BC tags three qualifying races for Juvenile Turf Sprint

Breeders’ Cup has designated three turf races for 2-year-olds scheduled for October as qualifying races for its newest race, the Juvenile Turf Sprint, which will be run for the first time this year on Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The winner of each of the three races will receive a guaranteed berth in the 5 1/2-furlong Juvenile Turf Sprint without having to pay any entry fees.

The designated races are the $150,000 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park, scheduled for six furlongs on the turf on Oct. 6; the $200,000 Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland, scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf for Oct. 7; and a yet-to-be-determined “juvenile turf sprint” at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 6, the Breeders’ Cup said.

Breeders’ Cup had previously designated the Norfolk Stakes at Ascot Racecourse as a qualifying race for the Juvenile Turf Sprint. The five-furlong Norfolk was won last week by Shang Shang Shang to earn the first guaranteed spot.

Breeders’ Cup decided to add the Juvenile Turf Sprint to its roster earlier this year. Following that decision, Breeders’ Cup announced that it will run all five of its races restricted to juveniles on the Friday of the event, and run the other nine races on Saturday.