Derby Winner Installed as Breeders' Cup Classic Favorite

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Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus was installed the 8-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's $4,770,000 Breeders' Cup Classic when post positions were drawn Wednesday. Trained by Neil Drysdale, Fusaichi Pegasus will start from the 9 post under jockey Kent Desormeaux.

In all, 105 horses will compete for a total of $15,200,000 in purses on the eight-race card at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Churchill handicapper Mike Battaglia tabbed three horses--Albert the Great, Lemon Drop Kid, and Tiznow--at 5-1 odds for the Classic. Battaglia said he had Giant's Causeway at 5-1 odds and Lemon Drop Kid 6-1. He raised the odds on Giant's Causeway to 6-1 after the 3-year-old son of Storm Cat drew the outside 14 post in the 1 1/4 mile race.

Hall of Fame trainer Scotty Schulhofer, who will saddle Lemon Drop Kid on Saturday for the final time before the colt is retired to stud, said he was pleased with his horse's number 7 post position.

"I like the post; it's lucky number seven," Schulhofer said. "It's right in the middle." Schulhofer said the strategy for jockey Edgar Prado will be to get the son of Kingmambo out of the gate early, settle in behind the pacesetters, and "get things done" in the closing stages.

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