Breeders' Cup Sprint: Roy H, Imperial Hint set for rematch

There were few real surprises when pre-entries were announced Wednesday for the six-furlong $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

As expected, the connections of Promises Fulfilled, Whitmore, and Limousine Liberal all gave the Sprint first preference over the Dirt Mile, and the owners of X Y Jet decided they will put up the fees necessary to make their horse eligible for the race. The field will be far from full, with only 11 starters likely for the event.

About the only real news regarding the Sprint coming out of the pre-entries was the announcement that trainer Chad Summers had designated the race as the second preference for Mind Your Biscuits rather than the Dirt Mile, with the Classic his first choice.

“I originally had him in the Dirt Mile but switched over to the Sprint about 10 minutes before the pre-entries closed, with the main reason being that it now looks like there will be plenty of speed in the race with Promises Fulfilled and X Y Jet going in,” Summers explained. “Biscuits has always shown up sprinting when there is pace in the race, plus the long stretch at Churchill Downs would be to his advantage in a race such as that. At this time, I’m still leaning heavily towards the Classic, but want to be able to keep our options open.”

Imperial Hint is expected to be favored to reverse the outcome of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar when he finished second, a length behind Roy H, after leading through much of the stretch. Imperial Hint appears to be in even better form coming into the race this year, having won his last three starts, two of those victories coming in Grade 1 events. Roy H enters the Sprint the same way he did last year, having won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship for a second straight year.

Barring a late change of heart from the connections of the four horses who have the Sprint as their second preference, Roy H and Imperial Hint will face Promises Fulfilled, Whitmore, Limousine Liberal, X Y Jet, Always Sunshine, Distinctive B, Happy Like a Fool, Warrior’s Club, and Mr. Crow.

Trainer Dale Romans said the major reason he gave the Sprint first preference for Promises Fulfilled was the hope his horse could be named division champion with a victory over his home track Nov. 3.

“If he’s going to be champion, he’s got to win the Sprint,” said Romans. “Even if he won the Dirt Mile – and I think he’d be every bit as competitive in that race – if one of those other top horses won the Sprint they’d likely be named the sprint champion, not us.”

Trainer Jorge Navarro said he encouraged owners Rockingham Ranch and Gelfenstein Farm to put up the money to make X Y Jet eligible for the Sprint after watching him work five furlongs from the gate Saturday at Monmouth Park.

“I think they gave him 1:00 and change but I caught him in 59,” Navarro said. “He was in there with two other horses and beat them both by about 15 lengths and wasn’t stressed or even blowing when he got back to the barn. I know he hasn’t raced since June, missed a prep, and will have had only four works, but I love the way he’s coming up to the race. And he’s always run well fresh – that’s his best move. I told the owners he’s getting up in age now and this might be their last chance to run him in the Breeders’ Cup, and they said let’s go for it.”