Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Horses on also-eligible list could be dangerous if they get in
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Such is the depth of the group for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint that some of the horses currently excluded from the field in the pre-entry stage warrant a double take.
The Grade 1, $1 million Turf Sprint at five furlongs will be restricted to 12 starters at Santa Anita, with as many as six also-eligibles allowed on the program when final entries are taken Monday. At this stage, there are 21 horses moving forward in the pre-entry group. All 12 selected into the body of the field – based on Win and You’re In victories, points from graded/group stakes, and finally, a Breeders’ Cup panel – are graded stakes winners.
That group is led by Caravel, a six-time graded stakes-winning millionaire who is looking to become the third horse to win the Turf Sprint twice, joining Mizdirection (2012, 2013) and Stormy Liberal (2017, 2018). Caravel is the 8-1 co-fourth choice on the early line by Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free, appearing vulnerable after losses in her two most recent starts. However, both of those came on turf rated less than firm, and the popular gray mare will surely get ground she relishes in California.
The diverse dozen includes eight North American-based horses – who made their most recent starts on six different tracks – three from Europe, including early invader Live In The Dream; and one from Japan in Jasper Krone, who has second preference in the Sprint and could go in either spot, as the Sprint did not oversubscribe.
The best way to evaluate the Europeans may be against Highfield Princess, who, off a win in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye, was favored on Free’s line until her connections announced she would pass on the Breeders’ Cup to prepare for a trip to Hong Kong late in the year. Bradsell defeated the mare by a length in the Group 1 King’s Stand at Royal Ascot, then was third behind Live In The Dream and Highfield Princess in the Group 1 Nunthorpe. Finally, Aesop’s Fables was third by a length in the Abbaye.
Live In The Dream, the 5-1 second choice on Free’s line, set a sizzling pace in the Grade 3 Woodford going 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland before finishing fourth. Monday’s post position draw will be key for the gelding. Forced to go from an inside slot at Keeneland, his connections would prefer an outside draw at Santa Anita. With horses like he, Caravel, and Nobals likely to contest the pace, the chief local contender, Motorious, may get an ideal setup to rally into and is the 4-1 early favorite.
Of the nine horses currently excluded from the field, six of those are graded stakes winners. The first on deck, Japan’s Meikei Yell, has second preference in the Filly and Mare Sprint, which is not oversubscribed.
Lane Way raises the eyebrows as the fourth horse on the also-eligible list, as the consistent runner is coming off a victory in the local prep, the Grade 2 Eddie D at Santa Anita. One preference slot behind him, Private Creed also is coming off a graded stakes victory, taking the Grade 2 Franklin-Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs.
Don’t forget to stick around for this quality showdown. Normally earlier on the Breeders’ Cup program, the Turf Sprint and Sprint will this year be contested after the Classic, due to television conflicts with college football.
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