Aiden O'Brien Breeders Cup Horses Training at Santa Anita

The Aiden O'Brien contingent returning from a work on Santa Anita's synthetic track Wednesday morning (Oct. 22). Shown here are (left to right) Red Rock Canyon, Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator, and Soldier of Fortune .

Henrythenavigator and Duke of Marmalade are entered in the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic, and Red Rock Canyon and Soldier of Fortune will run in the $3 million Breeders Cup Turf -- both races to be run this Saturday as part of the 2008 Breeders Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Oak Tree Santa Anita.

The international shippers seem to be acclimating well to the seasonally warm Southern California weather. Temperatures during early morning training hours have been in the 60's, and days warming up to the mid-90's with clear, very dry conditions.

French Trainer Freddie Head at Santa Anita

Trainer Freddie Head (left) watches his standout filly, Goldikova, work on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride track Tuesday morning. Goldikova arrived at Santa Anita Sunday afternoon after a flight from France, and will face males in the $2 million Breeders Cup Mile on Saturday.

Regular jockey Olivier Peslier will ride the three-year-old daughter of Anabaa, who enters the race with a 3-race winning streak, including the Prix de Moulin at Longchamp on Sept. 7.

Freddie Head, son of legendary French trainer Alec Head, was a champion jockey in France - where he rode almost 3,000 winners, including back-to-back Breeders Cup Miles with Miesque in 1987 and 1988 - before retiring at the age of 50 to pursue a career in training at Chantilly.

Goldikova will try to become the first female Breeders Cup Mile winner since Six Perfections in 2003. Goldikova drew post 4 in the Mile, which doesn't seem to bother Head, who said, "She's fast. She can get her place."

Breeders Cup 2008 Post Position Draw

The draw is set to begin at 11:15 a.m. Pacific time... Just moments from now. The Baldwin Conference Room, which holds 100 people comfortably, is packed with what looks like twice that many, and overflow crowds outside the doors! I believe the draw will be aired live on TVG.
At this location thay will draw 10 races, all but the "big 4" (including the Classic) races, which will be drawn at a special luncheon in Santa Anita's Frontrunner Restaurant.
First drawn was post 6 in the fillies and mares juvenile - VAN LEAR ROSE, Chantal Sutherland's mount! Is that an omen or what, considering the latest buzz on this blog about Chantal?! (See post "Chantal Sutherland Off to a Good Start at Santa Anita").
Speaking of Chantal, her other mount, Mine That Bird, trained by Richard Mandella, just drew post 9 in the Juvenile. More to come.


Related Post: 2009 Breeders' Cup post position draw (complete list)