Breeders' Cup Sprint: Jackie's Warrior, Kimari showdown brewing
Take the undisputed leader of the male sprint division, Jackie’s Warrior, add his filly counterpart Kimari, and you get the major storyline of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which will be decided at six furlongs for a $2 million purse on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
Although upset by Cody’s Wish as the prohibitive favorite following a gut-wrenching early pace duel in the seven-furlong Forego on Aug. 27 at Saratoga, Jackie’s Warrior still stands alone atop the division after having opened the season with four consecutive graded stakes victories, including a decisive triumph in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap. His two-length winning margin is deceiving, considering Jackie’s Warrior was geared down by jockey Joel Rosario through the final sixteenth of a mile with the issue no longer in doubt.
Jackie’s Warrior earned his best Beyer Speed Figure of the season, a 109, in defeat in the Forego, and his connections have eagerly awaited a second opportunity in the Sprint following his disappointing sixth-place finish as the 1-2 favorite a year ago at Del Mar. Jackie’s Warrior is trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by Kirk and Judy Robison.
The six-furlong distance of the Sprint is one of several reasons trainer Wesley Ward is opting to run Kimari against the boys in the Sprint, despite the fact she would likely be the favorite if she were to compete in the seven-furlong BC Filly and Mare Sprint the same day. Kimari, who ran against males when finishing seventh behind stablemate Golden Pal in the 2021 BC Turf Sprint, has risen to the top of her division with well-graded victories at Saratoga and Aqueduct in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss and Grade 2 Gallant Bloom. She received Beyer Figures of 105 and 106, respectively.
“I prefer six furlongs for her rather than seven, and right now I think she’s running every bit as good as the favorite [Jackie’s Warrior] in the Sprint,” Ward said earlier this week. “She’s every bit his equal on the Ragozin Sheets or whatever numbers you choose to use at the moment.”
Ward also loves the fact, no matter which race he choses for Kimari, that the Breeders’ Cup is being run at Keeneland this year. Kimari is stabled at Keeneland and has worked there on a regular basis throughout the year.
“This is her track, they’re playing on our court, coming to our house, which I think is a big advantage for her as well,” Ward enthused.
Kimari is perfect in two career starts going six furlongs on dirt and has won two of her three tries on dirt at Keeneland, including the Grade 1 Madison in 2021. Jackie’s Warrior finished fourth in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his only previous appearance over the track.
Several potential key contenders in the Sprint, including Cody’s Wish, are likely to be cross-entered for the BC Dirt Mile. That stellar group includes Jack Christopher, Gunite, and Laurel River, runaway winner of the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien for trainer Bob Baffert on Aug. 27.
Mark Glatt informed Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free on Tuesday that his Howbeit would not run in the Sprint, despite the fact he upset the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, a Win and You’re In race, on Saturday. The veteran C Z Rocket, beaten a nose in that Grade 2 dash, could be headed to the Sprint for a third consecutive year.
There are two more Breeders’ Cup Challenge races to be run this week, the Grade 2 Phoenix on Friday at Keeneland and the Grade 2 Vosburgh at Aqueduct the following day.
Special Reserve, who narrowly defeated ultimate BC Sprint winner Aloha West in the 2021 Phoenix, will be back to defend his title and in the process earn himself another expenses-paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup.
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