert-trained Arabian Knight was installed as the 3-1 favorite in the Classic and drew the No. 12 post. He’ll be ridden by Flavien Prat and will try to give Baffert his fifth victory in the 1¼-mile race. Baffert is second (20-18) behind his good friend D. Wayne Lukas for most Breeders’ Cup victories by a trainer.
Arcangelo, who goes into the Classic coming off victories in the Belmont and Travers Stakes and will be ridden by resurgent jockey Javier Castellano, drew the No. 1 post and is the 7-2 second choice in a field trimmed to 13 because Kentucky Derby winner Mage has a fever and Geaux Rocket Ride was hurt in a workout and had surgery Sunday.
Trainer Jena Antonucci, who became the first female trainer to win a Triple Crown race and only the second to saddle a Travers winner, is fine with her colt’s post position.
“He’s won from the one before, so that’s what we think of it,” she said.
Arcangelo kicked the wall in his stall with his left hind leg over the weekend and Antonucci had to replace the shoe. She decided not to gallop the son of Arrogate on Saturday but instead just walked him.
“It seems everyone is quite stressed about this for us,” Antonucci said. “So thank you everybody for your grave concern for us. He had a warm hind foot and we pulled the shoe off. Horses love to see our schedules. They’re rather inconvenienced. We’ll be patient. We always put the horse first and make sure he is 100 percent.”
Asked if she’s confident Arcangelo will be ready to go by Saturday, the 48-year-old trainer gave a thumbs up.
“He’s rather annoyed at us right now so yes,” she said.
Japanese favorite Ushba Tesoro, who has won six consecutive races, including three this year, closes from far back and has turned into a different horse since taking to the dirt. It took him eight races to break his maiden in 2021, but many believe he’s got a huge chance in this year’s Classic if he gets a pace to his liking. He’s the co-third choice at 4-1 with White Abarrio and will be ridden by Yuga Kawada.
Whitney winner White Abarrio drew the No. 3 post for trainer Rick Dutrow, who has his first Breeders’ Cup runner since 2010. He won the 2005 Classic with Saint Liam. Dutrow is back after serving a 10-year suspension.
East Coast-based jockeys Flavien Prat and Irad Ortiz, Jr. are both scheduled to ride in 13 of this weekend’s 14 races. Prat is without a mount in the final Breeders’ Cup race of the weekend, the Sprint, and Ortiz Jr. will not ride in the Dirt Mile.
Juan Hernandez, Santa Anita’s leading jockey, will ride seven horses in search of his first Breeders’ Cup victory. International standout Frankie Dettori, who announced recently he will delay his retirement and ride full-time during Santa Anita’s upcoming winter-spring meet, has been booked to ride five races.
Locked is the early 7-2 favorite for the 1-1/16-mile Juvenile for trainer Todd Pletcher. He has three entries in the field of 11, while Baffert also has three runners.
Other favorites in Friday’s races:
• Big Evs at 3-1 in the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint.
• Tamara at 4-5 in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies.
• She Feels Pretty at 4-1 in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf.
• Ireland-bred River Tiber at 3-1 in the $1 million Juvenile Turf.
Saturday’s card features nine races with results figuring into year-end honors for Eclipse Awards.
The $4 million Turf is led by Mostahdaf, the 5-2 favorite bred in Ireland.
Idiomatic tops the 11-horse field for the $2 million Distaff. The 5-2 favorite is trained by Brad Cox.
Japan-bred Songline is the 5-2 favorite for the $2 million Mile.
Other favorites in Saturday’s races:
• Britain-bred Inspiral at 5-2 odds in $2 million Filly & Mare Turf.
• Ireland-bred Live in the Dream at 9-2 odds in the $1 million Turf Sprint.
BREEDERS’ CUP AT A GLANCE
Facts and figures for this year’s 40th running:
When: Friday and Saturday
Where: Santa Anita; Friday at 11:30 a.m. and Saturday at 10:10 a.m.
Classic: The $6 million signature race drew a field of 13, including 3-1 favorite Arabian Knight and 7-2 second choice Arcangelo
TV: USA and FanDuel TV (Friday); NBC (Ch. 4), USA and Peacock (Saturday)
Fact: Jockeys Flavien Prat and Irad Ortiz, Jr. will both ride in 13 of the 14 races
