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

RESULTS: STRAIGHT NO CHASER EDGES BENTORNADO TO TAKE CYGAMES BREEDERS' CUP SPRINT

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 2, 2024) - MyRacehorse's Straight No Chaser ($14.20) rallied from just off the pace to take command in deep stretch and post a half-length victory over Bentornato to win the 41st running of the $2 million Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at Del Mar Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Dan Blacker and ridden by John Velazquez, Straight No Chaser covered the 6 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:08.62. It is the first Breeders' Cup victory for Blacker and the 21st for Velazquez and second in the Sprint. His first Sprint victory came 20 years ago at Lone Star Park with Speightstown.

Federal Judge set the pace with fractions of :21.74 and :44.12 with Bentornado in closest pursuit and Straight No Chaser stalking in third. In the upper stretch, Bentornado took over, but was immediately challenged by Straight No Chaser who gradually pulled away.

Favored Mullikin finished another 2 ½ lengths back in third with stablemate Federal Judge fourth.

The victory, the first Grade 1 for Straight No Chaser, was worth $1,040,000 and improved his earnings to $1,416,300 with a record of 10-6-0-1.

Straight No Chaser is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Speightster out of the Johannesburg mare Margarita Friday.

---

The Chosen Vron

UPDATE - Oct 22 - SCRATCHED - The leading California-bred sprinter is on the vet's list in California and will not make a highly-anticipated start in this year's Breeders' Cup Sprint. The gelding then appeared on the California Horse Racing Board's vet list on Oct. 21, with the cause listed as "unsoundness."

---

The Chosen Vron is heading to the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) with a slight change to last year's plan. As he did in 2023, The Chosen Vron captured the "Win and You're In" Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar on the final weekend in July to earn a guaranteed spot in the Sprint. In both seasons, he tuned up for the Bing Crosby by winning the Thor's Echo Stakes for California-bred or -sired runners at Santa Anita.

Unlike last year when he trained up to the Breeders' Cup Sprint, the blaze-faced chestnut with three white stockings raced again before the championship day.

"We're much more likely to look for (a prep race)," his Southern California-based trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac said the day after the Bing Crosby. "Last year I backed off. I could have trained him a lot harder. I don't know if it would have made a difference or not."

The prep race turned out to be the Pat O'Brien (G2) at Del Mar on Aug. 24 going 7 furlongs and resulted in the first loss of the year for The Chosen Vron. Sent off as the favorite in the field of eight, The Chosen Vron was outdueled by Raging Torrent and finished second a neck behind the winner.

With a bankroll of more than $1.7 million, The Chosen Vron ranks among the all-time leading California-bred money earners. Nearly unbeatable against fellow state-breds and ultra-competitive in the upper echelons, the 6-year-old gelding has won 19 of 25 career starts and been second or third four times. He was fifth in his other two starts in graded company including the 2023 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita. In his only competition away from California, he won a stakes at Turf Paradise in Arizona.

Kruljac's partners are Robert Fetkin, Richard Thornburgh and John Sonderecker. The group bred The Chosen Vron as Tiz Molly Partners in reference to his dam, a daughter of Tiz Wonderful. They were honored in July with the inaugural Thoroughbred Owners of California Horseracing Partnership Award.

"We are just middle-class people enjoying an experience that few are fortunate enough to participate in," Thornburgh said. "Owning part of a miraculous racehorse, The Chosen Vron, makes every day a wonderful day."

---

Bentornato

Bentornato rises to the challenge in every race. Regardless of the competition, he never has been worse than third while chalking up five victories in eight starts. As a 2-year-old last year at Gulfstream Park, he captured his first two career starts.

Capitalizing on his Florida-bred status, he then closed his season at the same track by competing in a series of races designed for offspring of stallions residing in the state.

Then he made a giant leap in competition by venturing across the globe to the Boutique Group Saudi Derby (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 24. Bentornato finished a gallant third in the one-turn mile test after leading through midstretch. The winner, Forever Young (JPN), is a leading contender for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Bentornato returned to action with a second-place finish in the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes (Listed) at Charles Town in West Virginia on Aug. 23. Stepping up to the U.S. graded ranks for the first time, he was a neck winner as the even-money favorite in the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) at Parx Racing near Philadelphia on Sept. 21.

