Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Key contenders

PURE SENSATION, by Zensational

Last 3 Beyers (104-103-102)

*Has never been better, coming off three straight stakes and triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure wins.

*Drew the rail for the 2015 Turf Sprint at Keeneland, got shuffled back early and never threatened. He must break from the rail again while also making his first run down the tricky downhill course at Santa Anita on Saturday.

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OBVIOUSLY, by Choisir

Last 3 Beyers (104-108-106)

*Has experience over the downhill course and the class to beat this field, although he could find himself in an early duel for the lead along with Pure Sensation and Mongolian Saturday. All three have their hand forced by drawing inside posts.

*He’ll be making his fifth Breeders’ Cup start, having run in the last four editions of the Mile.

MONGOLIAN SATURDAY, by Any Given Saturday

Last 3 Beyers (98-107-95)

*He posted a career-high Beyer of 107 winning this race a year ago, but fell out of form while traveling the world in three subsequent starts before getting back on the right track with a victory in the Grade 3 Woodford at Keeneland one month ago.

*Another who has never been down the hillside course and whose early speed could prove a detriment with Pure Sensation and Obviously drawn to his inside.

OM, by Munnings

Last 3 Beyers (105-105-72)

*He has paired up career-best Beyer Figures in his last two starts but has never tried this distance nor raced down the hillside course, despite being based at Santa Anita.

HOLY LUTE, by Midnight Lute

Last 3 Beyers (102-95-90)

*Comes off a career-best effort winning a division of the Grade 3 Eddie D. He and Ambitious Brew are the most-accomplished members of this lineup over the course along.

CELESTINE, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers (97-107-99)

*She’s the lone filly in the field, but also a Grade 1 winner, having won the one-mile Just a Game last spring at Belmont.

*The distance should prove no problem, but like nine others in this field she has no experience racing over the hillside course.

WASHINGTON DC, by Zoffany

*He may be the best of the Europeans in the field, and comes off a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Prix de l’Abbaye at Chantilly.

*He should benefit from racing on Lasix for the first time in his U.S. debut.