BC Turf Sprint nets 29 pre-entries; past winner Regally Ready on also-eligible list

Eight of the nine Saturday Breeders’ Cup races were oversubscribed, but none more so than the $1 million Turf Sprint, which drew a staggering 29 pre-entrants. That means there are actually more horses on the order of preference also-eligible list than the 14 who will be allowed to start in this unique event run on Santa Anita’s about-6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course.

Almost as important as the 14 who made the body of the Turf Sprint is one who was designated as an also-eligible, Regally Ready. Regally Ready won the 2011 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs, and it’s not as though he’s done nothing since. In fact, Regally Ready this year is in arguably his best form since his Breeders’ Cup victory. He has won four of his past five starts, three on turf, and two with triple-digit Beyer Figures that are not exactly abundant with many of the other pre-entrants, including those who made the cut.

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Moreover, this past Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner has a history of success on the downhill with three wins and two thirds from five career starts over the course. The decision to relegate Regally Ready to the also-eligible list becomes even more odd with the fact that he’s not merely on the list, he’s buried on it, seven deep.

Reneesgotzip, third in the 2012 Turf Sprint and a close, dead-heat second in the 2013 Turf Sprint, both at Santa Anita, is the likely favorite in the race this year after romping in her prep at Del Mar. Interestingly, Reneesgotzip’s two outings in the Turf Sprint are her only two career starts on turf.

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Silentio and Kaigun are essentially milers cutting back in distance, and will have considerable support. Silentio has never raced on the downhill course despite being based in Southern California his entire career because he’s been competitive in tougher, longer races. He was a good third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile behind two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan.

Kaigun, whose first preference is the Mile, was second to Wise Dan earlier this year in the Maker’s 46 Mile, and was runner-up in the Woodbine Mile two starts back. Three starts back, Kaigun won the seven-furlong Play the King Stakes on Woodbine’s turf course, no doubt leading his connections to cross-enter here.

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