After selling for $170,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March sale of 2-year-olds in training, Bentornato has campaigned for Leon King Stable Corp. He is a son Florida-based Valiant Minister, who has sired a steady stream of winners from limited offspring. Valiant Minister easily won his only start after being a highly regarded prospect who sold for $680,000 as an unraced 2-year-old.

Don Frankie (JPN)

Don Frankie (JPN) runs big and is big. In an article posted on the Japanese horse racing website netkeiba.com after his score in the 2023 Procyon Stakes (G3) at Chukyo Racecourse, he was described as "the heaviest horse to win a (Japan Racing Association) graded stakes race." His weight was reported as 594kg which translates to 1,310 pounds.

With a "catch me if you can" running style, Don Frankie routinely sets the pace. He used that style in the Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Nakheel (G1) at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates in March. He gamely held the advantage through midstretch before surrendering to the victorious Tuz and settling for the runner-up spot. Prior to that he raced exclusively in Japan with seven wins in 15 starts at seven tracks.

Don Frankie returned to the races Aug. 14 in Japan at Morioka and posted a half-length victory in the 1,200-meter Cluster Cup.

Current owner Makoto Hayano purchased Don Frankie for $625,600 at the 2019 Japan Racing Horse Association Sale of Yearlings and Foals. He is trained by Takashi Saito.

Don Frankie's dam, New York-bred Weemissfrankie, finished third in the 2011 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs. Don Frankie is a grandson of Hall of Fame member and 1989 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Sunday Silence.

---

Dr. Venkman

Dr. Venkman has options after a 1-length victory in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) July 27 at Del Mar, a 1 1/16-mile race that marked the two-turn debut for the lightly raced 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper. The San Diego marked the fifth career start for Dr. Venkman, who finished second in his 2024 debut, the $200,000 Triple Bend Stakes (G2) for older horses at 7 furlongs June 1 at Santa Anita.

His second attempt going two turns came Aug. 31 in the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic (G1) going 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar. The result was a fourth-place finish in the field of eight, 3 lengths behind the victorious Mixto.

Dr. Venkman closed 2023 with a second-place finish in the $250,000 Perryville Stakes (Listed) for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs on Oct. 21 at Keeneland. The Perryville, to date, is the only start outside California for Dr. Venkman, who is campaigned by trainer Mark Glatt and owners Dan Agnew, Clint Bunch, Mark Cohen and James Hailey.

Dr. Venkman began his career with consecutive victories at the 2023 Del Mar summer meet. Dr. Venkman, a Kentucky bred, is named for actor Bill Murray's character in the 1984 hit movie, "Ghostbusters."

Ghostzapper capped his 2004 Horse of the Year campaign with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). He has three Breeders' Cup victories as a sire. Dr. Venkman is the second stakes winner for his dam, Theory of Change, a daughter of 2011 Arkansas Derby champion Archarcharch. Glatt, as an agent, purchased Dr. Venkman for $105,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the consignment of Hidden Brook Farm, which bred the gelding in partnership with Ghostzapper Syndicate.

Glatt is winless in eight Breeders' Cup starts, but he finished second in the 2021 Sprint (G1) with Dr. Schivel, third in the 2017 Mile (G1) with Blackjackcat and third in the 2020 Dirt Mile (G1) with Sharp Samurai.

Federal Judge

Federal Judge earned his way to the Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) by capturing the "Win and You're In" Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) on Oct. 4 at Keeneland.

As superior horses often do, Federal Judge gave notice early that he was exceptional by winning his career debut. That was in the spring of 2023 when he cruised to a front-running, 4 ½-length victory as the fourth choice in the field of seven at Oaklawn Park. A month later at Churchill Downs, he displayed his courage when holding off a late-running challenger at the finish.

Promoted to the upper ranks in his third start a month later, Federal Judge finished fourth of 10 in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) Presented by Mohegan Sun on June 10, 2023 at Belmont Park. He then went to the sidelines and emerged 13 months later as a gelding and according to Elliott Walden, president of co-owner WinStar Farm, a much slimmer version of his former self. In his first two comeback starts, he was second and then first in two Saratoga allowance races this past summer.

Next stop was the Phoenix in which Federal Judge scampered to the lead and increased his advantage to 5 ½ lengths at the finish as favorite Nakatomi charged late for the runner-up spot.

