NBC Sports announced Monday that Godolphin’s Sovereignty (Into Mischief) has drawn post six and been installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.
“No complaints about that,” trainer Bill Mott told Brittney Eurton during the post position draw held in the Del Mar paddock. “There is some speed inside and it gives him a good opportunity to see what is unfolding in the race.”
The Kentucky Derby winner has assembled an impressive sophomore campaign, adding victories in the Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy Stakes, and Travers Stakes — looking increasingly dominant with each start.
“It’s all been positive,” Mott said of the colt’s progression. “I think he’s gone the right way mentally, and physically he is stronger. His races have gotten faster as the year has gone on. He will need to improve a little bit to get the job done here.”
This year’s Classic field is widely considered one of the strongest in recent memory. Defending champion Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) will break from post seven at 8-1, while last year’s runner-up Fierceness (City of Light) drew the rail at 4-1. Third-place finisher from 2023, Forever Young (Real Steel), drew post five and sits at 6-1.
The three-year-old contingent also features Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) from post nine at 10-1 and Pennsylvania Derby winner Baeza (McKinzie) from post two at 15-1.
“It’s a very competitive field,” Mott added. “I think it’s a great race. You have the 3-year-olds against the older horses. There are arguably the three top 3-year-olds that have been around all year, and they are taking on the first three finishers of the Breeders’ Cup from last year.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher had expressed concern about drawing the rail for Fierceness, who ducked in from his inside post before recovering to win the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August.
“The difference now is that Johnny [Velazquez] knows that he made that mistake in the last start in the Pacific Classic here, so he will hopefully be ready if he were to think about doing it again,” Pletcher said after Monday’s draw. “I think it was just his first time and he did what a lot of horses do, kind of moved towards the open space. Fortunately, he was good enough to overcome it.”
Pletcher emphasized the exceptional quality of this year’s field: “It doesn’t get better than this. It’s a super field. Everyone has been looking forward to it. Hopefully, everyone shows up healthy and ready to go.”
The complete Classic field, in post position order with morning-line odds: Fierceness (City of Light), 4-1; Baeza (McKinzie), 15-1; Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), 20-1; Contrary Thinking (Into Mischief), 50-1; Forever Young (Real Steel), 6-1; Sovereignty (Into Mischief), 6-5; Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), 8-1; Mindframe (Constitution), 10-1; Journalism (Curlin), 10-1; and Antiquarian (Preservationist), 15-1.
Looking for a Three-peat in the Turf
Godolphin‘s Rebel Romance (Dubawi) will attempt to become just the third horse to win three Breeders’ Cup races when he seeks a third consecutive victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday. The 7-year-old gelding drew the rail in a field of 14 and sits at 5-2 on the morning line.
His chief rival appears to be 8-5 morning-line favorite Minnie Hauk (Frankel), who narrowly missed winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 5. The 3-year-old filly will break from post eight.
In the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes winner Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo) has been installed as the 9-5 favorite from post eight in a field of 13. East Coast shipper Nitrogen (Medaglia d’Oro) drew the rail as a 4-1 shot following her narrow defeat in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes.
Breeders’ Cup Winners Galore in Dirt Mile
The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile features an unprecedented collection of championship race winners. White Abarrio (Race Day), last year’s Classic winner, will attempt to become the second horse to complete the Classic/Mile double when he breaks from the outside post in the 10-horse field.
Last year’s Juvenile winner Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) drew post seven, while defending Dirt Mile champion Full Serrano (Full Mast) will start from post six.
The field also includes 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) from post four.
Sprint champion Straight No Chaser (Speightster) will defend his title from post 12 in a field of 14 on Saturday.
In the Breeders’ Cup Mile, local favorites Johannes (Nyquist), second in last year’s race, and Formidable Man (City of Light) drew adjacent posts seven and eight.
Future Stars Friday Fields
Trainer Aidan O’Brien holds a strong hand for Friday’s juvenile races with a pair of morning-line favorites drawing outside posts. Precise (Starspangledbanner) will start from post 13 in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, while stablemate Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) drew post 14 in the Juvenile Turf.
O’Brien will also saddle likely Juvenile Turf Sprint favorite True Love (No Nay Never), who drew post nine in a field of 12.
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile features an intriguing East-West showdown between Spendthrift Farm‘s undefeated Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) from the outside post eight and Zedan Racing Stables‘ $3-million purchase Brant (Gun Runner) from post seven. Both colts were designated “TDN Rising Stars presented by Hagyard” after impressive debut victories.
Spendthrift Farm could enjoy a big weekend with additional representatives including Juvenile Fillies contender Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) from post five and Tamara (Bolt d’Oro) from post four in the Filly and Mare Sprint.
