Simon Clare on breathtaking Santa Anita and becoming a Chromie

The post-position draw for the races apart from the Distaff and the Classic was held earlier in the Top of the Stretch bar and got off to a slightly shambolic start. You’d think drawing Hydragena out as the first horse for the Juvenile Turf would be bad enough given she’s a filly and is entered in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, but it then got worse. They then drew several horses out for the Juvenile Turf, including all three European horses who received decent draws – Stall 5 (Intelligence Cross), Stall 6 (Rodaini) and Stall 8 (Lancaster Bomber) – only for the draw officials to then draw out the two reserves (or ‘also eligibles’ as they are called here) which was clearly a mistake, and a pretty grim one for connections of the European horses. The Santa Anita staff then decided a redraw was the only option and in the second attempt both Lancaster Bomber (now drawn 1) and Rodaini (now drawn 12) were drawn badly in the context of this one mile turf race. Those draws aren’t insurmountable but both present a far greater challenge in terms of getting a crucial good position at the first turn. On the upside Intelligence Cross drew well for a second time in 8.

The other main news story on the day was the fact that Found was switched at the last minute to run in the Turf. Whilst it was a big surprise to discover (via the betting market activity several hours before it became official) that she was to be declared for the Turf and not in Classic, you can definitely understand their logic. Found was a 14/1 outsider on a track that she’s not remotely bred for, and is now 2/1 favourite for a race that she’s won before albeit at a different track and on different ground. There must however be a worry that her long hard season, and big races in recent weeks, might catch up with her on this lightning fast turf surface. I’m taking her on with Ulysses and her stablemate Highland Reel, although in truth that’s largely because I’d already backed them ante post before she jumped into the race. No way back now!

In other news, the draw ceremony proved good for Joseph O’Brien and bad for his Dad. Intricately was given the seven post and is now 4/1 joint favourite for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Roly Poly drew ugly in 13 and Hydragena in 1. In the Mile Alice Springs drew 2, with Hit It A Bomb in 12 and Cougar Mountain in 14. In the Juvenile Turf Lancaster Bomber drew 1 while Intelligence Cross drew 8. By my reckoning that means Aidan only got one good draw and six pretty lousy ones in the races where the draw really counts. But then Hit It A Bomb won last year’s Juvenile Turf from the widest post, so listen, nothing’s impossible.

The calm is now over and the Breeders Cup storm is about to step up its intensity on Tuesday.

Don’t forget, you can place all of your 2016 Breeders’ Cup bets with us at Coral!