Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Field still a bit fluid

Obviously, Undrafted, Ageless, and Lady Shipman were among 19 horses pre-entered in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, but the lineup for the Oct. 31 race could undergo changes before the 5 1/2-furlong dash is run at Keeneland. Final entries for the race, which will be limited to 14 starters and two also-eligibles, will be taken Monday.

Obviously is part of the body of the field for the Turf Sprint and the oversubscribed Breeders’ Cup Mile, and he will start in the Mile, according to trainer Phil D’Amato. Ageless, another who has a reserved spot in the Turf Sprint, is 50-50 to make the race, trainer Arnaud Delacour said, as she is recovering from a gash to her left hind leg sustained when winning the $100,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County on Oct. 9 at Keeneland.

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“We did pre-enter her, leaving all options open,” said Delacour. “She’s doing well, as good as she can be doing. I’m not sure if we’re going to be able to make it or not. Right now, I’d say it’s 50-50. It’s a day-to-day situation.”

Others in the body of the field for the Turf Sprint include defending race winner Bobby’s Kitten. Trainer Wesley Ward, who finished second and third in last year’s Turf Sprint, has three pre-entries. Undrafted, third in the race a year ago, is set to go under Frankie Dettori, while Ward also pre-entered Green Mask and The Great War.

Channel Marker, Lady Shipman, Mongolian Saturday, No Silent, Pure Sensation, Ready for Rye, Sharp Sensation, and Something Extra also are in the body of the field for the Turf Sprint.

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Pure Sensation will be making his first start since winning the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap on Sept. 7 at Parx.

“I like to run him fresh,” said trainer Christophe Clement, who plans to give the mount to John Velazquez.

Horses in need of defections include Marchman, the winner of last year’s Grade 3 Shakertown at Keeneland, who will get into the Turf Sprint by virtue of the defection of Obviously, and Stacked Deck, the winner of the Grade 3 Bold Venture at Woodbine, who is next in line if there is a second defection. The remaining pre-entries are Jimmy Bouncer, Joe Franklin, and Rumble Doll.

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Holy Lute, the winner of the Green Flash at Del Mar, who had long been targeting the Turf Sprint, was listed in pre-entries for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at six furlongs on the main track Oct. 31.

“He should be in the Turf Sprint,” said trainer Jim Cassidy.

Cassidy, who is based in Southern California, said the horse was a verbal entry in the Breeders’ Cup. The Breeders’ Cup offices are in Kentucky.

“Obviously, it’s a misunderstanding, but it’s a major misunderstanding,” said Cassidy.

Cassidy on Wednesday was making calls to discuss the situation with a high-ranking executive with the Breeders’ Cup. A racing official with the organization told Daily Racing Form that no race changes can be made since the horse was an original pre-entry in the Sprint.

Holy Lute is ranked 20th on the list of entrants for the Sprint, which is limited to 14 starters.

Jimmy Bouncer, ranked 17th for the Turf Sprint, has listed the Sprint as his non-binding first preference and was ranked 19th among 21 pre-entries for that race.