Breeders' Cup Classic: Moreno draws inside of other speed

ARCADIA, Calif. – While the post position draw for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Santa Anita turned out well for Game On Dude, the placing of Moreno vis-à-vis the other potential speed in the race left trainer Eric Guillot believing his options had been compromised.

Moreno ended up in post 4 when posts were drawn Monday afternoon, with Fort Larned, last year’s Classic winner, in post 7, and Game On Dude, the morning-line favorite, in post 9. Those three have the most natural speed of the 12 runners in the 1 1/4-mile Classic.

“I don’t like it,” Guillot said Tuesday morning at Santa Anita. “We either have to commit to go for the lead or let Fort Larned go and try to get outside him. I don’t want to get in a pocket behind a couple other horses. And I don’t want to get in a speed duel and set it up for someone else.”

Moreno has gone to the front in his past seven starts on dirt, including second-place finishes in both the Travers Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby. He has run against older horses before, but never in a stakes, and certainly never against the caliber of older horses in the Classic, which include Fort Larned and Game On Dude as well as Flat Out, Mucho Macho Man, and Ron the Greek.

As a result, Moreno will be a longshot in the race. But, at the least, his presence impacts the way the race will unfold. Joe Talamo, his rider, will have to play the break, deciding soon after the start whether to go for it or let others intent on the lead advance and then try to stalk.

By contrast, those associated with Game On Dude were thrilled where he drew, believing he has his best chance when allowed a clear run the first part of the race. An inside draw might have been a detriment, because Game On Dude often breaks a half-step slowly.

“I like his outside post,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert. “I didn’t want to be buried down on the inside.”

Post 9 was looked at as a good omen by Bernie Schiappa, who owns Game On Dude with Debbie Lanni, Ernie Moody, and Joe Torre

“Number 9 was Joe’s number when he was MVP,” Schiappa said Tuesday morning.

Torre was Most Valuable Player of the National League in 1971 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mucho Macho Man drew post 6. A big, long-striding horse, he had outside posts in his two prior races here, a win in the Awesome Again last month and a second in last year’s Classic behind Fort Larned.

“I’m happy with it,” said Kathy Ritvo, who trains Mucho Macho Man. “I’d probably prefer not to get the 1, but everything else is fine.”

Palace Malice is in post 8, right between Fort Larned and Game On Dude.

“He should be able to fall into a good stalking spot there,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Palace Malice. “There’s a nice long run to the first turn.”