Federal Judge was sold for $40,000 as a newly minted yearling at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. winter mixed sale in Florida. Six months later at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select yearling sale in Lexington, he was purchased by Maverick Racing, the buying arm of WinStar Farm which campaigns him with Siena Farm. He is from the first crop of Carter Handicap (G1) winner Army Mule out of the Congaree mare Congarette.

---

Gun Pilot

Gun Pilot hinted at his superiority early when he captured his career debut late in his 2-year-old season. He followed up with a runner-up effort and then a victory in allowance races to open his 3-year-old season. After four starts without winning in the stakes ranks at 7 furlongs or more, Gun Pilot was triumphant again via two 6-furlong allowance events.

After settling for second in the Eclipse Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April, Gun Pilot lived up to his potential in winning the 7-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) presented by Ford on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

"This is a special horse," trainer Steve Asmussen said immediately after the race. "I really believe in him."

In one of his final prep races for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Gun Pilot was a gallant second to Sprint hopeful Mullikin in the Forego Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.

"The winner was in control of the race from the beginning," Asmussen said the day after his runner-up finish. "I thought Gun Pilot made a very nice run late to separate himself from the rest of the field, and he came out of it very well,"

Gun Pilot is a son of Hall of Famer and 2017 Breeders' Classic (G1) winner Gun Runner, who was trained by Asmussen. He races for his breeder Goncalo Torrealba's Three Chimneys Farm which campaigned Gun Runner in partnership with Winchell Thoroughbreds.

---

Meta Max

Meta Max's owner Susumu Fujita's name was in the forefront this year as owner of Forever Young (JPN), who finished a close third in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Fujita purchased Meta Max for $1.1 million at the 2022 Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-year-olds in training sale with his trainer Hideyuki Mori signing the sales receipt. The colt was one of several prospects who blazed a furlong in a co-second fastest 9.4 seconds at the auction's under-tack preview. The Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief previously was sold for $180,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale in 2021.

After two unplaced starts on turf in 2022, Meta Max won a 5-furlong dirt race in his third career start in early 2023 and has been competing exclusively on dirt since. Although nominated to last year's Triple Crown races, Meta Max has remained in Japan. A five-time winner through his initial 14 starts, Meta Max won the 6-furlong Nst Sho at Niigata on Aug. 18 in his most recent start.

Mori has raced horses in nine Breeders' Cup races but has yet to win. In addition to his role as a longtime international trainer, Mori is a sought-after agent at Thoroughbred auctions in the United States while representing multiple buyers. He views the large domestic market as cost-effective with a wide selection of horses.

"I'm able to get horses of similar quality for more affordable prices (in the United States) even with the shipping costs," he said through an interpreter in a BloodHorse article posted on Sept. 11, 2021. "The best horses on the Japanese market tend to be slightly inflated in price because it's a smaller market. I'm able to get better value here which leads to better value for my owners."

Mufasa

Argentine trainer Ignacio Correas IV has had the Midas touch with South American imports, notably Blue Prize (ARG), who capped her racing career with a victory in the 2019 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita. The Kentucky-based Correas has a candidate for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in Mufasa (CHI), who, in his second American start, set a 7-furlong track record (1:19.86) in an Aug. 12 allowance race at Colonial Downs. The time was just off the North American dirt record (1:19.40), according to Equibase.

Mufasa earned his first stakes victory in North America in his next start, the 7-furlong Vosburgh (G3) at Aqueduct on Sept. 28. Racing over a sealed sloppy track, Mufasa swept to the lead at the head of the stretch and drew off for a 4 1/4-length victory as the favorite in the field of six.

Mufasa is a Group 3 winner in Chile, where he made his first 10 career starts. Mufasa's only loss to date in eight races "about 1 mile" or shorter came in his American debut when he finished sixth in a 6 ½-furlong allowance June 30 at Churchill Downs. Mufasa (10 of 13 overall) was making his first start since Dec. 9.

Mufasa races for Chilean owners Carlos Saavedra (Stud Los Leones) and Pedro Hurtado (Stud Vendaval, Inc.), also the breeder. Saavedra and Correas won the Seeking the Pearl Stakes in 2021 at Colonial Downs with Cheetara (CHI), a Group 2 winner in Chile. Hurtado (Haras Paso Nevado Stud Farm) is also one of Chile's top breeders.

