Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint analysis

Mike Watchmaker

Given the history of the BC Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, I want horses with good experience on the downhill course. I’m going with AMBITIOUS BREW. Ambitious Brew was nosed in the Eddie D, the local prep for this – his first downhill loss in four starts – but was coming off a seven-month layoff. Ambitious Brew improved the last two times he was making his second start off a layoff. RENEESGOTZIP was third in this race in 2012 and a close, dead-heat second in it last year; the one to catch. HOME RUN KITTEN had the recency edge when he nailed the pick in the Eddie D but is now 2 for 2 on the downhill and still has room to improve. SILENTIO has never raced on the downhill, despite being based in Southern California, because he’s been competing in tougher, longer races (he was third to Wise Dan in the Mile last year). He classes up but must avoid getting shuffled back.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2014: Post positions, comments, and odds

Dave Litfin

Just about anything goes in this typically contentious renewal, and as ever, experience over the quirky hillside course looms a big key. Looking at the race through such a lens helps filter things down to a large handful of six contenders, with AMBITIOUS BREW listed first because he fires every time and will be double-digit odds; can benefit from initial try in a graded stakes. The third time could be the charm for RENEESGOTZIP, who was third in 2012 and dead-heated for second last year; 4 for 4 from the rail. TIGHTEND TOUCHDOWN had a similar lead-in before dead-heating with Reneesgotzip in 2013, except he’s fresher this season after not working his way up through the ranks at Aqueduct during the winter. The versatile SWEET SWAP and the deep closer HOME RUN KITTEN are 12-1 morning-liners who figure right there. DIMENSION ran an even fifth from the same post a year ago.

:: No Nay Never up for another challenge in BC Turf Sprint

Brad Free

Horses-for-courses seemingly hold the edge in the Turf Sprint when it run over the unique downhill course at Santa Anita. AMBITIOUS BREW might not be the "best horse" in the field, but he is 3-for-4 on this course with a second in a Grade 3. That was one month ago, a good comeback prep from off the pace. He has tactical speed to make his own trip, likely to improve second start back, one-two all eight starts. And he is a big price at 12-1 for a productive trainer-jockey combo. NO NAY NEVER is probably the "class" of the field. G1 winner as a juvenile and G3 winner this year, the lightly raced colt has always been billed as something special. He won a fast G3 last time at Keeneland. SILENTIO will rally from the back of the pace. If the pace gets hot, he could be along in time. BOBBY'S KITTEN routes like a colt that might want to sprint. A front-runner going long, he usually weakens late. It's the classic route-to-sprint angle.

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