Bernardini Lands Favourable Draw

Bernardini is now the general even-money favourite for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs after being drawn in stall three.

Tom Albertrani's stable star will start next to Aidan O'Brien's raider George Washington who also landed a favourable position on his outside in stall four.

Lava Man, another well-fancied contender from the Doug O'Neill yard, will be in stall eight while general second favourite Invasor will start from 11.

Brian Meehan's British raider David Junior was drawn in seven while stable companion Red Rocks will break from nine in the mile-and-a-half Breeders' Cup Turf.

'I'm very happy, nine is fine for the Turf, there's plenty of time there, and seven's okay for David Junior,' said Meehan.

'He's in plenty of traffic and I think it's a fair draw, six horses outside of him and plenty of action inside. It gives both horses a fair chance.'

O'Brien's Scorpion also landed a favourable position in the Turf with Mick Kinane's mount due to start from stall four.

Ed Dunlop was satisfied with Ouija Board's draw in gate two of 10 in the Filly & Mare Turf.

'I'm very, very happy with the draw,' said Dunlop of his 2004 champion and 2005 runner-up.

Ouija Board is now the 7-4 favourite from 15-8 with William Hill while French hope Satwa Queen was shortened to 6-1 from 8s by Stan James after drawing stall nine.

Jeremy Noseda's Araafa and Godolphin's Echo Of Light avoided the rail and the outside on the tight inner turf track after drawing gates three and six in the Mile.

Godolphin's second string Librettist did not fare so well and he will start from stall 13 with only O'Brien's Aussie Rules on his outside.

The other Ballydoyle runner Ad Valorem also landed an unfavourable spot in stall one on the rails while Ivan Denisovich failed to make the field for the 14-runner race.

(C) PA Sport