DEL MAR, Calif. – Maybe they saved the best for last after all at Breeders’ Cup 41. The $1 million Dirt Mile will be the last of 14 Breeders’ Cup races run over two days – and the last of 12 races run Saturday at Del Mar. It’s arguably the best betting race of the weekend. A field of 14 was entered in the Dirt Mile, and the race lacks a clear-cut favorite. The 3-year-old Domestic Product is the lukewarm choice on the morning line, but his best races have been run around one turn. Skippylongstocking, third in this race last year behind Cody’s Wish and National Treasure, is the second choice, but he’s marooned in post 14. Preakness winner Seize the Grey could give 89-year-old D. Wayne Lukas a record-extending 21st Breeders’ Cup victory, but his first since 2014. Muth, who was the morning-line favorite in the Preakness before being scratched with a fever, is seeking a rebound from a last-place finish in the California Crown on Sept. 28. The Maryland-bred Post Time is the only member of the field who has never finished worse than third and rates a big chance at what are likely to be double-digit odds. In two recent tries at the Grade 1 level, Post Time was second to National Treasure in the Metropolitan Handicap and third to Arthur’s Ride in the Grade 1 Whitney. “That’s what gives us the confidence to take him out there and give it a go,” trainer Brittany Russell said. “He always shows up. Every time we’ve asked him to do something, he’s done what we needed him to do.” :: Get Breeders' Cup Betting Strategies from Brad Free and David Aragona for exclusive wager recommendations and play the races with confidence! In the Whitney, run over a muddy track, Post Time cocked his head a bit in the stretch and while he wasn’t going to beat Arthur’s Ride, he was beaten only a neck for second by Crupi. Russell said her husband, Sheldon Russell, the jockey of Post Time, said he might have taken some kickback “and there might have been a few moments of unfocus.” But Russell didn’t tinker with any type of equipment change. Following the Whitney, Post Time got an easy prep in, winning the Polynesian Stakes by 11 1/2 lengths on Sept. 14 at Laurel Park. “Mission accomplished,” Russell said. “The idea was to keep him home, didn’t want to ship again, give him an easy one and he enjoyed himself and came out of it in great shape.” Post Time will break from post 8. The 3-year-old Domestic Product, 13th in the Kentucky Derby, is coming off solid victories in the Grade 3 Dwyer at Aqueduct and Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga. While those victories were in one-turn races, Domestic Product did win the Tampa Bay Derby around two turns in March. This will be his first start against older horses and first since Aug. 24. “He’s a good, solid, strong-training horse. He’s gotten plenty out of his works,” said trainer Chad Brown, whose horse will break from post 9 under Flavien Prat. Skippylongstocking had the option of the Classic or the Dirt Mile. The Dirt Mile seemed like an easier spot, but one seemingly made more difficult by drawing post 14 in a race where the first turn comes up quick. In January, Skippylongstocking had post 12 of 13 in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione sent him hard from there and eventually pulled the horse up. He has rebounded to win three graded stakes, though he was beaten by Tapit Trice as the 4-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Woodward. :: Get the inside scoop from the morning workouts with Breeders' Cup Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the DRF Clocker Team “We’re not going to send him,” Joseph said. “Obviously, we learned in the Pegasus when we sent him it compromised his chances. We’ll let it unfold, break from there, and Irad [Ortiz Jr.] will tuck him in. He’s the best at finding the right spots from bad draws.” The one thing that could help Skippylongstocking get over is there does appear to be plenty of speed in the field, starting with Saudi Crown, who breaks from the rail under Florent Geroux. Saudi Crown hasn’t run since winning the R.A. “Cowboy” Jones Stakes on Aug. 11 at Ellis Park. He missed a planned start in the Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs in September due to a foot issue. “We’re going to be aggressive away from there, no secret about that,” trainer Brad Cox said. “Send him away from there and hopefully he can get a good position early and stay on.” T O Saint Denis and Full Serrano, in posts 2 and 3, also have speed. Seize the Grey’s best races have been when he’s been able to secure the early lead, something he did in winning the Preakness and the Pennsylvania Derby. He did come from slightly off the pace when he won the Pat Day Mile in May. “He’s very rateable, he’s got a beautiful mind, he’s handled everything really well,” Lukas said. “He’s one of the few in there that you can place wherever you want. I think he’ll run as well as he’s ever run. Whether that puts him on the board I don’t know.” Bob Baffert believes Muth needs to be forward as he felt jockey Juan Hernandez erred in not letting him get a more forward position in the California Crown. The Chilean-bred Mufasa has won 10 of 13 starts, including the Grade 3 Vosburgh on Sept. 28 at Aqueduct. Trainer Ignacio Correas didn’t like drawing post 12, but he feels the race is wide open. “I don’t see a specialist going a mile” in the field, Correas said. “I don’t think the mile will be a problem for him.” :: BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more Three Technique, Tumbarumba, and Cagliostro, the top three finishers from the Ack Ack Stakes are in this field. Cagliostro is trained by Cherie DeVaux, who also has Pipeline in the race. Pipeline hit his head on the ship to California, requiring stitches. DeVaux said his participation in the race will likely come down to the comfort level of the veterinarians who examine the horses daily. Full Serrano won a one-mile allowance race at Del Mar, then finished fourth in the Pacific Classic. Trainer John Sadler said the horse missed some time due to a fever and missed the California Crown, which is why he opted for the Dirt Mile over the Classic. An easier race, perhaps, but not an easy race. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.