The world's fastest Thoroughbreds compete in the Sprint, sometimes achieving speeds nearing 40 M.P.H. in the stretch. This race is contested at three-quarters of a mile for male and female horses, 3-years-old and older.

Breeders' Cup Sprint

Manny Wah

After winning his second career start, Manny Wah ran third in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes in his stakes debut in August at Ellis Park. His first try stretching out around two turns was unsuccessful as he faded to seventh in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes in September at Churchill Downs.

Manny Wah cut back to a mile for his next start at Keeneland Race Course and dominated an allowance/optional claiming race by 3 ½ lengths. He followed with a fourth-place finish in the Street Sense Stakes on Breeders' Cup weekend at Churchill Downs before closing out his 2-year-old season with a runner-up finish in the Sugar Bowl Stakes going three-quarters of a mile at Fair Grounds in December.

In his 3-year-old bow, Manny Wah pressed the pace in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 19 and held on resolutely for third. He continued on the Kentucky Derby trail for one more race but finished sixth in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford and was shortened up to sprints and one-turn miles after that. Late in 2019, Manny Wah cycled back into good form with a win in a Churchill Downs allowance, a runner-up finish by a neck at Mahoning Valley, and a third to Omaha Beach in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes.

Manny Wah went winless through seven starts in 2020 but finished a close second in a couple of allowances, one at Oaklawn Park and one at Keeneland. He also ran third in three stakes races, including the Grade 3 Count Fleet Special Stakes behind Whitmore.

In 2021, Manny Wah started off his 5-year-old season with a sharp win in Duncan F. Kenner Stakes Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds, but he was shelved after a start in February and did not return until December. He resumed a more active schedule in 2022 but was winless through eight starts, with two runner-up finishes, heading into the Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Stakes Oct. 7 at Keeneland.

Sent off as a 17.57-1 longshot in the eight-horse field, Manny Wah assumed his usual position near the back of the pack in the six-furlong sprint before rallying four-wide in early stretch. Jockey Corey Lanerie then angled him swiftly to the inside to avoid tiring horses, and Manny Wah rallied strongly to edge Long Range Toddy and score a career-defining victory. He earned an automatic berth in the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Filly Sprint Nov. 5 at Keeneland with the win.

Kimari

Kimari opened her career with a sparkling 15-length runaway win at Keeneland in April 2019 and was sent as part of Wesley Ward's Royal Ascot contingent to England in June. She ran second by a head in a 25-horse field the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at the royal meeting.

Upon returning to the U.S., the Munnings filly won back-to-back stakes races at Saratoga Race Course and at Keeneland, both on the grass, before closing out her juvenile campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

For her 3-year-old bow, Kimari returned to the main track for the first time since her first career race and won the Purple Martin Stakes by 1 ½ lengths on a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park in April 2020. She then shipped overseas for the Royal Ascot meet and ran second in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup. Kimari made only one more start as a 3-year-old, finishing third in a stakes race in September at Kentucky Downs.

Kimari got her 4-year-old season off to a stellar start with a 4 ¼-length runaway victory in the Spring Fever Stakes Feb. 27, 2021, on a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park. She next earned a breakthrough Grade 1 win when holding off several late runners to post a three-quarter-length win in the $300,000 Madison Stakes April 3 at Keeneland. She did not race again until Nov. 6, 2021, at Del Mar, when she faced males in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and rallied from last of 12 to finish seventh.

Kimari opened her 5-year-old season with a victory in an allowance-optional claiming race March 3, 2022, at Gulfstream Park before running third in her bid for a repeat win in the Madison Stakes. Unplaced in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff Stakes presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve undercard, Kimari regained her elite form July 27 at Saratoga Race Course, where she rallied to edge Frank's Rockette by a half-length in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap.

Grade 3 winner Cozze Up Lady, by Cozzene, is the dam (mother) of Kimari.

O Besos

In his second start, on Dec. 20 at Fair Grounds, O Besos broke his maiden in a 5 1/2 furlong dirt race. He broke slowly, and fell well behind a fast pace. On the turn, he moved up after the leaders, and drew away to a 5 1/2 length win. Next out, on Jan. 17, he took a first-level allowance by 2 1/4 lengths, once again coming from off the pace.

O Besos won a photo for fourth in his stakes debut, the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 13. In doing so, he earned five points on the Road to the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

In his next start, O Besos was third in the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby on Mar. 20. He rated in last place early on, then closed from behind. For that performance, O Besos earned twenty more qualifying points.

In the Derby, O Besos went off at 40-1, and closed to finish fifth, in the first Kentucky Derby mount for jockey Marcelino Pedroza. After a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes on May 29, O Besos went to the sidelines for the next several months.

