Zenyatta draws stall eight for Breeders’ Cup Classic
Zenyatta will be breaking from stall eight as she attempts to sign off her career with the perfect finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
The post-position draw did not appear to work out too badly for Zenyatta but it was yet another tough pick for Bob Baffert’s big-race hope Lookin At Lucky. A year ago he was beaten just a head by Vale of York in the Juvenile after having to take the widest trip from stall 13 and then in the Kentucky Derby he suffered another horror run from stall one.
Then he was quickly shuffled back in the field and hampered at least twice as he finished only sixth to Super Saver. Lookin At Lucky came back from that to win the Preakness and Haskell Invitational and is considered the biggest threat to Zenyatta. But his chances have again been compromised by the vagaries of the post-position draw and he will be have to overcome running from stall 12 if he is to give Baffert a first winner of the race.
However, the trainer was taking a positive attitude. “Well, I didn’t want the one hole,” he said. “I don’t like being down the inside with him. He’s the kind of horse that his best races have come when he’s been on the outside. He doesn’t like dirt in his face too much.”
He will certainly not have that problem drawn widest of all. “I think he’s out of harm’s way. He’s not one-dimensional – he’s not a speed horse – so he’s probably going to place himself in the second wave behind the speed so I think it’s a good place for him.”
In the Mile, Goldikova had been put out in stall 10 in the 11-runner field – which was hardly helpful in the mare’s quest for an unprecedented third consecutive victory in the same race at the Breeders’ Cup - while Paco Boy was drawn in stall six. And, in another development, it has been confirmed that Richard Hughes will not be riding at the Breeders’ Cup meeting.
The Irishman has chosen to remain in Britain to continue his battle with Paul Hanagan for the Flat jockeys’ title. In his absence Ryan Moore, the outgoing champion, will take the ride on Paco Boy. Hughes cut Hanagan’s lead in the title race to just three when he rode a double at the meeting at Kempton Park.
The battle continues on Wednesday, with Hughes booked for six rides at Nottingham and another six at Kempton’s evening programme. Hanagan does not ride at Nottingham but has rides in each of the eight races on the Kempton card.
Moore’s main ride at Churchill will be Workforce, who was allotted stall six for the Turf but there are no assurances that he will run.
Earlier in the day the main topic of discussion was the state of the turf track. Workforce, who would be attempting a unique treble of victories in the Derby, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Turf but there were doubts expressed over the ground which is firmer than connections would prefer.
The main bone of contention is Churchill’s watering policy during what has been prolonged dry spell in Kentucky. Put simply some of the European connections want more water put on the track before the meeting begins.
Sir Michael Stoute, Workforce’s trainer, had yet to arrive on the course but Henry Cecil, who is preparing Midday for a defence of the Filly & Mare Turf title on Friday, for which she has been drawn in stall seven. The filly had a light workout on the dirt course and he trainer was quoted as saying of the turf track: "They've got to take the jar out of the ground. You can't expect million-pound horses to run on a road.
“Unless they take the jar out, which I'm sure they will, there has to be a possibility that one or two horses won't run.”
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