Mufasa is a 5-year-old son of top American stallion Practical Joke, who shuttled several years ago between Kentucky's Coolmore America and Haras Paso Nevado. Mufasa is out of Miscanti (CHI), a daughter of the late Scat Daddy (another Coolmore America/Haras Paso Nevado shuttle).

Correas also conditions turf standout Didia (ARG), a millionaire Grade 1 winner who began her racing career in Argentina, and finished third in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) with Le Da Vida (CHI). Le Da Vida began her career in Chile.

---

Mullikin

Rocketing up the class ladder to become one of the country's top older male sprinters, Mullikin, 4, is perfect in four starts this year after a front-running 5 ¾-length victory in the Forego Stakes (G1) on Aug. 24 at Saratoga for his Kentucky-based team of co-owners WinStar Farm and Siena Farm and trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

The 7-furlong Forego followed victories in an entry-level allowance April 26 at Keeneland, a non-winners of three allowance June 8 at Churchill Downs and the John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) on July 6 at Aqueduct.

The Forego was the first career Grade 1 victory for the French-born Brisset, a former jockey, assistant under Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and WinStar Farm in-house trainer. Brisset, who saddled his first horse in 2017, had previously won several Grade 2 races and finished second with Yuugiri, his only Breeders' Cup starter to date, in the 2023 Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm also campaign Grade 1 winner Timberlake, Grade 2 winner World Record (also trained by Brisset) and Caitlinhergrtness, who toppled males in the King's Plate - the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown - Aug. 23 at Woodbine.

WinStar Farm is among the country's most celebrated racing/breeding operations, collecting Eclipse Awards in 2010 (owner) and 2016 and 2020 (breeder). Siena Farm is eliminating its breeding operation, but will continue in racing partnerships. Maverick Racing, WinStar Farm's purchasing arm, secured Mullikin for $500,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Mullikin is by Violence out of Tulira's Star, a stakes-placed daughter of Congrats. Mullikin was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding. Hertrich, a member of the Breeders' Cup board of directors, and Fielding also bred 2020 champion turf female Rushing Fall and multiple Grade 1 winner Catholic Boy.

---

Nakatomi

Nakatomi's talent was never in doubt. He flashed his brilliance in his debut as 2-year-old at the 2021 Keeneland April meeting and has been a force in marquee races since. Along the way the 5-year-old gelding has banked more than $1.2 million in 19 starts that includes a record of six victories, three seconds and six thirds. The Wesley Ward trainee was third as a longshot in last year's Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita.

On July 27, Nakatomi became a Grade 1 winner for the first time by winning the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga in his first start since finishing third in the Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Nakheel (G1) in the United Arab Emirates on March 30. He then was given a pre-planned vacation at Ward's property near Keeneland.

"He was at the farm for a little bit just kind of relaxing, eating grass," Ward said. "We put him back in training after 60 days off and he just trained forwardly. He didn't miss a beat and worked every week (at Keeneland), every week getting better."

As he did last year, Nakatomi tuned up for the Breeders' Cup Sprint in Keeneland's Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) on Oct. 4. He finished second in the Phoenix in 2023 and again in 2024, coming in 5 1/2 lengths behind wire-to-wire winner Federal Judge.

Nakatomi was sold for $25,000 at Fasig-Tipton's October yearling sale in Lexington, Kentucky, to Marc Detampel, who campaigned him solely and later in partnership with Qatar Racing and others. The partnership was dissolved when current owners Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay purchased Nakatomi for $205,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale in Lexington, Kentucky.

---

Raging Torrent

In winning the 7-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar on Aug. 24, Raging Torrent did what few horses have done. He defeated The Chosen Vron, who entered the race victorious in 14 of his most recent 15 starts. The "Win and You're In" score grants Raging Torrent an automatic fees-paid entry into the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Raging Torrent held a slim lead in the Pat O'Brien before The Chosen Vron drew even on the turn. The two matched strides through the stretch until Raging Torrent outdueled his rival nearing the finish to win by a neck for his third consecutive triumph.

"(Jockey Antonio Fresu) had a lot of confidence and everything we dreamt about on paper worked out," trainer Doug O'Neill said shortly after the race. "Turning for home, I was thinking maybe we (would get) second; it didn't look like anybody was moving in on us. I never thought he'd put away The Chosen Vron. That was pretty incredible."

