Riders participate in horse racing in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate, Kuwait, Oct 24, 2022. The horse racing season of Kuwait kicked off on Monday at Kuwaiti Hunting and Equestrian Club in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate, with 35 horses participating in 4 races on the first day. Photo:Xinhua

horse racingUnbeaten Flightline, seeking to cement his superhorse status in the Breeders' Cup Classic, drew the fourth post Monday and was installed as the 3-5 early favorite for the $6 million race at Keeneland.

The four-year-old colt, looking to improve to 6-0, is coming off an eye-popping 19 1/4-length victory in the Grade One Pacific Classic at Del Mar in September.

Trained by John Sadler, Flightline headlines a field of eight for the Classic, which caps a two-day, 14-race extravaganza worth more than $30 million.

He'll be up against horse-of-the-year candidate Epicenter, who drew the sixth post and was made the 5-1 second choice, and 2021's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Life is Good, priced at 6-1 breaking from the second post.

Kentucky Derby longshot winner Rich Strike, seeking a first win since his stunning triumph at Churchill Downs in May 2021, drew the eighth post and was priced at 20-1.

Taiba will start from the rail for trainer Bob Baffert, who returns to racing in Kentucky for the first time since he was suspended in the wake of Medina Spirit's failed drugs test after the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs banned Baffert for two years and the New York Racing Association for one year. Baffert is contesting both suspensions, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's 90-day suspension of Baffert ended in July.

Sadler said he was satisfied with Flightline's draw - and delighted with the attention his talented colt is getting.

"Good draw," he said. "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."

"Everybody has been sensational," he added of staff and spectators at Keeneland, which is hosting the event for the second time in three years after COVID-19 forced the 2020 edition to be run without a crowd.

"It was a great thrill Saturday when he had his last workout and you saw two or three thousand people out there in the dark to watch his last work," Sadler said.

Meanwhile the Godolphin duo of Rebel's Romance and Nations Pride top the 13-strong field for the $4 million, 1 1/2-mile (2.4 kilometers) Breeders Cup Turf. Charlie Appleby trains both runners with Rebel's Romance, priced at 3-1, entering the race with four consecutive victories. James Doyle has the mount on Rebel's Romance and will break from post five.

Nations Pride (4-1) is riding a two-race win streak. William Buick, who rode Yibir to victory in the Turf in 2021, will be aboard from post seven.

Godolphin and Appleby have the morning line favorite for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile on turf, Modern Games. Winner of the Juvenile Turf in 2021, Modern Games won the grade one Woodbine Mile in his return to North America in September.

AFP