Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Cogburn, Euro shipper Bradsell unbeaten this year
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The Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint is shaping up as an international clash worthy of the event’s “World Championships” moniker.
On one side of the Atlantic reigns Cogburn, who has been untouchable in the United States this year, including a record-smashing performance in the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes. From the other side of the ocean comes Bradsell, unbeaten in three 2024 starts, including a pair of Group 1 races. They are expected to converge in the five-furlong race, which typically draws a large field.
Cogburn, trained by Steve Asmussen, is the 2-1 early favorite for the Turf Sprint on the line of Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free. Bradsell, from the yard of Archie Watson, is the second choice at 3-1.
Cogburn took a step forward when moved to the turf sprint division last year and has hit his best stride in 2024. He comes to the Breeders’ Cup off three consecutive powerhouse performances. He first won the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs with a Beyer Speed Figure of 107. He then put up a 111 while rolling by 3 1/2 lengths in the Jaipur in early June at Saratoga. His time of 59.80 seconds for the 5 1/2 furlongs smashed the previous North American mark of 1:00.21.
After an unplanned three-month break when wet weather in Saratoga forced planned races off the turf, Cogburn posted a 107 Beyer with another handy score in the Grade 2 Turf Sprint on Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs. He is training up to the Breeders’ Cup by design.
“What an amazing horse Cogburn is,” Asmussen said at Kentucky Downs. “I loved how good the field was, and everybody was here. He showed how unbelievably fast he is.”
Bradsell, a Group 1 winner at the 2023 Royal Ascot meeting, is unbeaten this year, including wins in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes in August at York and a 1 1/4-length tally in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes on Sept. 15 at The Curragh.
“I thought he was by far the best sprinter around and I hope he’s showing people that he is,” Watson told the European press after that win. “He’s so fast and so tough and just a pleasure to have anything to do with.”
Bradsell is under consideration for the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp this weekend, but is not committed to running. Watson said he “wouldn’t want it to be horrible ground and the draw stupid at Longchamp.”
Rain is expected in Paris this weekend.
“The Breeder’s Cup should be right up his street,” Watson said.
Some prominent Turf Sprint candidates will be in action in graded stakes this weekend. The Grade 2 Woodford Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland has drawn an overflow field, including Arzak, a multiple graded stakes winner over the course who was second in the Jaipur, and defending BC Turf Sprint winner Nobals, who is looking for his first win of the season.
A number of European candidates will be lining up their travel plans shortly. Among those is Big Evs, winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. He has not been quite as brilliant this year, but a return to a firm American course could land him another all-world accomplishment.
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