After returning to the worktab in early November, O Besos made his 4-year-old debut in a second-level allowance optional claiming race at Fair Grounds on Jan. 2, 2022. He battled with Intrepid Heart in the stretch and prevailed by a nose, for his first victory in almost a year.

American Theorem

American Theorem won his career debut by 1 1/2 lengths Aug. 31 at Del Mar and followed with a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park.

American Theorem earned his first graded stakes win at Santa Anita on May 29, 2022, when he won the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes by a nose in a 13-1 upset. He rated off an early speed duel and moved to engage the leaders at the top of the stretch. He battled with Principe Carlo in the stretch, and managed to outduel that rival in an exciting finish. American Theoren showed that cutting back in distance for the Triple Bend was a recipe for success when he followed with a dominant win in the Grade 1, $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes July 30 at Del Mar, a victory that cemented an expenses-paid berth in the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Keeneland.

In his next start, American Theorem rallied willingly in the stretch of the $250,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes but came up short of winner Laurel River in a runner-up finish.

American Theorem is from the first crop of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. He is a half-brother to three stakes winners.

Aloha West

Aloha West won his career debut in February 2021 at Oaklawn Park and added an allowance win three starts later in May at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old Maryland-bred Hard Spun colt ran fourth in the Kelly's Landing Stakes in his first start against stakes competition. Aloha West rattled off a pair of allowance wins over the summer at Saratoga Race Course before returning to stakes competition for the Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes Oct. 8 at Keeneland. He made a bold rally in the stretch but came up a neck short of winner Special Reserve in a determined runner-up finish.

Aloha West won his first graded stakes race on a big stage in dramatic fashion. He won the Grade 1 Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 6 by a nose in an incredibly exciting stretch run. He rated towards the back of the pack early on, then rallied wide in the stretch to take his shot at the leaders. Under vigorous urging from Jose Ortiz, he surged in the final sixteenth and won a very close photo over Dr. Schivel.

Owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trainer Wayne Catalano brought Aloha West back for a 5-year-old campaign in 2022, and he finished third in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford and fourth in the Hill `n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap to start the year.

Aloha West is out of Grade 3 winner Island Bound, by Speightstown.

Elite Power

Elite Power raced twice as a 3-year-old but didn't reach the winner's circle until his 4-year-old season when he won his maiden race by nine lengths in a seven-furlong race at Churchill Downs on June 5, 2022. That race began a winning streak that saw Elite Power transform from a maiden to a Grade 2 stakes winner in a matter of four months.

Elite Power won a first-level allowance race by 3 1/4 lengths at one mile back at Churchill on June 30, and then shipped to Saratoga and won again, this time by 3 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong allowance optional claiming race.

The next start for Elite Power was the Grade 2 $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont at the Big A on Oct. 8, where he was sent off as the 1-2 odds favorite in a field of and cruised home to an easy victory. The Vosburgh was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Win and You're In race that qualified Elite Power for a spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Elite Power was sired by Curlin out of the mare Broadway's Alibi by Vindication. He was purchased for $900,000 at the September Keeneland Yearling sale. He is trained by Bill Mott.

Super Ocho

Super Ocho began his career in his native Chile, where he won three of 12 races and finished in the top three in four others Among his victories were a pair of Group 2 wins during his 2-year-old campaign in the El Estreno Nicanor Senoret Stakes and a 5 ¼-length romp in the Copa de Plata Italo Traverso.

He was transferred to the U.S. barn of Amador Merei Sanchez earlier in 2022. He won his stateside debut by 10 ¼ lengths in June at Mountaineer Casino, Resort, and Racetrack and later finished third by a length in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park.

C Z Rocket

C Z Rocket began his career with plenty of promise, winning three straight races to begin his career at Saratoga Race Course, Keeneland, and Churchill Downs. In his final start as a 3-year-old in 2017, he was unplaced in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes in his first try against stakes competition.

The bay gelding won the Kelly's Landing Stakes at Churchill in his second start in 2018 to secure his first stakes victory and then finished fourth in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes and Grade 3 Ack Ack Stakes. The two losses kicked off an 11-race winless stretch that lasted into 2020, before he turned things around after being claimed by trainer Peter Miller on behalf of Tom Kegale.

C Z Rocket won a $50,00 claiming race at Churchill before a 4 ¾-length romp in an allowance/optional claiming race June 21 at the Louisville track.

After another allowance win at Keeneland in July, Miller tested C Z Rocket back against elite sprinters in the Grade 1 Pat O'Brien Stakes and he outfinished Flagstaff and Law Abiden Citizen to earn an expenses-paid berth in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Miller kept C Z Rocket in California after his Grade 1 win in the Pat O'Brien, and on Sept. 27 the gelding won his second consecutive top-level race, taking the Santa Anita Sprint Championship by a head over Flagstaff. He earned another automatic Breeders' Cup berth with the victory, this time in the Sprint.

C Z Rocket's five-race winning streak came to a halt in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, but he certainly held his own against elite competition in a runner-up finish Nov. 7 at Keeneland behind runaway winner Whitmore.

In his 2021 debut, C Z Rocket turned the tables on Whitmore, coming from last to win the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Mar. 13. He covered the six furlongs in an impressive 1:09.04, while pushing his earnings past the $1 million mark. He followed that race up with a strong victory in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn on Apr. 10, once again defeating Whitmore.

Following those back-to-back wins to start 2021, C Z Rocket made five more starts without a win, but he did hit the board in four graded stakes. He closed out the year with a seventh-place finish in the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Back for an 8-year-old campaign in 2022, C Z Rocket won his second start of the year, an allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar in July. Two starts later, he lost a razor-thin photo finish to Howbeit in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, his third consecutive start in that race.

Jackie's Warrior

Jackie's Warrior, a Maclean's Music colt owned by J. Kirk Robison and trained by Steve Asmussen, won his debut impressively by 2 ½ lengths over Therideofalifetime on June 19 at Churchill Downs. Asmussen shipped him to the Saratoga meet and pointed him to the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite on Aug. 7, where he squared off with Therideofalifetime again as well as stablemate Cazadero, winner of the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes.

Breaking from the outside post under Joel Rosario, Jackie's Warrior took the early lead and set a swift pace under modest pressure. He came into the stretch of the six-furlong Saratoga Special and turned back a brief challenge from Therideofalifetime to win going away by three lengths.

Jackie's Warrior stayed at the Spa following his impressive win and targeted the closing-day Sept. 7 Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful Stakes at seven furlongs. With Rosario aboard, he shot to the lead immediately and extended his always comfortable margin in the stretch, defeating favorite and highly regarded Reinvestment Risk by a geared-down 2 ¼ lengths and further polishing his credentials as a rising star.

In his final prep for the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Jackie's Warrior again led from start to finish in a 5 ½-length runaway to improve to 4-for-4 and earn an expenses-paid berth in the Juvenile. In the Juvenile, Jackie's Warrior took a slim lead near the top of the stretch but faded late and finished fourth in the first defeat of his career.

Returning for his 2021 debut in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park, Jackie's Warrior set the pace on a sloppy track but faded late and finished third in his first race off the long layoff.

After some time off, Jackie's Warrior resurfaced in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU on May 1 at Churchill Downs. He ran a monstrous race, reeling off very fast fractions while setting the pace on the inside, including a half-mile in 43.68 seconds. Despite the blazing tempo, he held off the challenge of Dream Shake for the victory. He covered a mile in 1:34.39. In his next start, the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency on June 5, he recovered well from a bad start and engaged early leader Drain the Clock, but he could not get by him and ended up second.

Jackie's Warrior met up with Drain the Clock again in his next start, the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes Aug. 1 at Saratoga. Racing on a sloppy, sealed track, he once again engaged Drain the Clock for the early lead and the pair set fast fractions, reeling off a quarter-mile in 21.46 seconds. Jackie's Warrior moved ahead of Drain the Clock in the turn and was not challenged in the stretch, romping by 7 ¼ lengths and finishing up 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.46. He improved to 3-for-3 at Saratoga with the win.

In his next start, the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes on Aug. 28, Jackie's Warrior further proved his class with a game neck victory over Life is Good. He came through on the inside of that rival in the stretch, and wore him down for his third graded stakes win of his 3-year-old season.

Next out, Jackie's Warrior competed in the Grade 3 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing on Sept. 25. After a brief speed duel with Real Talk, he put away that rival and drew away to win by 6 3/4 lengths. Although Joel Rosario never asked him to run at any point, he still covered six furlongs in 1:08.64.

Jackie's Warrior went off as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 1 Qatar Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 6. He was pressed on a fast early pace, and stopped around the turn. He ended up sixth, beaten 4 1/2 lengths. Although he disappointed in the Breeders' Cup, Jackie's Warrior received the Eclipse Award as 2021's champion male sprinter based on his overall season.

Jackie's Warrior returned to the races on April 16, 2022, in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park. Sent off as the 0.50-1 favorite, he broke well and dueled on the outside with Empire of Gold. He dismissed that rival and opened up a clear lead in the stretch. Although some of his rivals were closing strongly late, Jackie's Warrior had enough to hold on and win by three-quarters of a length. He went six furlongs over a sloppy track in 1:09.09.

In his second start of 2022, Jackie's Warrior earned a Grade 1 win for the third consecutive season when he sprinted well clear in the stretch of the $750,000 Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford for a runaway victory on the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve undercard.

Jackie's Warrior made it three-for-three in 2022 with a dominant win in the Grade 2 True North Stakes June 10 at Belmont Park. He took his customary early lead, shook off mild pressure from Mr. Phil, and spurted clear in the stretch under minimal urging from Rosario en route to a five-length score over Sound Money.

Robison bought Jackie's Warrior for $95,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September yearling auction. He is out of the 19-time winning A. P. Five Hundred mare Unicorn Girl.

Willy Boi

A Florida-bred gelding, Willy Boi was purchased for $40,000 at the OBS Sale in October 2020. He began his career on a promising note, with a half-length win against Florida-bred maidens at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 10, 2020.

On Jan. 7, 2021, Willy Boi won his second race in a row, as he won a Florida-bred allowance race by 2 3/4 lengths. He covered the six-furlong distance in 1:11.09.

Willy Boi finished eighth in his graded stakes debut, the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 30, but bounced back with a victory in the Hutcheson Stakes on March 6.

Willy Boi won the first stakes race of his 4-year-old campaign on May 28, when he won the Big Drama Stakes at Gulfstream by 5 1/4 lengths. A few weeks later, he took advantage of a fast pace and won the Grade 3 Smile Sprint Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream on July 2, for his first graded stakes win.

Willy Boi's sire, Uncaptured, won six stakes races in his career, including the second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes, in 2013. His damsire (father of mother) Yes It's True was a six-time graded stakes winner in 1999. All of Yes It's True's major wins came in sprints.

Flash of Mischief

Flash of Mischief won one of three races as a 2-year-old in 2020 before emerging as a multiple stakes winner during his 3-year-old season. He amassed five wins, four seconds, and one third in 12 starts in 2021, including victories in the Golden Circle Stakes at Prairie Meadows, Delta Mile Stakes at Delta Downs, and St. Louis Derby Sponsored by FanDuel Sportsbook at FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing in Illinois. Flash of Mischief also ran second in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby and $250,000 Iowa Derby during his 3-year-old season.

Unplaced in his first three starts in 2022, Flash of Mischief regained his best form in the summer. He won an allowance-optional claiming race by 1 ¼ lengths at Canterbury Downs in July and then finished second in the $175,000 Governor's Cup Stakes at Remington Park. He then proved much the best in a 6 ¼-length romp when cutting back to three-quarters of a mile for the $150,000 David M. Vance Stakes at Remington Sept. 25, when he covered the distance in a sizzling 1:08.78.

Multiple stakes-placed winner Flashy Campaign, by Political Force, is the dam (mother) of Flash of Mischief. This family is responsible for 1993 Kentucky Derby victor Sea Hero, multiple Grade 1 winner Elate, and multiple graded stakes winner and sire Congrats, among others.

Recent Breeders Cup' Sprint Winners

What is the Breeders Cup' Sprint?

The Breeders' Cup Sprint (Grade 1) has been a popular racing event since the inauguration of Breeders' Cup in 1984. At present, this horse racing event carries a purse of $1.5 million and has proven a nightmare for handicappers among the Breeders' Cup races. As a champion event, the Breeders' Cup Sprint has become a platform where none can predict which horse is going to perform best on that very day. In fact, in seven of the Breeders' Cup Sprint races, the winner was decided by a distance of neck or less than that. So, from the result itself we can measure the level of competition in this race.

Browsing the history of Breeders' Cup Sprint, we find the 1990 session. The 1989 champion, Safely Kept, fought brilliantly head-to-head battle with English invader Dayjur - favorite of that race; inside the furlong pole, Dayjur suddenly took the command over but only forty yards away from the finishing line, he jumped the shadow of Belmont Park's grandstand and lost his action for a few moment. Those missteps were enough for the favorite, Safety Kept, to regain the lead and hold on for a neck victory.

In seven of the Breeders' Cup Sprint races, the winner was decided by a distance of neck or less than that.

On October 27, 2007, Midnight Lute, trained by multiple Kentucky Derby winner, Bob Baffert, scored the most important victory of his career when he won the six-furlong Breeders' Cup Sprint at Monmouth Park, ridden by Garrett Gomez. Coming from last to first, he won by 4 3/4 lengths over a sloppy track in a time of 1:09.18. In his next visit to Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Park on October 25th, 2008, he finished the six-furlong dash in a final time of 1:07:08 on a fast track making Midnight Lute the first horse to ever repeat in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

In the 2000, Kona Gold snatched the winning title while the Java Gold gelding placed third in 1998, second in 1999 and finally won the race at six. In fact the favorite takes it all in this race! We all are expecting the same trend of results in this year too. The 2009 winner of the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Dancing in Silks, shared 2009 California Horse of the Year honors with California Flag.

2024 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE