The burning question of whether or not Lord Derby's Ouija Board would go in the V05 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf or the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (both gr. IT) ended at the draw for the World Thoroughbred Championships Wednesday morning when she was entered in the Filly & Mare Turf and was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite.
In the early line, she is the co-second shortest price on Breeders' Cup day, topped by Kitten's Joy's even-money line in the eight-horse Turf and matching Roman Ruler's price in the eight-horse Bessemer Trust Juvenile (gr. I).
Ouija Board will be facing 11 rivals in the 1 3/8-miles race for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up. She'll be ridden by Kieren Fallon, who rode Islington to victory in the race last year at Santa Anita. Ouija Board, the first to win both the group I Irish and English Oaks, drew post 5.
"I was hoping for four or five, so I'm happy with that," Fallon said. "It gives you options at the break. It's very humid here, but if she handles that I think she's the best filly in the race."
Trainer Ed Dunlop has had three previous starters in the Breeders' Cup, but has yet to have a runner hit the board.
Another European import, Yesterday, who ran third in this race last year, drew post 11 this year and was listed as a 6-1 chance. She has started only twice this year, running fifth in the Matron Stakes (Ire-I) at Leopardstown on Sept. 11, then running fourth in the 10-furlong Prix de l'Opera (Fr-I) at Longchamp on Oct. 3.
Ouija Board, a 3-year-old filly by Cape Cross out of the Welsh Pageant mare Selection Board, has been sensational this year, winning three of four starts. She crushed her rivals in the 1 ½-miles English Oaks (Eng-I) by seven lengths in June, then captured the Irish Oaks (Ire-I) by a length the following month. In her last start, against Europe's best, she was a strong closing third behind Bayo and Cherry Mix in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) at Longchamp Oct. 3.
The lowest-priced of the local hopefuls is Juddmonte Farms' Light Jig, winner of the Yellow Ribbon Stakes (gr. IT) at the Oak Tree meeting Oct. 2. Trained by Bobby Frankel, the homebred daughter of Danehill -- Nashmeel, by Blushing Groom, was pegged as the second choice at 7-2.
V05 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), $1 million, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, 1 3/8 miles, turf, Saturday, Oct. 30, Lone Star ParkPP – Horse – Jockey – Morning Line
1 – Super Brand – Pat Day – 30-1
2 – Katdogawn – Kent Desormeaux – 30-1
3 – Film Maker – John Velazquez – 20-1
4 – Moscow Burning – Jose Valdivia Jr. – 15-1
5 – Ouija Board – Kieren Fallon – 8-5
6 – Shaconage – Rafael Bejarano – 50-1
7 – Light Jig – Rene Douglas – 7-2
8 – Aubonne – Jerry Bailey – 20-1
9 – Riskaverse – Cornelio Velasquez – 12-1
10 – Megahertz – Corey Nakatani – 10-1
11- Yesterday – Jamie Spencer – 6-1
12- Wonder Again – Edgar Prado – 8-1
