Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Pay Any Price, 8, still fast as they come

The field for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint continues to grow, and in the last week picked up two Kentucky-based mares and a listed stakes winner in France. When pre-entries are taken Monday, the Breeders’ Cup selection committee will face some difficult decisions on who gets into the body of the 14-horse field and which horses are relegated to the also-eligible list.

The first seven entrants in the 5 1/2-furlong race are Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In horses and the leaders based on a graded stakes point system. The remaining seven slots are filled by the committee.

Pay Any Price is a horse whose accomplishments are difficult to judge but seems worthy of competing. Based year-round in South Florida, 8-year-old Pay Any Price has never raced in a graded stakes yet is 7 for 9 since July 1, 2017. He is a fan favorite in the region.

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Pay Any Price is fast. So fast, nobody has run quicker. On March 11, 2017, Pay Any Price set a five-furlong North American record of 53.61 seconds in the Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

In his final Breeders’ Cup prep, Pay Any Price won the five-furlong Tamiami Handicap at Gulfstream as the 2-5 favorite under 130 pounds. He spotted his six opponents from 12 to 15 pounds and set fractions of 21.64 and 43.94 en route to a final time of 55.57.

Rich Averill and Duke and Paul Matties, professional handicappers both, claimed Pay Any Price for $25,000 at Gulfstream in July 2016. He has since won 10 of 15 starts and $454,000.

“We’ve pointed to the Breeders’ Cup all year,” Averill said. “Because he’s 8, we’ve only done what we’ve needed to with him. We’re making him peak at the right time. He’s as good now as when he set the record.”

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Despite his age, Pay Any Price has raced only 24 times. He didn’t make his debut until he was 4, and then after a handful of starts went to the sidelines for 21 months. He won a nonwinners-of-two $8,000 claiming race in his return. Four starts later, Averill, the Matties brothers, and trainer Ralph Ziadie claimed him.

“He used to be his own worst enemy,” Averill said, “He was wasting his talent. When we got him he wouldn’t go in the shed row, he wouldn’t go in the gate, you couldn’t get him to the pole to breeze. He was so tough.

“He still doesn’t train like a normal horse, but now he’s controlling himself and saving his energy for the race.”

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Georgina Baxter took over the training of Pay Any Price when Ziadie’s training license renewal was denied by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering in late June. Baxter, who worked as an exercise rider for Ziadie, is 13 for 56 as a trainer. She still gallops Pay Any Price.

“Georgina has gotten on him from Day 1 and been instrumental with this horse,” said Averill, who has 30 horses with Baxter. “I’m happy she’s getting this chance.”

Hopefully, Pay Any Price will have an opportunity to compete on the national stage. He’s earned it.

◗ Chanteline and Ruby Notion are the new distaff hopefuls for the race. Chanteline won the Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland last Friday. Ruby Notion was scratched from that race in order to train up to the Breeders' Cup.

El Astronaute convinced his connections he deserves a chance in the Turf Sprint on Saturday by winning the Prix de Bonneval at Maisons-Laffitte.