Breeders' Cup Sprint: Elite Power may have less pace to chase in repeat bid
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Elite Power came into the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland on a roll with four consecutive one-sided victories, including the Grade 2 Vosburgh, and parlayed that good form into a one-length victory that sewed up championship honors in the sprint division. His trainer, Bill Mott, said he believes Elite Power is doing every bit as good, if not better, as he prepares to defend his title Saturday at Santa Anita in the $2 million Sprint.
The six-furlong Sprint, which will be run for the first time as the ninth and final Breeders’ Cup race on Saturday’s card, drew a field of only eight that includes Elite Power’s recent nemesis Gunite and a deep California division featuring Dr. Schivel, Speed Boat Beach, and The Chosen Vron, all of whom will have a distinct home-field advantage. Hoist the Gold and Nakatomi, first and second, respectively, in the Grade 2 Phoenix last month at Keeneland; and Three Technique round out the relatively compact lineup.
American Theorem was announced as vet scratch on Thursday.
Elite Power ran his victory streak to eight in a row when opening the 2023 campaign with wins in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia, the Grade 2 True North at Belmont Park, and the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga before suffering his first defeat in nearly 16 months when second best, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Gunite, in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Forego. Mott opted to give Elite Power a bit of a break after that race, with the goal of having a fresh horse for the BC Sprint.
Elite Power has had five works since Sept. 29 in preparation for the Sprint, four over the Saratoga training track and the last when sizzling four furlongs in 46.74 seconds, per Daily Racing Form, in company with his regular work mate and Breeders’ Cup Mile-bound Casa Creed on Sunday at Santa Anita.
“The horse is doing great,” Mott enthused. “He had a terrific work here. He usually doesn’t work that fast, but Casa Creed was a little on the bridle. He worked a little better, so Elite Power worked faster too.”
One of Mott’s biggest concerns is the lack of any real blazing speed in this year’s Sprint. A year ago, longshot Super Ocho sped to a clear early lead while posting splits of 22.12 and 44.99 for the opening quarter and half-mile, not only compromising the chances of some of the other speed horses in the race but setting up Elite Power’s late surge that saw him rally from seventh, nearly seven lengths off the lead in the run down the backstretch, to a comfortable victory over C Z Rocket and Jackie’s Warrior.
“It seems like there isn’t the same kind of speed in the race this year, but there’s really nothing I can do about the pace scenario,” Mott said. “Usually, he will break okay then they kind of out-foot him a little early. Hopefully, when he leaves the three-eighths pole, he’s got a little daylight in front of him.”
Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Elite Power to victory in last year’s Sprint and has remained his regular rider ever since, except for his race in Saudi Arabia, again has the call.
Gunite came out second best to Elite Power in both the Riyadh Sprint and Vanderbilt before finally getting his revenge, making every pole a winning one when the pair stretched out to seven furlongs in the Forego. He has started once since, finishing a disappointing second as the 1-5 favorite when trying a mile for just the second time in the Parx Dirt Mile, which was decided over a sloppy track on Sept. 23. His first attempt at the distance came a year ago, when he finished fourth behind Elite Power’s stablemate Cody’s Wish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
“Both of his Grade 1 wins are at seven-eighths, but I love the draw for him. He’s acclimated out here nicely and doing extremely well,” said Gunite’s trainer, Steve Asmussen.
As for the rivalry that has built between Gunite and Elite Power during the course of the season, Asmussen said, “It was extremely rewarding to finally get the best of him in the Forego. But now we’re backing up to three-quarters.”
In a race lacking a clear-cut pacesetter, Speed Boat Beach may ultimately fit that bill. The lightly raced 3-year-old has taken a rather unique path to the Sprint, opening his career on dirt in sensational fashion as a 2-year-old before closing the year with three consecutive starts on grass that included a disappointing ninth-place finish in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. His best chances in the Juvenile Turf Sprint were compromised when he threw a shoe that struck him in the stomach during the race, according to trainer Bob Baffert.
Speed Boat Beach did not begin his 3-year-old campaign until Sept. 30 when racing on dirt for just the second time. He finished a game second behind Dr. Schivel after forcing the pace from start to finish in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. He has continued to train exceptionally well, his best work being six furlongs from the gate in 1:11 here Oct. 22.
“I think it’s an advantage the race is here this year. We already know he really likes this racetrack,” said Baffert who will be seeking a record sixth victory in the Sprint. “He drew well, but if you don’t get away it’s ‘Katie bar the door.’ If he gets away and gets in a good rhythm, that’s all you can ask for. He’s really fast. He just needs to break.”
Dr. Schivel suffered one of the most frustrating losses in Breeders’ Cup history when beaten a nose by Aloha West in the 2021 Sprint at Del Mar after striking the front at midstretch. He has won three of his four starts this season, including the Sprint Championship when returning to a track over which he’s won four of his six lifetime starts.
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The Chosen Vron has been idle since registering a game victory over Anarchist and Dr. Schivel in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby on July 29 at Del Mar, a race in which he had to overcome early trouble before narrowly prevailing to extend his current win streak to eight in a row. Trainer Eric Kruljac opted to train the California-bred into the Breeders’ Cup.
“He always runs well fresh and he really loves this racetrack, although he’s going to have to run his career best to hit the podium,” Kruljac said.
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