BC Sprint Analysis

KELA emerged as a premier sprinter this summer with blowout wins in Del Mar's two biggest sprints. A deep closer who owns a wet-track win at Lone Star, Kela is fresh and ready for the hottest trainer in California - Mike Mitchell. Kela can win from behind. CUVEE looms as a crazy upset candidate. He is quick, sure to improve second start back, and his lone wet-track effort resulted in a runaway score at 2. "Back-class" 3-year-olds often outrun expectations in the Sprint (Thunderello, Grand Slam, Gilded Time). Cuvee may be the speed of the speed. OUR NEW RECRUIT has worked super since a strong comeback. His overseas win two back established him as a world-class sprinter, and his price will be right because his speed figures are modest.

- BRAD FREE

Eleven of the 20 previous BC Sprint winners were among the first three at the first call. Many of them paid attractive prices. GOLD STORM has lots of early speed and will be an interesting longshot. He just finished a close second at Keeneland and should improve in his return to Lone Star, where he has won 3 of 4 previous starts. SPEIGHTSTOWN is another who will be flying early. His best race wins this, but he regressed last time and will not offer betting value as he tries to rebound. KELA was dynamic at Del Mar, but his closing style fights the long-term trend. Midas Eyes is sharp and should get a good trip from just off the pace.

- STEVE KLEIN

KELA owns a big win at Lone Star and has been freshened since two impressive wins in mid-summer for Mike Mitchell, currently the hottest trainer on the SoCal circuit; needs to get a trip rallying from the back of a big field, but that's why they got Bailey. CLOCK STOPPER also needs racing luck trying to come from the clouds, after close-but-no-cigar finishes vs. several of these in his most recent attempts; consistent sort is a must-use underneath in exotics, at the least. CAJUN BEAT upset the '03 Sprint from an identical post; made two moves in much-needed Vosburgh comeback and could be sitting on an explosive effort. Midas Eyes drew horribly and projects to be caught wide into the turn chasing hot splits; has no six-furlong experience beyond last year's thrashing in this event.

- DAVE LITFIN

MIDAS EYES was eighth in this race last year off a June layoff, and is coming into this year's Sprint in much better shape. He ran a career-best winning the Forego most recently, and will sit a beautiful trip stalking the speed from close range. CLOCK STOPPER was a fast-closing second in the Forego, and was probably best when a close third in the Phoenix most recently, considering traffic trouble and Keeneland's natural speed bias. He will be tough with just a fair shake of racing luck. CAJUN BEAT upset this race last year at 22-1, but had the misfortune of running into Pico Central in the Vosburgh first start off a six-month absence. He needed that effort, and Bobby Frankel, who also trains Midas Eyes, has excellent numbers second time off such a layoff.

- MIKE WATCHMAKER