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BREEDERS' CUP DRAW THEY SAID IT

OCTOBER 31, 2011

Todd Pletcher's not worried about Uncle Mo being in post 12 (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)
"I'm OK with it. He gets away from the gate pretty well. I think he's doing as well as he could possibly be doing. We're really pleased with the way he ran in the Kelso and the way he's trained since. He's settled here well and we're optimistic. It's a tall order. We've come a long way since the beginning of May (sidelined by liver ailment) and we're hoping we can get all the way there. I wasn't surprised he was made the favorite. I anticipated him to be in that range, somewhere at 3-1 or so."

—trainer Todd Pletcher on Uncle Mo, the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Classic, landing in post 12

"We're in the gate, that's all I care about. If I could have chosen I would have probably gone a little further outside, but we're just glad to be in there. It'll be up to (jockey) Alex (Solis). He's just going to have to get him a place and see how the pace develops. It's good. We're in the gate. We get to run."  

trainer Charles "Scooter" Dickey on Flat Out's drawing post 2 in the Classic

"I think we're in the perfect spot. A lot will depend on how fast they go up front, but we're happy with it."

—owner Rick Porter on Havre de Grace's leaving the gate from post 10 in the Classic

 

"That's what we were hoping for, the rail, to cover the least possible ground. I just spoke with Freddie Head on the phone and he was applauding us. I said, 'We had nothing to do with it, but thanks anyways.' He was so happy."

—assistant trainer Regis Barbedette on Goldikova's drawing post 1 in her bid for a fourth Mile

"One of the reasons I put (The Factor) in the (Dirt) Mile was just in case he drew the one. In the Sprint, it would probably be worse for him. He's not going to rate or anything. (Jockey) Martin (Garcia) will just put him on the lead and see how far he takes him. Euroears is the same way, he just leaves the gate and he goes full travel, there's no way to rate him. He's got to have the lead or he's not effective at all."

trainer Bob Baffert on his Dirt Mile entrant The Factor and Sprint entrant Euroears both winding up with the rail post

"Irish Gypsy, of all of them, the post will probably hurt her the most. She likes to come from off of it a little bit, but from the one hole she's going to have to be used. Of all of them she probably drew the worst because I think she's better if she just stays off of it a little. But at least all these horses breaking from the one will be easy to watch; I don't have to bring my binoculars, I'll just watch the rail." 

—Baffert's Irish Gypsy (Filly & Mare Sprint) and Prayer for Relief (Classic) also drew post 1, but the former will find it tougher

"We've gone from one extreme to another. I wasn't happy when we drew the one last year and it worked out OK. I think the 14 is better than the one."

—trainer Bret Calhoun on defending Turf Sprint champ Chamberlain Bridge, who got the far outside post 14

"I've got no complaints. Big Drama won from the inside post last year, but I like the outside. I'm happy with that. The post is good for Apriority, too. I don't know that he has the same speed as Big Drama, so this sets up really well for him. He can stalk and sit right off of it."

—trainer David Fawkes on the posts for his Sprint duo, defending champ Big Drama (8) and Apriority (9)

"With his style, post position really shouldn't be a big deal at all. In a perfect world we sit midpack or a little further back and have a fast pace to run at. If he winds up saving ground, that's fine. He's eaten a lot of dirt in his day."

—trainer Donnie Von Hemel on Dirt Mile contender Caleb's Posse, who landed in post 8

"I'm delighted with the draw. I was hoping for anywhere from the middle out and it came that way. Going seven-eighths with that long run (down the backstretch), outside is the spot to be. She was second in this race last year here, so we'll hope for even better this time. (Jockey) Joel (Rosario) knows her well (he's handled her in 11 of her 17 starts) and he'll get her the right trip."

—trainer John Sadler on Switch's drawing post 6 in the Filly & Mare Sprint

"We're happy to be 4 of 14. All we need is for her to break. If we break, we're going to be on or near the lead going into the first turn."

—trainer Kiaran McLaughlin on the post for Juvenile Fillies entrant Miss Netta, who broke inward and lagged too far back in the Frizette


 

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