Mitchell Happy with Five Post for Kela

Trainer Mike Mitchell said he was pleased with drawing the five post for Kela after post positions were drawn for Saturday's $1-million Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). Kela is among the 13 entered for the six-furlong affair at Lone Star Park.

"I am happy with the five hole," said Mitchell, who trains Kela for Jay Manoogian. "As long as we didn't get stuck down in the one hole on the inside I am happy.

"We got stuck with the one-hole when he ran in the Triple Bend (Breeders'Cup Handicap, gr. I) but we rode him different and went out quick. We don't really take him back, he kind of takes himself back when the speed gets in front of him and make a big run."

Kela is listed at 8-1 on the morning line. Jockey Jerry Bailey has the mount.

Mitchell said Kela completed his serious works for the race at his Hollywood Park base and would put in a couple of strong gallops at Lone Star and school in the paddock Thursday. "He's a big, tough horse, so we'll go out early and keep him as quiet as possible," the trainer said.

Kela hasn't race since Aug. 15 when the son of Numerous registered an impressive 4 ½-length win in the Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II). Before that he was 1 ¼ lengths better than Pohave in the Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. I) July 25. Both races were at Del Mar.

While Kela came away the winner in both the Pat O'Brien and Bing Crosby, Mitchell said it was his effort in the Triple Bend that he knew his horse had Breeders' Cup potential. "In that race (Triple Bend) he was down stuck on the inside and we rode him differently, kind of used him up early instead of letting him make his run, but he still ran a good race."

Trainer Dallas Stewart said he wasn't concerned about post positions for Overbrook Farm's Clock Stopper. "The post really isn't a big deal for him," Stewart said. "He will break and go do his thing and come from off the early pace."

Clock Stopper is listed at 9-2 on the morning line. Pat Day has the mount.

Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out two in the Sprint – Bwana Charlie, who breaks from the extreme inside post, and Cuvee, who starts from post 10. Both are listed at 30-1.

"This is ideal for the horses and who they are," Asmussen said. "They have exact opposite styles, mentally, you know. 'Charlie' is more than big, he's huge, and he'll hold his spot. You realize, from the one hole you're already about where you want to be, and he's just moving forward.

"If they go too fast early, Cuvee's going to have trouble. And if Bwana Charlie has too much traffic, he's going to have trouble. But they aren't going to be each other's problem. They're not going to jeopardize each other's race."

Trainer Greg Foley said he was happy with Champali's 3 post.

"The key is to get him off good," Foley said. "There's a lot of speed in there. He'll be stalking, I have to think. You have to be close turning for home, there's not much running from there to the wire, about three-sixteenths of a mile, I think."

The field for Saturday's $1-million Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) includes:
1 -- Bwana Charlie (Richard Migliore, 30-1)
2 -- Speightstown (John Velazquez, 3-1)
3 -- Champali (Rafael Bejarano, 12-1)
4 -- Our New Recruit (Tyler Baze, 10-1)
5 -- Kela (Jerry Bailey, 8-1)
6 -- Abbondanza (Eibar Coa, 50-1)
7 -- Clock Stopper (Pat Day, 9-2)
8 -- Pt's Grey Eagle (Corey Nakatani, 20-1)
9 -- Gold Storm (Larry Taylor, 15-1)
10 -- Cuvee (Robby Albarado, 30-1)
11 -- Cajun Beat (Cornelio Velasquez, 8-1)
12 -- My Cousin Matt (Ramon Dominguez, 50-1)
13 -- Midas Eyes (Edgar Prado, 7-2)