Favored Ouija Board gets 'perfect' post

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Post position in a three-turn turf race won't make even a die-hard racing fan tremble in anticipation, and the only real suspense in Wednesday's Filly and Mare Turf draw was how trainer Patrick Biancone would lay his cards on the table. No surprises there, with Gorella, as expected, going to the BC Mile, and Biancone entering Mauralakana in the $2.2 million Filly and Mare Turf.

Which leaves Ouija Board as the star of the show, with Wait a While perceived as her main opposition on Saturday. There are eight others in the 10-horse Filly and Mare Turf, ranging from 30-1 shots Dancing Edie and Quiet Royal to clearer contenders like Film Maker, 6-1 on the morning line, and Honey Ryder, the 4-1 third choice. Todd Pletcher's trio of starters line up in a row, with Honey Ryder (John Velazquez to ride) in post 5, Quiet Royal (Olivier Peslier) in post 6, and Wait a While (Garrett Gomez) in the seven-hole.

Ouija Board and jockey Frankie Dettori will break from post 2, which was fine with trainer Ed Dunlop.

"That's perfect," he said. "The only place I wouldn't have wanted to be is 10."

Dunlop's concern Wednesday was with the weather, wet and dreary all day. "I'd like it to stop raining," he said at noon.

Dunlop had walked the Churchill turf course Wednesday morning and found it suitable to Ouija Board's preference. Ouija Board won the 2004 Filly and Mare Turf on a wet course at Lone Star, but Dunlop said "she quickens much better" when the course has less give. There is a chance of rain through Wednesday night, but the forecast calls for sunny and dry weather Thursday and Friday, with no rain forecast Saturday. If the forecast holds, Ouija Board will get the conditions she prefers.

Dancing Edie, under Corey Nakatani, figured to make the early lead, and drawing post 1 only cements that impression. Wait a While and 20-1 My Typhoon (post 8, Robby Albarado) also are likely to be among the lead group. The others in the race all are stalkers and closers of various stripes. Film Maker (post 4, Edgar Prado) would have no problem with a wet course, and should be placed in midpack near Ouija Board, who stalked the pace in her two previous Breeders' Cup starts.

The French filly Germance (12-1, Christophe Soumillon) landed the less-than-desirable 10 post, with Satwa Queen (12-1, Thierry Thulliez), another French 3-year-old, just inside her in posto9. Mauralakana (15-1, Julien Leparoux) has post 3, and figures to be taken back well off the early pace. She could find company there in Honey Ryder, who runs best when held up behind honest splits and allowed to make a big late run.