LEXINGTON, Ky. — Trainer Mark Casse laughed when reminded that four of his six entrants for this weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland drew outside post positions and another drew a middle spot.
However, he was elated that War of Will drew the No. 4 post for Saturday's Dirt Mile.
"War of Will's post position was probably the most important of all, especially going a mile at Keeneland where I think the outside post is so tough," Casse said. "So I would say he drew perfect."
The winner of last year's Preakness, War of Will won the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland in July. He is scheduled to begin his stallion career in 2021 at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., where his sire, War Front, also is at stud. War of Will was given morning-line odds of 10-1 for the Dirt Mile.
"He's trained great, he looks great," Casse said of War of Will ahead of what's probably the final race of his career. "He's trained so well on the dirt we just felt like we had to give him another shot ... Hopefully he breaks well and he'll be pretty close to the pace. I think the 1 mile here will set up nice for him."
Another Casse trainee, Got Stormy, drew the No. 12 post in a field of 14 for the Turf Sprint and was made the 7-2 morning-line favorite.
"An outside post is good," Casse said. "Going five and a half on the turf, I would not want to be on the inside unless I had a tremendous amount of speed ... I wish we had drawn a little closer in, but it's not the end of the world."
Casse said 2020 has been an especially challenging year for trainers as the fluctuating schedule has delivered multiple curve balls.
"This has been a crazy year. I say all along, training horses is like putting a puzzle together. And, this year it's putting a puzzle together with no pictures or no corners or edges."
Vekoma, the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Sprint was scratched from the race Wednesday morning after developing a fever Tuesday night.
The 4-year-old colt won all three of his races this year, including a pair of Grade 1 contests at Belmont Park. Trainer George Weaver said Vekoma's racing days are probably over. He'll stand at stud at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington after a career in which he won six of eight starts and earned more than $1.2 million.
