If it is like father, like son, then the favorite for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile, Toronado, is in trouble. Toronado, among the best milers in Europe last year at 3 and this year at 4, is trained by Richard Hannon Jr. It was only this year that Junior, heavily involved in his family’s hugely successful English training operation for years, took over as the trainer of record from Richard Hannon Sr. Senior found no luck at all with his American runners. His first, Mr. Brooks, tragically broke down in the 1992 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and in 22 years, Hannon Sr. compiled a record of 14-0-1-0 in the U.S. His Breeders’ Cup record is 9-0-0-0, and only Paco Boy, fourth in the 2010 Mile, finished better than eighth. The argument goes that Toronado is better suited to the Mile than the stable’s past runners, and that may be true, but there still are unknowns, and in the deepest Mile field in years, plenty of horses, all at better odds than the favored Toronado, have a chance. :: Breeders' Cup Mile analysis A full field of 14 is scheduled to start in the Mile, the second-to-last race on Breeders’ Cup Saturday, with a post time set for 4:40 p.m. Pacific. Deterred by Wise Dan the last two years, the Europeans are back in force, with six overseas imports – Toronado, Veda, Anodin, Karakontie, Trade Storm, and Mustajeeb – joining eight North American-based runners – Seek Again, Tourist, Obviously, Tom’s Tribute, Kaigun, Grand Arch, Summer Front, and Sayaad. The perception might be of European Mile dominance, but U.S.-based runners (albeit several whose careers began in Europe) hold a 16-14 historical edge in wins. Post position is key: Outside draws are detrimental with a short run to the first turn. In one-mile races here since 1980, post 14 (Karakontie) produced 1 winner from 7 starters, post 13 (Tourist) is 0 for 18, and post 12 (Seek Again) is 12 for 150. Tourist, trained, like Seek Again, by Bill Mott, has speed to mitigate his draw. He and Sayaad should take up positions just behind the pacesetting Obviously, who is wickedly fast and held for a good third in the 2012 Mile but faded to fifth last year. If light rain forecast Friday night and Saturday comes, it will only change the grass from lightning-fast to merely fast. The Europeans would appreciate something slower than a highway. With Obviously on the engine, the pace will be swift, and with a field this big, negotiating a course this tight will produce hard-luck stories. :: DRF Live: Real-time updates from the Breeders’ Cup, including live video coverage Key contenders Toronado (No previous Beyer) * Seven of his 11 races have come down a straight course, three around one right-handed turn, and one going left-handed. The pace Saturday will be faster than anything Toronado has seen, the turns tighter, and the ground firmer. But Toronado’s connections knew what they were getting into. They think this is the right horse for the job. “Toronado will relish the underfoot conditions and has the tactical speed to be able to take a good position early on,” said Harry Herbert, racing manager for owner Al Shaqab Racing. “This has always been the target for Toronado, who should be suited by the two-turn mile.” * Toronado is 1-2-0 from three starts this year. He won the Group 1 Queen Anne, finished second to Europe’s best miler, Kingman, in the Group 1 Sussex, and was second by a head in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp to Charm Spirit, who returned to win the important Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II. * Toronado, ridden by Richard Hughes, will race on Lasix. Anodin (No previous Beyer) * His trainer, Freddy Head, is a Mile legend, with two riding wins aboard Miesque and three training wins with Goldikova, Anodin’s sister. Anodin had a troubled trip in his last start and has run well throughout the year while failing to win. ”He’ll be like his sister, I hope,” said Head. “He’ll be very well on this course.” * Anodin must come from off the pace, which means he and jockey Olivier Peslier will rely on good fortune. “We will need a lucky run because with him, you have to wait,” Head said. DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Anodin. Trainer Freddie Head is 5-2-0-1 with a $1.87 ROI over the past five years in North American Grade 1 turf routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan :: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts :: BREEDERS’ CUP 2014: Post positions, comments, and odds Seek Again (Last 3 Beyers: 94-101-98) * Nearly beat Wise Dan in the spring and has made only two starts at one mile since being imported from England last year. He won the first of them, the Fourstardave at Saratoga, despite trouble but was undone by a poor trip in the Shadwell Turf Mile. “I think on his best day, he’s top class at a mile,” said Mott, who is seeking his first Mile win. Tourist (Last 3 Beyers: 93-99-98) * Will offer much higher odds than Mott’s other horse, Seek Again, and as a 3-year-old with just four grass starts, he still should have room to improve. The 10-furlong Secretariat was too far, and Tourist has the speed to avoid trouble. DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 12 Seek Again and No. 13 Tourist. Trainer Bill Mott is 64-8-8-8 with a $0.79 ROI over the past five years in Grade 1 turf routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan :: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts Veda (No previous Beyer) * French 3-year-old filly’s second in the French 2000 Guineas was good enough to make her a contender. She has a powerful kick and races with Lasix. Karakontie (No previous Beyer) * He endured a terrible trip in the Prix de la Foret and is good enough to contend, but his wide draw lessens the chance of victory. DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Obviously. Trainer Phil D'Amato is 23-1-2-2 with a $0.14 ROI over the past five years in routes following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan :: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Mustajeeb. Trainer Dermot Weld is 11-0-1-0 over the past five years in North American graded stakes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan :: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts