Reneesgotzip has proven form on downhill course
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There is no other course in American racing quite like the about-6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course at Santa Anita. So, it is no surprise that when the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint is run at Santa Anita – it will have been run there for the fifth time in the seven-year history of the race when it is run there again Nov. 1 – a premium is placed on prior success on the downhill.
Desert Code, the winner of the inaugural Turf Sprint in 2008 at Santa Anita, was previously 3 for 4 on the downhill course. California Flag, who won this race at Santa Anita in 2009, was previously 2 for 4 on the downhill. And Mizdirection was previously 2 for 2 on the downhill before she won the 2012 Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. Mizdirection, of course, came back to win this race again there last year.
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Reneesgotzip, who is likely the current tepid future-book favorite for the Turf Sprint, hasn’t met the strict definition of being previously successful on the downhill course in that she has not yet won on it. But that is a mere technicality. Reneesgotzip was a sharp third in the 2012 BC Turf Sprint in what was her grass debut, and she was a narrowly beaten dead-heat second in this race last year.
In light of this, the Grade 3, $100,000 Eddie D Stakes, the downhill-course feature on Friday’s opening-day card at Santa Anita, might be the most important prep for this Turf Sprint. Among others, the Eddie D lured Unbridled’s Note, who will be making his first start since February. Unbridled’s Note was beaten only a half-length when second in the 2012 Turf Sprint and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths when fourth in the 2013 Turf Sprint. He is a three-time winner on the downhill, including the 2012 edition of the Eddie D.
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European shippers, who have enjoyed tremendous success in all the other Breeders’ Cup turf events, have been shut out in the Turf Sprint. In Turf Sprints at Santa Anita, the best finish by a European shipper was a second by Diabolical in the first running in 2008. The best European finish in 2009 was Lord Shanakill’s 12th, and in 2012, Starspangledbanner finished 10th. There were no European shippers in last year’s Turf Sprint.
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