2011 Breeders Cup Post Positions: Havre De Grace Will Ride 10th Spot to Victory
Havre de Grace will start at No. 10 and finish as No. 1. This filly is running strong, and has everything it takes to win the 2011 Breeders' Cup.
The Case for Havre de Grace
Havre de Grace will attempt to be just the second filly to win the Breeders' Cup—Zenyatta was the other, in 2009.
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While this would seem to make the odds long, it is something this horse has already proven she can overcome.
She recently won the Grade 1 Woodward Handicap at Saratoga.
Praise from Trainer
Trainers are quick to praise their horses. So you have to take what they say with a grain of salt. However, Grace's trainer Larry Jones' admiration for this horse has the ring of truth.
Jones as quoted in the Boston Herald:
"“I don’t doubt that she’s the best horse I’ve ever hung a bridle on. She’s special, and we’ll go and let her show us that.”
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Jones as quoted in the Miami Herald:
""She is doing really well and acting like she is feeling better than she ever has in the past two weeks. I don't know if it is the cooler weather, but she is very lively and acts like she is ready to do something."
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Post Position
No. 10 is a good post start for any race. That said, post position is not a huge factor at the Breeders' Cup.
With just 13 horses, compared to the 20 that run on the same track for the Kentucky Derby, the horses aren't crowded and have room to run.
Even the horses in the first two posts are not at a disadvantage as the gate is not up against the rail.
Conclusion
Havre de Grace is running better than any horse in the field. She has proven she can handle the long distance, and is peaking at the right time.
She will win by 1.5 lengths.
Post Positions
| 1 | Prayer for Relief | Rafael Bejarano | 30:1 |
| 2 | Flat Out | Alex Solis | 6:1 |
| 3 | Drosselmeyer | Mike Smith | 15:1 |
| 4 | Ruler on Ice | Garrett Gomez | 30:1 |
| 5 | So You Think | Ryan Moore | 5:1 |
| 6 | Ice Box | Corey Nakatani | 30:1 |
| 7 | Rattlesnake Bridge | Calvin Borel | 30:1 |
| 8 | Game On Dude | Chantal Sutherland | 10:1 |
| 9 | Stay Thirsty | Javier Castellano | 12:1 |
| 10 | Harve de Grace | Ramon Dominguez | 3:1 |
| 11 | Headache | Paco Lopez | 30:1 |
| 12 | Uncle Mo | John Velazquez | 5:2 |
| 13 | To Honor and Serve | Jose Lezcano | 12:1 |
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