2018 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Key contenders

Marley’s Freedom, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 100-91-105

• Her powerful triumph in the Ballerina is hard to get past, as it made her the unquestioned pro-tem leader of the division; her outer post should afford Mike Smith options aplenty as surely this filly once again will put her stalking style to use; she’s a deserving favorite for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Selcourt, by Tiz Wonderful
Last 3 Beyers: 104-100-96

• She’s a genuine talent, as her 4-for-6 record suggests, with those triple-digit Beyers from the Las Flores and Santa Monica earlier this year fairly jumping off her page; still, the layoff of seven-plus months and the sometimes-tricky rail post will give skeptics fuel to fade her.

:: Visit our Breeders' Cup one-stop shop for PPs, Clocker Reports, and more

Finley’sluckycharm, by Twirling Candy
Last 3 Beyers: 84-104-85

• Her 6-for-7 record over the Churchill main track cries out for major respect, even in the face of her Ballerina clunker; Calhoun has expressed satisfaction at every opportunity in his decision to skip an interim prep, saying he is very confident she will run well fresh; another with an advantageous outer post.

Golden Mischief, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-94

• Brad Cox has enjoyed yet another breakthrough year and has pushed all the right buttons with this Juddmonte Farms filly since she disappointed in the Winning Colors, as the confidence-building wins in Iowa and West Virginia seemed to play a role in her TCA victory; clockers like her, too.

Chalon, by Dialed In
Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-89

• Surely, this Lael Stables color-bearer stands to benefit from that solid runner-up effort in the TCA, having been forced to miss a turn because of a minor midsummer injury; trainer Arnaud Delacour said he would wait to see how she trained in recent weeks, and, well, here they are.

Miss Sunset, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 90-90-87

• Her fourth-place finish as the favorite in the TCA came with no ready-made excuse, except for her being a tiny bit sluggish in the early going; still this Cal-bred filly has run some big ones, and the seven furlongs just might play into her stalking style with Kent Desormeaux riding.

Mia Mischief, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 90-92-82

• A filly with speed and talent aplenty, she’s one of several starters seeking to become the first 3-year-old to win the Filly and Mare Sprint (with Shamrock Rose and Happy Like a Fool); trainer Steve Asmussen thought about an interim prep following the Prioress but decided she was best off training into this.

Anonymity, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 89-87-93

• Second as an odds-on favorite to Skye Diamonds in the final West Coast prep, the L.A. Woman, this Tapit filly figures as a live longshot when likely to be a forward factor from her outer post for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.

:: Want to get the latest news with your past performances? Try DRF’s new digital PPs