Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Bobby's Kitten shortens up in repeat bid

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Year in and year out, handicappers find the $1 million Turf Sprint to be one of the most inscrutable of all the Breeders’ Cup races, and Saturday’s edition at Keeneland fits that mold once again.

Despite the presence of defending champion Bobby’s Kitten, the 5 1/2-furlong Turf Sprint brings together another full and evenly matched field, with the break, pace scenario, and even a little luck all helping to determine the winner among a large and deserving group of logical contenders.

Bobby’s Kitten rallied from last to win the 2014 Turf Sprint, but that was going 6 1/2 furlongs over the downhill course at Santa Anita. To defend his title, Bobby’s Kitten will have to shorten up to 5 1/2 furlongs for the first time over a course he’s raced on just once, when finishing eighth earlier this month in the Shadwell Turf Mile. That race was just the second start for Bobby’s Kitten since capturing the Turf Sprint a year ago for trainer Chad Brown.

“He laid it all on the line to get up on the wire last year, and physically, he paid the price,” Brown said when asked about the long layoff after winning the Turf Sprint. “We got him started a little late and were disappointed in his first two starts but haven’t lost confidence in the horse. He seems to be training really well. Actually, he’s moving a lot smoother than before this race last year, and he should appreciate the cutback again. Obviously, 5 1/2 furlongs is uncharted territory, but his ‘A’ race should put him right there if he just doesn’t get too far behind. In the end, in a race like this, it’s all going to come down to the trip.”

There figures to be ample pace for Bobby’s Kitten to run at again this year. Pure Sensation, breaking from the rail; Lady Shipman, the lone filly in the field; Joe Franklin, Something Extra, and Mongolian Saturday all figure to have a say in the early running.

Lady Shipman had her four-race winning streak snapped when finishing second, beaten a head by Ageless, as the odds-on favorite in the Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 9. Lady Shipman stalked the pace and moved clear in early stretch, only to drift late and succumb to the winner in the final strides.

Lady Shipman’s regular rider, Eduardo Nunez, who some accused of misjudging the finish line in the Buffalo Trace, will be replaced in the Turf Sprint by Irad Ortiz Jr. But trainer Kathleen O’Connell defended Nunez, saying there were several factors that led to her filly’s surprising defeat.

“A lot of people were blaming Eddie for her getting beat, but I watched the tape 100 times, and he didn’t stand up before the wire,” said O’Connell. “It was a combination of things. She went into the race too sharp. I had to lead her over in a lip shank, and I never had to do that in 11 previous starts. She never did have a chance to relax during the race, and she really didn’t care for the softer turf course.”

Pure Sensation has won his last two starts, including the Grade 3 Turf Monster at Parx, but figures to have his hand forced early due to the inside draw. Pure Sensation did prove he could win from off the pace when taking the Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga during the summer of 2014.

Trainer Wesley Ward will send out three of the 14 starters in the race, a group led by Undrafted, who rallied to finish third, just a half-length behind Bobby’s Kitten, in the 2014 Turf Sprint. The winner of the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot, he too should benefit from what figures to be a contentious pace.

“His last work in company with Green Mask was outstanding,” Ward said.

Ward also will send out The Great War and Green Mask. The Great War finished third, beaten just a head, in the Grade 2 Nearctic at Woodbine on Oct. 18.

“Coming back on short rest is something I rarely do, but he came out of the race well,” said Ward. “He probably should have won that last race, but he got to dawdling a bit after making the lead at midstretch.”

Ready for Rye, No Silent, and Joe Franklin all bring winning streaks into the Turf Sprint. Ready for Rye has captured his last three starts, two on grass and one over a muddy strip at Belmont Park. The versatile 3-year-old rallied from off the pace to beat The Great War in the Quick Call Stakes this summer at Saratoga.

No Silent also has won three in a row, all on grass, including the Grade 3 Eddie D at Santa Anita on Oct. 3, and has a running style that should allow him to sit a nice trip off the early speed.

Joe Franklin, claimed for $50,000 out of a win on the main track last spring at Monmouth Park, is perfect in two starts since being switched to turf by trainer David Jacobson but has never faced the caliber of opposition he’ll encounter Saturday.