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Breeders’ Cup Press Release
| Trainer John Sadler (Flightline, Longines Classic, Post 4, 3-5) – “It’s been great. I want to thank the people of Keeneland for putting on this event. Everybody has been sensational. It was a great thrill Saturday when he had his last workout and you saw 2 or 3 thousand people out there in the dark to watch his last work. It’s been a great reception so far and we’re looking forward to Saturday.”“Good draw. We would’ve been happy with any draw. We think at a mile and a quarter you have a good run into the turn to get your position so for him it’s just fine.” Trainer Steve Asmussen (Epicenter, Longines Cassic, Post 6, 5-1) – “What a great running of the race. We have been fortunate in the Classic before and it takes a Horse of the Year performance and whoever is best on the day. Obviously, Flightline being 5-for-5 going in there and coming off such a beautiful win in the Pacific Classic, we are all excited to see how we measure up.” Todd Pletcher (Life Is Good, Longines Classic, Post 2, 6-1 and Happy Saver, Longines Classic, Post 3, 30-1) – “Life Is Good has been an exceptional gate horse. He usually goes well first jump and we’re hoping he does that and then it’s really the rider’s race from that point. Happy Saver is coming in as a bit of an underdog. His work has been very good and he’s been successful at a mile and a quarter. He’s the type of horse that if things don’t develop upfront he can run pretty fast and come back to the closers to keep his chances alive.” Doug O’Neill (Hot Rod Charlie, Longines Classic, Post 5, 15-1 and Awake At Midnyte, Longines Distaff, Post 5, 30-1) – “I’m excited about the number five being a hot post this Breeders’ Cup. Both horses are doing well. Post five is perfect.” Trainer Bob Baffert (Taiba, Longines Classic, Post 1, 8-1) – “I seem to draw the rail a lot. I live on the rail. I was hoping to be in the middle. It’s interesting that Life is Good is two and Flightline is outside of him. I’m sure John (Sadler, trainer of Flightline) would rather be on the outside of (Life is Good).“At a mile and a quarter, they’ve got a good run. My horse, in most of his races, he ends up on the rail anyway. He’ll save ground, at least, He doesn’t like to be inside, but he’s in there. You can’t worry about it.”“At the end of the day, Life is Good is so quick, he’s so fast, and Flightline is so fast. We just hope that when they turn for home he can tip out and make a run at them. That’s all you can do.” Eric Reed (Rich Strike, Longines Classic, Post 8, 20-1) – “We’re going to give it a try, but it’s a real privilege to be here with all these guys in a race of this stature. We’re really excited and ‘Richie’ is training great. It’s been a wonderful ride and hopefully it will continue on through next year. The eight is fine with me.” Todd Pletcher (Malathaat, Longines Distaff, Post 1, 3-1 and Nest, Post 6, 9-5) – “I think it (the post position for Malathaat) is fine as long as we can work our way into a clear trail on the backside. Saving ground around the first turn would be great then hopefully we’re in the clear where she can put together that long sustained run. I think it would have been very tempting (to enter Malathaat or Nest in the Classic if Flightline wasn’t participating). I think the thing about both of those fillies is that the mile-and-a-quarter distance would suit them both really well. They’re both Alabama winners so in a different year we would’ve probably taken strong consideration with one of them.” Trainer Steve Asmussen (Jackie’s Warrior, Qatar Racing Sprint, Post 9, 4-5) – “His two defeats in the Breeders’ Cup are hard to imagine (if you are) around him. He is coming into it just beautiful and I love his draw for the race. It would be wonderful for him to cap off his career with a Breeders’ Cup victory.” Trainer Bob Baffert (Cave Rock, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare, Post 3, 4-5 and National Treasure, Post 10, 8-1) – “(Cave Rock’s) draw is fine. But they have to break. They have to break well and they have to show up. I don’t like the 10 for National Treasure. I would have liked to have been a little closer. The draw is so important in those mile and a sixteenth races.” Trainer Bob Baffert (Laurel River, Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile, Post 6, 9-2) – “He drew well.” |
