Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview: Gabriel Charles closes in turf debut

ARCADIA, Calif. – Gabriel Charles won his turf debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview at Santa Anita, closing from just off the pace under jockey Joe Talamo.

Gabriel Charles ($11.80) ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:12.22, finishing 3 1/2 lengths in front of Den’s Legacy. Mico Margarita, part of the early pace, finished third in the field of 10, 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

Gabriel Charles stalked the early pace set by Kafister and Mico Margarita through fractions of 21.78 and 43.78 seconds. Gabriel Charles closed wide through the stretch to reach the front inside the final furlong.

Owned by Sam Britt and Michael House, Gabriel Charles has won 2 of 4 starts and $102,000. Trained by Jeff Mullins, Gabriel Charles won his debut at Del Mar on July 21, but lost his next two starts in Grade 1 races – finishing sixth in the Del Mar Futurity and seventh in the FrontRunner Stakes.

In recent weeks, Mullins had considered Gabriel Charles for Saturday’s BC Juvenile Turf before choosing the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview.