Aidan O’Brien’s arrival in California was met with disappointing news as two of his top horses drew unfavorable post positions at the Breeders’ Cup.
O’Brien’s impressive season has positioned him close to setting a new record in racing, needing three more Group 1 wins to match his own world record of 28 victories in a year and one more win to become the most successful Breeders’ Cup trainer ever.
With eight opportunities to enhance his current tally of 20 Cup wins on Friday and Saturday, O’Brien’s leading contenders include Minnie Hauk, the runner-up at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, set to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Additionally, his two-year-olds Precise, winner of the Fillies’ Mile, will run in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, and Gstaad, second in the Dewhurst Stakes, will tackle the Juvenile Turf.
Despite the hopes of avoiding wide draws on the tight Del Mar turf oval, both Precise and Gstaad were assigned unfavorable starting positions, with Precise in stall 13 of 13 and Gstaad in stall 14.
The news led bookmakers to adjust the odds, with Precise now at 11-10 from Evens and Gstaad at 11-10 from 4-5. Lee Phelps, a spokesperson, commented on the situation, expressing concerns about the horses’ chances on the challenging Del Mar track.
O’Brien can draw some encouragement from Henri Matisse’s past success overcoming a wide draw to win the Juvenile Turf at the same venue a year ago.
Following a training session on Tuesday, O’Brien reported that his horses appeared content and relaxed on the track. He outlined the schedule leading up to the races, mentioning preparations for the start, paddocks visit, and final track sessions.
When asked about the post position draws, O’Brien acknowledged the randomness of the process and indicated he would seek input from jockey Christophe Soumillon.
