Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Gear Jockey must adjust to 5-furlong distance
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At five furlongs, the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Saturday is one of the shortest races of the two-day Breeders’ Cup series.
That may be an issue for Gear Jockey, who earned a spot in the field with a 23-1 upset in the Grade 2 Ainsworth Turf Sprint at six furlongs at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 9.
“Five-eighths is not his preferred distance,” trainer Rusty Arnold said on Sunday. “We’re hoping that he can keep up.”
Owned by Calumet Farm, Gear Jockey will have only his third start of the year in the BC Turf Sprint. A start at Ellis Park in the summer was lost because of wet conditions, Arnold said. Gear Jockey was last of six in the Van Clief Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Colonial Downs in July prior to the win in the $998,667 Ainsworth Turf Sprint.
The victory was worth a hefty $589,680. First-place in the BC Turf Sprint is worth $520,000.
“We wanted him ready for Kentucky Downs,” Arnold said. “He loves it down at that place.”
An undulating six furlongs at Kentucky Downs is quite a bit different than a five-furlong turf race at Santa Anita around the turn.
Gear Jockey, who will be ridden by Jose Lezcano in what is expected to be a full field that includes the local stakes winner Motorious, the British shipper Live In The Dream, and Caravel, who won the BC Turf Sprint in 2022.
“I’m hoping he’ll win,” Arnold said. “If he’s second or third, that’s what he gets.”
Gear Jockey, a 6-year-old horse, has won 5 of 24 starts. This is his second appearance in the BC Turf Sprint. In 2021 at Del Mar, Gear Jockey finished sixth of 12, beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Golden Pal.
Saturday’s race is expected to have 12 runners. Meikei Yell, who was the first horse on the also-eligible list, will pass on the BC Turf Sprint for an assured spot in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at seven furlongs on the same day, Breeders’ Cup officials said on Sunday.
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