Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Prep races offer few surprises

In arguably the most unpredictable division in racing, the leading contenders for the 5 1/2-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs have been remarkably consistent in their final prep races.

Last Saturday, favorites won both the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational and the Woodford at Keeneland. A week earlier, the top two betting choices in the Eddie D at Santa Anita finished first and second, separated by a head.

Disco Partner scored a startlingly easy victory in the six-furlong Belmont Turf Sprint, pulling away under a moderate hand ride from Irad Ortiz Jr. to stop the clock in 1:08.50 over good ground without ever feeling his rider’s whip.

This is the second straight year Disco Partner has won the Belmont race as a prelude to the $1 million BC Turf Sprint. In the 2017 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, he closed with a rush to finish third, a half-length behind Stormy Liberal and Richard’s Boy, both of whom he will likely meet again in just more than three weeks.

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If there is one knock on Disco Partner, it is that he will have to shorten up a sixteenth of a mile in the BC Turf Sprint, which is likely to draw a full field over a tighter course than at Belmont.

Pure Sensation, who like Disco Partner is owned by Patricia Generazio and trained by the red-hot Christophe Clement, finished third in the Belmont Turf Sprint and also is likely to proceed to the Breeders’ Cup.

He blazed five furlongs Saturday before being passed by his stablemate, got nipped for second by Blind Ambition, and was beaten five lengths. While 5 1/2 furlongs might be a bit short for Disco Partner, it will fully test Pure Sensation’s stamina.

Bucchero, the fourth-place finisher in last year’s BC Turf Sprint, turned in a professional performance to win the Woodford for a second consecutive year.

He tracked the leaders to the stretch turn before being taken outside to make his run by Fernando De La Cruz. He was up to take the lead in the final sixteenth and held on over a rapidly closing Will Call.

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The Woodford should set up Bucchero and Will Call perfectly for the BC Turf Sprint. Trained by Brad Cox, Will Call is undefeated in two starts over the Churchill turf, including a win in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint on Kentucky Oaks Day. Bucchero is trained by Tim Glyshaw.

Stormy Liberal and Conquest Tsunami, both trained by Peter Miller, ran lights out in the Eddie D. Conquest Tsunami set splits of 21.58 seconds and 42.79 down the turf course hill on about a one-length lead over his stablemate. Stormy Liberal reeled in Conquest Tsunami to win by a head.

Stormy Liberal won the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint by a head over the Miller-trained Richard’s Boy, who is expected to face statebreds on Oct. 20 at Santa Anita in the California Flag Handicap, a race he finished second in a year ago. Pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup are due Oct. 22.

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Miller also has the 5-year-old mare Belvoir Bay entered in the Grade 3 Franklin County Stakes on Friday at Keeneland. A win could earn her a trip to the BC Turf Sprint.

◗ Trainer Joe Orseno had planned to use Saturday’s Grade 2 Nearctic at Woodbine as a path to the BC Turf Sprint for Imprimis, but the 4-year-old is going to miss both races with a hind-end muscle pull.

Imprimis came out of the Turf Monster at Parx Racing with a gluteal muscle injury, but the problem appeared resolved, according to Orseno. But following a workout last week, Imprimis had a muscle spasm, ending his season.

A winner of 5 of 7 starts this year, Imprimis will be sent to the Mid-Atlantic Equine Center in New Jersey for a nuclear scan and then to Ocala, Fla., for a vacation.

“We hope to have a nice 5-year-old next year,” Orseno said.