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wager guide
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Defending Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner had his 6-race winning streak snapped when third in Saratoga's Whitney, but that was at 1-1/8 miles. He's back to his best distance after prepping with a Vosburgh win sprinting.
Juvenile Fillies favorite swept her summer starts, including the Del Mar Debutante by 6-3/4 lengths. Hall of Fame mama Beholder won the BC Juvenile Fillies and two editions of the BC Distaff.
Winner of Del Mar's Best Pal and Del Mar Futurity attempts a route distance for the first time as the likely Juvenile favorite. He's a son of BC Sprint winner Speightstown. Baffert's 5 Juvenile wins are tied with D. Wayne Lukas for most.
Reigning BC Filly & Mare Sprint heroine has won half of her four starts this year since taking the 2022 title. She's a daughter of BC Sprint winner Ghostzapper and can join Groupie Doll as the only back-to-back winners of this race.
Woodbine Mile winner and Keeneland Turf Mile runner-up makes a third North American appearance after Group 2 successes in England and Dubai. Made just 1 start in 2022, but has blossomed upon returning at age 5. Appleby aims for a third straight BC Mile title.
English 1000 Guineas winner made a successful return from a 5-month break in winning Keeneland's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in her first US foray. Two-time winner at Meydan in Dubai this year has handled all travel.
Reigning BC Sprint champion enters off a surprising defeat in Saratoga's Forego, snapping his 8-race winning streak. Looks to join Midnight Lute and Roy H as the only back-to-back BC Sprint winners, and would be the first from the east coast to do so.
Potential Horse of the Year candidate with a win in the BC Turf and depending on the Classic results, he's won the major grass races this year at Belmont, Churchill Downs and Keeneland. Capable in the Mile division, they'll try to extend him to 1-1/2 miles in the Turf.
Four-time Group 1 winner swept this year's Epsom Derby and Irish Derby among his stellar achievements. Son of legendary Japanese superstar Deep Impact and the 2017 BC Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Rhododendron, a multiple Group 1 winner.
Group 1 winner at ages 2, 3 and 4 exits back-to-back scores in the Prix Jacques le Marois and the Sun Chariot, the former a repeat effort of her '22 score in the prestigious French mile. Daughter of the legendary Frankel, who won all 14 starts while running exclusively in the UK.
Japan's star winner of the Dubai World Cup looks to continue his international tour in search of a seventh straight victory. The Japanese won 2 Breeders' Cup races at Del Mar in 2021, the last time the event was in California.
Swept historic trio of stakes this summer from Delaware Handicap to Saratoga's Personal Ensign to Keeneland's Spinster. Front-runner has led wire-to-wire in 3 of her last 4 victories.
Defending Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner had his 6-race winning streak snapped when third in Saratoga's Whitney, but that was at 1-1/8 miles. He's back to his best distance after prepping with a Vosburgh win sprinting.
Juvenile Fillies favorite swept her summer starts, including the Del Mar Debutante by 6-3/4 lengths. Hall of Fame mama Beholder won the BC Juvenile Fillies and two editions of the BC Distaff.
Winner of Del Mar's Best Pal and Del Mar Futurity attempts a route distance for the first time as the likely Juvenile favorite. He's a son of BC Sprint winner Speightstown. Baffert's 5 Juvenile wins are tied with D. Wayne Lukas for most.
Reigning BC Filly & Mare Sprint heroine has won half of her four starts this year since taking the 2022 title. She's a daughter of BC Sprint winner Ghostzapper and can join Groupie Doll as the only back-to-back winners of this race.
Woodbine Mile winner and Keeneland Turf Mile runner-up makes a third North American appearance after Group 2 successes in England and Dubai. Made just 1 start in 2022, but has blossomed upon returning at age 5. Appleby aims for a third straight BC Mile title.
English 1000 Guineas winner made a successful return from a 5-month break in winning Keeneland's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in her first US foray. Two-time winner at Meydan in Dubai this year has handled all travel.
Reigning BC Sprint champion enters off a surprising defeat in Saratoga's Forego, snapping his 8-race winning streak. Looks to join Midnight Lute and Roy H as the only back-to-back BC Sprint winners, and would be the first from the east coast to do so.
Potential Horse of the Year candidate with a win in the BC Turf and depending on the Classic results, he's won the major grass races this year at Belmont, Churchill Downs and Keeneland. Capable in the Mile division, they'll try to extend him to 1-1/2 miles in the Turf.
Four-time Group 1 winner swept this year's Epsom Derby and Irish Derby among his stellar achievements. Son of legendary Japanese superstar Deep Impact and the 2017 BC Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Rhododendron, a multiple Group 1 winner.
Group 1 winner at ages 2, 3 and 4 exits back-to-back scores in the Prix Jacques le Marois and the Sun Chariot, the former a repeat effort of her '22 score in the prestigious French mile. Daughter of the legendary Frankel, who won all 14 starts while running exclusively in the UK.
Japan's star winner of the Dubai World Cup looks to continue his international tour in search of a seventh straight victory. The Japanese won 2 Breeders' Cup races at Del Mar in 2021, the last time the event was in California.
Swept historic trio of stakes this summer from Delaware Handicap to Saratoga's Personal Ensign to Keeneland's Spinster. Front-runner has led wire-to-wire in 3 of her last 4 victories.
Defending Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner had his 6-race winning streak snapped when third in Saratoga's Whitney, but that was at 1-1/8 miles. He's back to his best distance after prepping with a Vosburgh win sprinting.
Juvenile Fillies favorite swept her summer starts, including the Del Mar Debutante by 6-3/4 lengths. Hall of Fame mama Beholder won the BC Juvenile Fillies and two editions of the BC Distaff.
Winner of Del Mar's Best Pal and Del Mar Futurity attempts a route distance for the first time as the likely Juvenile favorite. He's a son of BC Sprint winner Speightstown. Baffert's 5 Juvenile wins are tied with D. Wayne Lukas for most.
Reigning BC Filly & Mare Sprint heroine has won half of her four starts this year since taking the 2022 title. She's a daughter of BC Sprint winner Ghostzapper and can join Groupie Doll as the only back-to-back winners of this race.
Woodbine Mile winner and Keeneland Turf Mile runner-up makes a third North American appearance after Group 2 successes in England and Dubai. Made just 1 start in 2022, but has blossomed upon returning at age 5. Appleby aims for a third straight BC Mile title.
English 1000 Guineas winner made a successful return from a 5-month break in winning Keeneland's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in her first US foray. Two-time winner at Meydan in Dubai this year has handled all travel.
Reigning BC Sprint champion enters off a surprising defeat in Saratoga's Forego, snapping his 8-race winning streak. Looks to join Midnight Lute and Roy H as the only back-to-back BC Sprint winners, and would be the first from the east coast to do so.
Potential Horse of the Year candidate with a win in the BC Turf and depending on the Classic results, he's won the major grass races this year at Belmont, Churchill Downs and Keeneland. Capable in the Mile division, they'll try to extend him to 1-1/2 miles in the Turf.
Four-time Group 1 winner swept this year's Epsom Derby and Irish Derby among his stellar achievements. Son of legendary Japanese superstar Deep Impact and the 2017 BC Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Rhododendron, a multiple Group 1 winner.
Group 1 winner at ages 2, 3 and 4 exits back-to-back scores in the Prix Jacques le Marois and the Sun Chariot, the former a repeat effort of her '22 score in the prestigious French mile. Daughter of the legendary Frankel, who won all 14 starts while running exclusively in the UK.
Japan's star winner of the Dubai World Cup looks to continue his international tour in search of a seventh straight victory. The Japanese won 2 Breeders' Cup races at Del Mar in 2021, the last time the event was in California.
Swept historic trio of stakes this summer from Delaware Handicap to Saratoga's Personal Ensign to Keeneland's Spinster. Front-runner has led wire-to-wire in 3 of her last 4 victories.
Defending Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner had his 6-race winning streak snapped when third in Saratoga's Whitney, but that was at 1-1/8 miles. He's back to his best distance after prepping with a Vosburgh win sprinting.
Juvenile Fillies favorite swept her summer starts, including the Del Mar Debutante by 6-3/4 lengths. Hall of Fame mama Beholder won the BC Juvenile Fillies and two editions of the BC Distaff.
Winner of Del Mar's Best Pal and Del Mar Futurity attempts a route distance for the first time as the likely Juvenile favorite. He's a son of BC Sprint winner Speightstown. Baffert's 5 Juvenile wins are tied with D. Wayne Lukas for most.
Reigning BC Filly & Mare Sprint heroine has won half of her four starts this year since taking the 2022 title. She's a daughter of BC Sprint winner Ghostzapper and can join Groupie Doll as the only back-to-back winners of this race.
Woodbine Mile winner and Keeneland Turf Mile runner-up makes a third North American appearance after Group 2 successes in England and Dubai. Made just 1 start in 2022, but has blossomed upon returning at age 5. Appleby aims for a third straight BC Mile title.
English 1000 Guineas winner made a successful return from a 5-month break in winning Keeneland's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in her first US foray. Two-time winner at Meydan in Dubai this year has handled all travel.
Reigning BC Sprint champion enters off a surprising defeat in Saratoga's Forego, snapping his 8-race winning streak. Looks to join Midnight Lute and Roy H as the only back-to-back BC Sprint winners, and would be the first from the east coast to do so.
Potential Horse of the Year candidate with a win in the BC Turf and depending on the Classic results, he's won the major grass races this year at Belmont, Churchill Downs and Keeneland. Capable in the Mile division, they'll try to extend him to 1-1/2 miles in the Turf.
Four-time Group 1 winner swept this year's Epsom Derby and Irish Derby among his stellar achievements. Son of legendary Japanese superstar Deep Impact and the 2017 BC Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Rhododendron, a multiple Group 1 winner.
Group 1 winner at ages 2, 3 and 4 exits back-to-back scores in the Prix Jacques le Marois and the Sun Chariot, the former a repeat effort of her '22 score in the prestigious French mile. Daughter of the legendary Frankel, who won all 14 starts while running exclusively in the UK.
Japan's star winner of the Dubai World Cup looks to continue his international tour in search of a seventh straight victory. The Japanese won 2 Breeders' Cup races at Del Mar in 2021, the last time the event was in California.
Swept historic trio of stakes this summer from Delaware Handicap to Saratoga's Personal Ensign to Keeneland's Spinster. Front-runner has led wire-to-wire in 3 of her last 4 victories.
JUST FYI
BRIGHTWORK
TAMARA
CANDIED
TAMARA
CANDIED
JUST FYI
BRIGHTWORK
JODY'S PRIDE
TAMARA
CHATALAS
SCALABLE
SHE FEELS PRETTY
CARLA'S WAY
PORTA FORTUNA
BUCHU
BUCHU
HARD TO JUSTIFY
CONTENT
SHE FEELS PRETTY
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PORTA FORTUNA
SHE FEELS PRETTY
CARLA'S WAY
LAULINE
BUCHU
PORTA FORTUNA
AUSTERE
LAULNE
BUCHU
GALA BRAND
SHE FEELS PRETTY
LIFE'S AN AUDIBLE
THE WINE STEWARD
MUTH
LOCKED
FIERCENESS
WINE ME UP
PRINCE OF MONACO
LOCKED
MUTH
LOCKED
THE WINE STEWARD
MUTH
NOTED
STAY HOT
AGATE ROAD
ENDLESSLY
UNQUESTIONABLE
ZOZOS
STAGE RAIDER
CODY'S WISH
SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING
CHARGE IT
CODY'S WISH
NATIONAL TREASURE
SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING
IN ITALIAN
INSPIRAL
WARM HEART
LUMIERE ROCK
FEV ROVER
INSPIRAL
IN ITALIAN
WITH THE MOONLIGHT
INSPIRAL
WITH THE MOONLIGHT
WARM HEART
LINDY
SONGLINE
KELINA
GINA ROMANTICA
CASA CREED
SONGLINE
MASTER OF THE SEAS
KELINA
MASTER OF THE SEAS
MAWJ
SONGLINE
SHIRL'S SPEIGHT
CASA CREED
GINA ROMANTICA
MASTER OF THE SEAS
SONGLINE
RANDOMIZE
SEARCH RESULTS
IDIOMATIC
WET PAINT
RANDOMIZED
IDIOMATIC
CLAIRIERE
SEARCH RESULTS
PROXY
ARABIAN KNIGHT
USHBA TESORO
ZANDON
USHBA TESORO
WHITE ABARRIO
SAUDI CROWN
SENOR BUSCADOR
USHBA TESORO
ARABIAN KNIGHT
BRIGHT FUTURE
WHITE ABARRIO
WHITE ABARRIO
ARABIAN KNIGHT
USHBA TESORO
ZANDON
SPEED BOAT BEACH
DR. SCHIVEL
GUNITE
THE CHOSEN VRON
The 1/ST BET 'Machine' analyzes millions of data points over more than 50 important handicapping factors for each race to create an exclusive handicapping outcome driven by big data.
