ELMONT, N.Y. - The draw reverted to total luck yesterday, and Bob Baffert still received exactly what he wanted.
War Emblem's trainer got the second random choice out of the pillbox for the 134th Belmont Stakes and drew the No. 10 slot in the 12-horse field.
"I'm happy with the draw," said Baffert. "I wanted outside. He's a fast horse and can leave there and dictate whatever he wants to do."
If War Emblem wins Saturday, he'll become racing's first Triple Crown winner in 24 years.
At the Preakness, Baffert had a choice after his name surfaced first in the picking order. He chose to start from the eighth spot in a 13-horse race. Those thought to be his major opposition quickly scrambled to get outside of War Emblem coming out of the gate.
But Belmont Park does its drawing the old-fashioned way. You take what you get.
Sunday Break, the impressive victor in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 25, was plucked first and assigned to No. 5. Then came War Emblem.
"I was really hoping War Emblem would draw inside. Bob couldn't have been happier by drawing where he did," said Sarava's trainer, Ken McPeek.
The procedure lacked the gamesmanship present before the Preakness, although there was some talk about whether the speedy Wiseman's Ferry could put some early heat on War Emblem from the No. 3 hole.
Wiseman's Ferry has not appeared in the Triple Crown series, but is expected to be on or near the pace after front-running victories in an allowance at Keeneland and in the Grade III Lone Star Derby last time out.
"The two horses will probably hook up early," said Baffert. "Hopefully, they won't go too fast. This horse [War Emblem] is very aggressive; he wants to get it on early. So, breaking is very important with him."
At 1 1/2 miles, the Belmont Stakes presents more of a challenge of stamina than speed, although front-runners often succeed because they are able to dictate the tempo of the race.
War Emblem has not exactly scared away much opposition, with six horses entered who have opposed him in either the Kentucky Derby or Preakness.
"I want to see pressure on him one time, two times, three times. We'll see how he responds then," said Murray Johnson, the trainer of Perfect Drift, who sat out the Preakness after a somewhat troubled third in the Derby.
War Emblem was made an even-money choice in the overnight odds by oddsmaker Don La Place, with Proud Citizen next at 5-1 and Sunday Break at 6-1. Local hope Magic Weisner attracted some support off his rallying second in the Preakness, landing in the middle at 15-1.
'Holiday' switches barns
Harlan's Holiday, who finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness, was transferred yesterday from the barn of McPeek to the barn of Todd Pletcher. Jack Wolf, owner of Harlan's Holiday, told a Daily Racing Form reporter that the switch was not a reflection on McPeek. Wolf said he merely wants his horses based in New York.
McPeek, based in Kentucky, trained Harlan's Holiday to Grade I victories in the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. Harlan's Holiday was the only horse he trained for Wolf.
McPeek will handle Sarava for the Belmont.
"I had the early [Derby] favorite in Repent [who was hurt], the race-day favorite in Harlan's Holiday and now I'm up here with a horse out of the woodwork," he said. "To win that way would be amazing."
Steeplechase clash
The winners of the first two legs of the steeplechase Triple Crown, McDynamo and Anofferucantrefuse, will clash again today in the Grade I, $100,000 Meadow Brook Stakes, the 10-horse feature on a nine-race card.
McDynamo was dominant in the Hard Scuffle Stakes at Churchhill Downs and Anofferucantrefuse - trained by Monkton's Tom Voss - was equally impressive in the Joe Aitcheson at Pimlico.
Both horses have raced on the flat in New York in the last year, with Anofferucantrefuse breaking his maiden at Aqueduct.
Among those ready to test them are Najjm, second at Churchill, and Storm Touch, who finished second Memorial Day in a tuneup at Fair Hill.
Sun staff writer Tom Keyser contributed to this article.