Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Shisospicy will have a crowd awaiting her return

Shisospicy has only run once since winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last year, and it wasn’t pretty. Trainer Jose D’Angelo is counting on light preparation and raw talent to make an improbable title defense off a six-month layoff, made more difficult in what should be an immensely deep field.

“I know it’s a hard thing to do, especially being a filly against boys,” D’Angelo said. “And this year, I know the competition looks very tough. But she’s very talented and she’s been very, very well. We’re going to see her day by day, but at this moment, she’s doing great.”

Over the course of a sparkling 3-year-old campaign, Shisospicy gradually stepped up in class and proved unstoppable on this side of the Atlantic. With the exception of an errant trip to Royal Ascot for the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, she won an allowance, listed stakes, Grade 3, Grade 2, and Grade 1 races in succession, culminating in a 2 1/2-length, gate-to-wire score in the BC Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

But after flying through the ranks early in her career, her 4-year-old campaign has hardly gotten off the ground. Plans to travel to Saudi Arabia for the $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint in February fell through, and when she finally returned in the Grade 2 Unbridled Sidney at Churchill Downs in May, she bobbled at the start and quickly faded to last. She has not run since.

“She came back sick after the race, so we had to step back with her and give her some time off,” D’Angelo said.

D’Angelo has always maintained that she could be ready in time for the Breeders’ Cup, and her recent workouts at Saratoga seem to support that notion. She will breeze there one more time before shipping to Kentucky in October.

But even if the reigning champ comes back with something resembling her best, that still might not be enough. This year’s Turf Sprint currently has more than 20 possible entrants, making it one of the most heavily populated, and competitive, races at the event.

Bacio, a colt trained by Wesley Ward, could be the third straight 3-year-old to win the Turf Sprint, having earned an outstanding reputation in two overseas trips to Ascot. In August, he won the Group 1 Nunthorpe by 1 1/4 lengths over Starlust, the winner of the 2024 Turf Sprint.

Comanche Brave, the leader among the European-based contenders, is coming off back-to-back Group 1 victories in England and Ireland. The Donnacha O’Brien trainee earned his spot in the Turf Sprint when he won the Flying Five at The Curragh in September.

With such stout competition near the top, several high-level contenders are merely looking for the chance to run.

Trainer Michelle Lovell said she hopes Doncho, the world-record holder at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, can strengthen his case with a strong effort in the Grade 2 Woodford on Saturday at Keeneland. Larry Rivelli entered Nobals, the 2023 BC Turf Sprint winner, for the same reason, as did many trainers with similar ambitions.

Trainer Rob Atras confirmed that John the Beer Man, winner of the Grade 2 Troy at Saratoga in August, is still working toward the championship event. Graham Motion said the same for the 3-year-old filly Roja, who won the Grade 2 Intercontinental in June.