SCENE SETTER: The Europeans took the division’s baton a year ago and look to continue behind multiple stakes winner BIG EVS, favored in the British futures markets. NO NAY METS has won stakes this year at Gulfstream, Monmouth and Colonial Downs, but must answer the international question in the JTS due to a disappointing ninth in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot when last matched with the Europeans. George Weaver stablemate AMIDST WAVES exits a nose defeat to COMMITTEE OF ONE at Keeneland.
NOTES:
Trainer Wesley Ward has won the Juvenile Turf Sprint 3 of its 5 years and has saddled the post-time favorite in 4 straight editions (winning 2 of 4 as favorite).
Prior starts to winning the JTS: Bulletin (1), Four Wheel Drive (2), Golden Pal (3), Twilight Gleaming (4), Mischief Magic (5) increasing in each renewal of this race.
Europeans have accounted for 7 of the 20 superfecta placings in the JTS, including lastyear’s 1-2-4 finishers.
In the only JTS held at Santa Anita to date (2019), 3-2 favorite Four Wheel Drive ran his record to 3-for-3 with a wire-to-wire score and American sweep of the superfecta.
SCENE SETTER: TAMARA, daughter of the champion mare and 2022 Hall of Fame inductee Beholder, will be one of the most sought-after names on Future Stars Friday. The stylish Del Mar Debutante winner exits a 6-3/4 length romp and is perfect in 2 starts. She’ll stretch out in distance for the first time while meeting ascending Alcibiades winner CANDIED, who answered the stretch-out question at Keeneland. CHATALAS chased TAMARA to no avail at Del Mar, but then solidified her form with a wire-to-wire local win in Santa Anita’s Chandelier at the JF distance.
NOTES:
Of the 5 biggest upsets in Juvenile Fillies history, 3 of them have come at Santa Anita: $125.40 (Take Charge Brandi, 2014), $69.20 (Champagne Room, 2016) and $66.60 (Ria Antonia, 2013)
The Frizette and Alcibiades have produced 6 straight JF winners, but Santa Anita’s Chandelier has the most all-time wins (4) in the 10 JF renewals hosted at Santa Anita.
The last Juvenile Fillies winner not to prep in a stakes race was Beholder in 2012, who exited a Santa Anita allowance.
SCENE SETTER: Group 1 winner PORTA FORTUNA headlines a quintet of European invaders that includes Group 2 / Group 3 heroines CARLA’S WAY, CONTENT, LES PAVOTS and recently transplanted French filly LAULNE to local trainer Phil D’Amato. Chad Brown has been historically significant in this division and has the winner of America’s most historically significant JFT prep, the Miss Grillo Stakes, in HARD TO JUSTIFY, daughter of the 2018 Triple Crown champ Justify.
NOTES:
10 straight Juvenile Fillies Turf winners exited a first or second-place finish.
North American-based horses have won this race 12 of 15 editions overall, including 5 of 7 held at Santa Anita.
Europeans are 1-8 as JFT favorites, a losing streak snapped last year by Meditate.
Trainer Chad Brown has won this race a record 5 times, including 3 at Santa Anita.
No California-based filly has finished in the JFT exacta. The best finish was Colonel Joan’s third-place run in 2013.
SCENE SETTER: LOCKED will try to follow the path of stablemate Forte in adding the Juvenile on the heels of a Breeders’ Futurity win at Keeneland. The Todd Pletcher trainee heads west and runs head-long into the Bob Baffert-trained pair of Del Mar Futurity winner PRINCE OF MONACO and local American Pharoah winner MUTH. The big barn headline acts continue with Brad Cox sending the well-traveled Kentucky and New York winner TIMBERLAKE. It’s a clash of the sport’s most successful dirt trainers.
NOTES:
The average Juvenile winner in Santa Anita’s 10 editions has paid $30.50, far greater than the race’s $18.31 average across its 40-year history.
Bob Baffert has had the Juvenile favorite each of the past 2 years and 3 of thelast 5, winning twice and finishing second a year ago.
Inaugural 1984 winner Chief’s Crown is the only odds-on (less than even-money) winner of the Juvenile, and note odds-on favorites have lost 4 of the last 6 years.
SCENE SETTER: AGATE ROAD won NYRA’s Pilgrim Stakes, giving Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz Jr. their third straight win in that key prep. He leads the Americans in what has been a lone standoff prep against the Europeans in the last decade. Aidan O’Brien has a trio of entries here, namely MOUNTAIN BEAR, UNQUESTIONABLE and Royal Ascot winner RIVER TIBER, the latter luring Ryan Moore's services. New York-based CARSON’S RUN made a name for himself in Canada and has been near-perfect.
