Breeders’ Cup Classic 2024 Post Draw Thoughts

By Jarrod Horak

The Breeders’ Cup 2024 post positions were drawn on Monday, Oct. 28, and I will break down the Breeders’ Cup Classic field below. Check out my video at the bottom of this post for thoughts on the other eight races on Breeders’ Cup Saturday.

Forever Young needs an alert beginning from the inside post to avoid being shuffled back. This is probably not the best draw for him.

Highland Falls was aggressively handled in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and ran the race of his life. He might be the inside speed if his new rider Luis Saez hustles him out of the gate.

City of Troy’s connections would have been happier with a wider draw but he can make some noise from this post if he gets out of the gate in good order in his first start on conventional dirt. He likes to be forwardly placed but exits slower-paced turf routes.

Mixto won the Pacific Classic (G1) from a stalking position and figures to work out a similar trip in this spot, but he needs to run faster against a much deeper cast.

Derma Sotogake got a good draw for his stalking style. His recent form is suspect but he did stalk the pace and land the place in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and he should be able to work out a nice tactical journey from post 6.

Fierceness may have been the big winner of the post sweepstakes. He does his best work when he is able to work out a comfortable early-pressing trip from the outside, and he might do exactly that from post 9.

Tapit Trice likes to run outside of horses and he should have no problem doing that from post 10. He seems best at 1 1/8 miles and this is a deep field, but he could land a minor award at long odds.

Sierra Leone is a closer and the post position is not that important for him. His rider Flavien Prat would probably like to pick a midfield spot and grind it out like he did when finishing a clear third in the Travers.

Arthur’s Ride is quick enough to make the lead. He wired the field in back-to-back starts earlier this year including the Grade 1 Whitney. Highland Falls confronted him in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and he had no answer in the stretch. His rider Junior Alvarado should have early-pressing options from post 12.

Newgate got a tough post for his stalking style. Frankie Dettori will have to work his magic from lucky post 13. 

Next got the worst of it at the draw (post 14). He has been overwhelming dirt marathon rivals with his early-pressing speed and stamina, but his long-distance stakes races featured slow fractions. He will be chasing faster fractions from a wide post and might be in the same boat as Newgate.