The 18 pre-entrants for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint have made their most recent starts at 10 different tracks in five different countries – the United States, Canada, France, Ireland, and Japan. But there’s a strong hometown trio of California-based Motorious and Ag Bullet, and Reef Runner, who has been based locally since August. All are assured spots in the main body of the Turf Sprint field, which is limited to 12 starters. Seven-year-old Motorious is approaching millionaire status. After beginning his career in his native Great Britain, he came to California to join trainer Phil D’Amato beginning with the 2022 racing season, and has been a force ever since, with six stakes wins in the Golden State. Officially, he has won four of five outings on the Del Mar turf – his only official loss a heartbreaker when second by a neck to longshot Starlust in the 2024 BC Turf Sprint. This will be Motorious’s third attempt in the Turf Sprint. He was fifth in 2023 at Santa Anita, beaten a length and a half. Following that race he won the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez in December at Santa Anita, then was not seen again until he won the Grade 3 Daytona on June 18 at Santa Anita. Motorious was given his final Breeders’ Cup prep in the Grade 3 Green Flash – a race he won in 2023 and 2024 – on Aug. 30 at Del Mar. He crossed the line second by a nose but was elevated to first when Reef Runner was disqualified for interference. :: BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more Reef Runner is the newcomer to the local scene. The Florida-bred was based in the Sunshine State throughout his career for trainer David Fawkes, but the 4-year-old gelding has found a new gear on the opposite coast. After his Green Flash effort, he came back for an outright victory in the final California prep for this division, the Grade 2 Eddie D on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita. The gelding hasn’t returned to Florida between races, and has been stabled with John Sadler and his assistant Juan Leyva, a longtime associate of Fawkes. The richest of the California-based trio is seven-time stakes winner Ag Bullet, who has bankrolled more than $2.7 million with trainer Richard Baltas. She has been on the road this year. After scoring a signature win over males in the Grade 1 Jaipur in June at Saratoga, she was freshened for a fall campaign. The 5-year-old mare won the Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint on Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs, and now comes back to Del Mar. Her efforts there include a third – beaten a nose by runner-up Motorious – in the 2024 Turf Sprint, after leading briefly late. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.