Sakhee and Galileo, two of the favourites for the Breeders' Cup Classic, were handed prime draws for the $4.7 million showcase race to be run over one mile and two furlongs on Saturday.
Godolphin's Sakhee - entered in the Classic yesterday after a surprise switch with Fantastic Light - will start from gate six and trainer Aidan O'Brien's Irish powerhouse Galileo from gate five.
Not so lucky in the draw was trainer Bobby Frankel's 2-1 favourite Aptitude, the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner at Belmont Park earlier this month, who will start from gate 12, next to last.
Galileo, to be ridden by Michael Kinane, was 4-1 in the early Belmont betting for the Classic, restricted to three-year-olds and up. Defending champion Tiznow was third choice at 5-1. Chris McCarron will ride the 2000 Horse of the Year.
Sakhee, whose imposing win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris less than three weeks ago suggested he could be just as tough an adversary as Godolphin's expected runner Fantastic Light, was 8-1.
Fantastic Light was switched from the 1¼ mile Classic on dirt to the 1½ mile Turf on grass, dashing the hopes of the fans for a deciding third clash between Fantastic Light and English Derby winner Galileo.
Fantastic Light, 8-5 in the early Belmont betting, drew the second gate in the Turf. British-bred five-year-old Timboroa, with Edgar Prado aboard, was the 5-1 second favourite after drawing gate eight.
PA