Hurricane Run Morning Line Favorite for BC Turf

European invader Hurricane Run, a multiple group I winner, drew the seven post position and was made the 3-1 morning line favorite for the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT). The Irish-bred Montjeu colt has won four group I races, including the 2005 Prix de l'Arc de Triumphe (Fr-I).

A field of 11 is slated to go to the post in the 1 ½-mile contest.

Hurricane Run, who is trained by Andre Fabre for owner Michael Tabor, will be making his third start in a month.

Hurricane Run was fourth in the Arc this year and most recently ran third in the Champion Stakes (Eng-I) in England.

Christophe Soumillon will ride Hurricane Run from post No. 7.

Right behind him in the morning line odds come English Channel and Cacique, at 7-2 and 4-1, respectively. Todd Pletcher-trained English Channel will break from post position 10, while Cacique, who is trained by Bobby Frankel, drew the six spot.

The two turf stars have competed against each other four times this year, and the Turf will serve as their rubber match. Their rivalry stands at 2-2, with the two colts winning three of the four races between them. James Scatuorchio's English Channel took the victory in the United Nations Stakes and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (both gr. IT), with Juddmonte Farms' Cacique running second. Cacique won the Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) and finished second behind The Tin Man in the Arlington Million (gr. IT), a race in which English Channel finished fourth.

Frankel, who also entered Badge of Silver in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), was pleased with the post position draw for both colts.

"I am very happy with the post positions," Frankel said. "I just didn't want to go way outside. I thought English Channel might be the favorite (in the Turf), but it was close. They have been battling all year."

The outcome Saturday will go along way to deciding the turf champion, Frankel said.

"Definitely," said Bobby Frankel, trainer of Cacique. "As long either my horse or English Channel run good."

Cacique, who is scheduled to retire after the Breeders' Cup, is a full brother to Intercontinental, who won the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) for the same connections last year. They are both by Danehill and are out of the amazing Kahyasi mare Hasili, who is also the dam of grade/group I winners Dansili, Heat Haze, and Banks Hill.

"It's great (having the family). I look forward to it every year," Frankel said. "She could be the best broodmare of all time."

Reprising a tactic that has worked effectively, Pletcher will send out 30-1 outsider Icy Atlantic to serve as a "rabbit", a sacrificial pacesetter.

"Icy Atlantic is in there to make sure English Channel has a target to run at," Pletcher said. "We feel English Channel is much better when he can go after one horse and Icy Atlantic will guarantee that."

Drawing the eight post position was 2004 Turf winner, Better Talk Now. Graham Motion trains the 7-year-old gelding for Karl Barth, Brent Johnson, and Chris Dywer's Bushwood Stables.

Of the 12 horses that pre-entered the race, only Honey Ryder will not go to the gate, as she is competing in the Filly & Mare Turf.

$3 Million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. It, Race 9, 4:35 p.m.), 3 & Up, 1 1/2 Miles
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Go Deputy (KY), 126, Olivier Peslier
2. T. H. Approval (KY), 126, Alex O. Solis
3. Icy Atlantic (FL), 126, Michael J. Luzzi
4. Scorpion (IRE), 126, Michael J. Kinane
5. Rush Bay (KY), 126, Rafael Bejarano
6. Cacique (IRE), 126, Edgar S. Prado
7. Hurricane Run (IRE), 126, Christophe Soumillon
8. Better Talk Now (KY), 126, Ramon A. Dominguez
9. Red Rocks (IRE), 122, Lanfranco Dettori
10. English Channel (KY), 126, John R. Velazquez
11. Silverfoot (KY), 126, Mark Guidry