Gainesway sales grad Paddy O'Prado will make his next start in the $5,000,000 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old colt is plenty familiar with the main track in Louisville; he finished third in this year's Kentucky Derby (G1).

Gainesway consigned and sold Paddy O'Prado to Donegal Racing, led by Jerry Crawford, at the 2008 Keeneland September Sale for $105,000. The gray/roan son of El Prado, bred in Kentucky by Winchell Thoroughbreds, has earned the bulk of his $1,451,297 on the turf. He broke his maiden on the grass in the Grade 3 Palm Beach S., then ran second in the Blue Grass (G1) to set up his run in the Derby.

After running sixth in the Preakness (G1), Paddy O’Prado returned to the grass and reeled off victories in the Colonial Turf Cup (G2), Virginia Derby (G2) and the Secretariat (G1) before running second in the Turf Classic Invitational (G1) at Belmont Park in his first test against older horses.

The decision to run in the Classic was made by Crawford and trainer Dale Romans. “My personal belief is his chances of hitting the board were about the same in either race,” Crawford told the Des Moines (Iowa) Register. “We’re not going to short-change Paddy O’Prado by playing it safe. We’re going to swing for the fences.”

Romans plans to work Paddy O'Prado at Churchill on Sunday. Pre-entries for the Breeders' Cup will be taken on Oct. 25.