Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint wagering strategy

Experience is important when competing over the unique downhill turf course at Santa Anita. Those in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint who have ventured down the hill include Reneesgotzip (5-1), who deadheated for second behind Mizdirection in last year’s edition of the race. She also was third in the 2012 renewal at Santa Anita.

Sweet Swap (12-1) has been idle since his front-running score April 13 in the Grade 3 San Simeon. He is 4 for 8 going down the hill, which includes one other stakes success.

Dimension (12-1) was beaten just three lengths by Mizdirection when fifth in last year’s BC Turf Sprint. He is coming off a gutsy victory over an undulating course in the Kentucky Downs Turf Dash and seems primed to run another corker in the third start of his form cycle.

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Home Run Kitten (12-1) came from left field to win a local prep by a nose, the Eddie D Stakes. Many like playing turnbacks on this layout, and Home Run Kitten was exiting a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby heading into the Grade 3 Eddie D.

Ambitious Brew (12-1) had his two-race win streak down the hill snapped when he was beaten a nose after rallying wide from sixth in the Eddie D. That was his first outing in seven months, and it was his only loss in four starts on the course.

The top Canadian sprinter Something Extra (20-1) dropped a neck decision to Dimension in the 6 1/2-furlong Kentucky Downs Turf Dash, an effort that should set him up nicely for his Santa Anita debut. He ran the race of his life in July to take the Grade 2 Highlander over Woodbine’s expansive course, which is slightly downhill.

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The European raider Caspar Netscher (10-1) notched his first start on this side of the pond just two weeks ago at Woodbine in the Grade 2 Nearctic. Over a course labeled as good, he rallied stoutly between rivals from well off quick fractions to prevail by three-quarters of a length in a quick 1:08.97 for the six furlongs. Caspar Netscher placed in both of his sprint starts at Goodwood, a course which is somewhat similar to Santa Anita’s.

The Turf Sprint is a wide open event, and I plan on using all of the aforementioned horses in horizontal wagers. Dimension is my top pick, over Caspar Netscher.