Star European turf horse Dylan Thomas and Jim Scatuorchio’s English Channel, who is two-for-two on the Monmouth Park turf, will enter the starting gate next to each other as the first and second choices on the morning line for the $3-million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) Oct. 27 at Monmouth.
Dylan Thomas, trained by Aidan O’Brien for John Magnier and Michael Tabor, drew post position seven as the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the 1½-mile race. A son of Danehill, he comes off victories in the Oct. 7 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (Fr-I) and the Sept. 8 Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I), and will be ridden by jockey Johnny Murtagh.
English Channel, trained by Todd Pletcher, will be one slot closer to the rail in the six hole, with morning-line odds of 5-2 under jockey John Velazquez. The son of Smart Strikewon the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park Sept. 30. He breezed five furlongs on Belmont’s soft turf course Oct. 21, going in 1:03.55.
Defending Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Red Rocks, owned by J. Paul Reddam and trained by Brian Meehan, is the third choice at odds of 7-2. The 4-year-old Galileo colt last finished fourth behind Dylan Thomas in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes.
Breeders' Cup Turf Post Positions