Raging Torrent was offered at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale but did not meet his owner's minimum price on a final bid of $27,000. Current owner Mark Davis purchased him the following April at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s 2-year-olds in training auction. Davis then brought Great Friends Stable, a group headed by Craig Dado, into the partnership. Dado spent 20 years in Del Mar management before exiting in 2021 to serve as founder and president of San Diego-based Sports Injury Central.

Raging Torrent soon began making a return on the partners' investment by winning his career debut in the summer of 2023 at Del Mar. He did not reach the winner's circle again until May 4 when he captured an allowance race at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) undercard. On June 30, he won the Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs as a prep race for his Pat O'Brien tally.

---

Remake

Well established internationally as a top-class sprinter, Remake may make his North American debut in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar in November.

Among the favorites in the Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Nakheel (G1) on March 30 at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, Remake rallied to finish fourth in the field of 14. A month earlier the 5-year-old was victorious in the Sports Boulevard Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudia Arabia. Last year he competed in both races and finished third in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint and fifth in the Golden Shaheen.

Remake also has raced in Korea where he won the Korea Sprint (G3) last year and in his native Japan where his triumphs include the 2022 Capella Stakes (G3).

On Sept. 8 in Seoul, Remake punched his ticket to Del Mar with a 2-length victory in the OBS Korea Sprint (G3) over 14 rivals that served as a Breeders' Cup Challenge Race: Win and You're In for the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Remake's sire is Lani, who in 2016 became one of the first Japanese-based runners to compete in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The Kentucky-bred gained extra attention for his often quirky behavior and training routine that differed from the American style. Lani was unplaced in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1) and was third in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Remake campaigns for Koji Maeda, who bred him in the name of his North Hills, a premiere breeding and training operation on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. Maeda has had two previous Breeders' Cup starters. Chain of Love (JPN) was 10th in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland and Trailblazer (JPN) was fourth in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.

---

Skelly

Skelly is an exacta player's dream. In 18 starts, he has been the winner or runner-up in all but one race. The lone exception was nearly two years ago when he was compromised by a poor start.

Along the way, the gelding has earned nearly $1.8 million while facing some of the nation's best sprinters including his initial outing when he was second to eventual Grade 2 winner and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) candidate Anarchist at Ellis Park in 2022. Skelly found the winner's circle in his next start three months later at Churchill Downs. After two wins in the allowance ranks, Skelly was victorious in his stakes debut in the 2023 Count Fleet Sprint Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park as part of a seven-race winning streak.

With his "catch me if you can" running style, Skelly is known for his blazing early speed that often benefits rivals with closing kicks such as fellow Sprint hopefuls Nakatomi, Remake and Closethegamesugar who all have beaten him.

From the first crop of Grade 1-winning millionaire Practical Joke, Skelly was purchased by Red Lane Thoroughbreds for $250,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase in Lexington, Kentucky. The September auction was a revised rendition of Fasig-Tipton's premiere August sale that was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. His owners wheeled Skelly back to Fasig-Tipton's March sale of 2-year-olds but opted to keep him when bidding stopped at $350,000.

---

Straight No Chaser

Straight No Chaser proved worthy of a starting spot in the Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) when he cruised to a front-running, 6 ¼-length victory in the Santa Anita Sprint Stakes (G2) presented by Estrella Jellisco at 6 furlongs on Sept. 29.

In his only other start this season, Straight No Chaser was a troubled fourth as the heavy favorite in the Runhappy Stakes (G3) at Belmont at the Big A on May 11 in his comeback after a year on the sidelines. In that race, he stumbled leaving the gate but powered his way through on the rail to take the early lead before fading in the stretch.

Prior to the Runhappy, he scored his other graded triumph in the 2023 Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) Presented by Big Ass Fans at Pimlico on Preakness Day. The 5-year-old has maximized his limited opportunities by winning five of nine starts to bank $376,300. Trainer Dan Blacker attributes Straight No Chaser's light racing schedule to "little issues"

Straight No Chaser is by Speightster, a son of 2004 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and Eclipse Award champion sprinter Speightstown. His name -- a phrase sometimes used when ordering an adult beverage -- is a nod to his dam Margarita Friday, a daughter of 2001 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and champion 2-year-old colt Johannesburg. He was purchased for $110,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-year-olds in training sale in Timonium, Maryland, by Myracehorse.com.

With micro-shares selling for about $150 each, each Myracehorse.com ownership group has more than 2,000 partners.

---

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