Aidan O’Brien has just landed in California only to face disappointing news as two of his top horses have been assigned unfavorable starting positions at the upcoming Breeders’ Cup event.
O’Brien’s remarkable season has positioned him near a significant milestone in racing history. He is just three Group 1 victories away from matching his own world record of 28 wins in a year. Additionally, one more victory would make him the most successful Breeders’ Cup trainer ever.
The esteemed Ballydoyle trainer has a total of eight opportunities to enhance his record of 20 Cup wins over the upcoming Friday and Saturday races. Among his top contenders are Minnie Hauk, the runner-up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, who will compete in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Two other key contenders are the two-year-olds, Precise, winner of the Fillies’ Mile, set to run in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, and Gstaad, the second-place finisher in the Dewhurst Stakes, who will take on the Juvenile Turf.
Despite the preference for inside draws on the tight Del Mar turf, both Precise and Henri Matisse were unlucky in the draw, with Precise placed in stall 13 out of 13 and Henri Matisse in stall 14.
Bookmakers quickly adjusted their odds in response to the news, with Precise now at 11-10 odds from Evens and Gstaad at 11-10 from 4-5.
William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps commented on the draw results, expressing concerns for Precise and Gstaad due to their challenging starting positions at the Del Mar track.
Although facing hurdles, Aidan O’Brien can draw some optimism from Henri Matisse’s previous victory from stall 12 at the same track last year in the Juvenile Turf event.
Following the horses’ initial track session on Tuesday, O’Brien mentioned on FanDuelTV during the Breakfast at the Breeders’ Cup show that the horses appeared content and relaxed as they familiarized themselves with the surroundings.
He outlined the schedule for the upcoming days, stating that the horses would head down to the start on Wednesday, visit the paddocks on Thursday, and return to the track on Friday.
When asked about the draw results, O’Brien acknowledged the challenges but remained focused on the upcoming races, noting that the draws are part of the competition.