NOTES:
European-based horses account for 11 of the 16 Juvenile Turf winners all-time.
Five straight JT winners exited victories and 9 straight exited top-2 prep finishes.
Seven JT editions have been held at Santa Anita with 5 European winners and 2 preppers from Belmont’s Pilgrim.
SCENE SETTER: CODY’S WISH set off an emotional celebration in the wake up his 2022 Dirt Mile victory and will be making his final career start in his title defense. Connections tinkered with Classic aspirations this year, but were relegated back to the DM after a third-place try in the Whitney, his only loss in his last 8 starts. The field arguably may be tougher this year with Dubai World Cup runner-up ALGIERS and others in the hunt.
NOTES:
4 straight DM winners exited prep victories and 9 straight ran 1st or 2nd in their final prep.
3 straight DM winners, and 4 of the last 5, have been 5-2 or less odds.
15 of 16 DM editions all-time have had a 3-year-old in the superfecta finish – including exacta placings the past 4 years.
After 4 straight wire-to-wire winners in this race, Cody’s Wish rallied last-to-first to score a year ago. He joined Dakota Phone (2010) as the only DM winners to come from last in the pack.
SCENE SETTER: America’s top turf mares could be headed to the Turf and/or Mile divisions, giving further lean to the foreigners who have dominated the F&M Turf for the past decade. Europeans like WARM HEART and INSPIRAL should provide a formidable invasion. The ex-patriated FEV ROVER, winner of the Beverly D. and E.P. Taylor this year for Mark Casse, may hold the best domestic hopes. Chad Brown is the only American trainer to succeed in this division since 2010, winning in ’14, ’15 and ‘18.
NOTES:
Favorites have lost 9 straight in the FMT, the longest current streak of any BC division. The FMT chalk is only 1 for the last 16.
3-year-olds have 8 wins in the FMT, all by Europeans, including a recent run in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
California preppers are 0-52 in the FMT all-time.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien snapped an 0-16 FMT streak last year when Tuesday rallied for a one-length victory.
SCENE SETTER: Defending champion GOODNIGHT OLIVE takes on a regional clash of hopefuls looking to thwart her in her title rematch. The path to the repeat won’t include the injured Echo Zulu, who had ‘OLIVE’s number at Saratoga. But it will be crowded with the likes of Kentucky’s YUUGIRI in her best career form, as well as Santa Anita’s Chillingsworth Stakes alumnae like KIRSTENBOSCH, CLEARLY UNHINGED and beaten favorite EDA, who had won seven straight prior races. SOCIETY takes the baton from her sidelined Steve Asmussen stablemate Echo Zulu and has flashed massive performances on her best.
NOTES:
Groupie Doll (2012-’13) has been the only back-to-back winner of the FMS. Defending champions are 1-for-7 overall in this race, including losses by Ce Ce and Gamine the past 2 years.
The F&M Sprint has never been won wire-to-wire. Its pacemakers have a paltry 16: 0-2-2 record all-time (Slammed, last of 12 a year ago).
In 7 F&M Sprint editions at Santa Anita, the winner was 3-1 odds or less 6 times.
Californians have won just 2 of the 7 F&M Sprint editions held at Santa Anita (2008, 2016).
SCENE SETTER: America’s top miler UP TO THE MARK is attempting the Turf’s trip, while PADDINGTON is off to retirement since the pre-entries announcement. The Mile now is headlined by a third North American visit from MASTER OF THE SEAS, winner of the Woodbine Mile and runner-up to ‘MARK in a fantastic Keeneland Turf Mile. UK raider MAWJ packs elite potential on the front end, while SONGLINE may be one of Japan’s top hopes on Saturday.
NOTES:
Europeans have won 4 of the last 5 editions, but the North Americans still own a 22-17 edge in the all-time series.
The team of Godolphin-Charlie Appleby-William Buick has won the past 2 Mile editions (Space Blues, Modern Games), the only group to score back-to-back in this race with different horses in its history.
Five straight Mile winners have been bred in Ireland or England, the former providing the most recent trio.
10 fillies/mares have won the Mile, most of any open Breeders’ Cup division, most recently Uni in 2019.
SCENE SETTER: Local queen ADARE MANOR aims for a sixth straight win while facing the biggest test of her career. $3 million earner CLAIRIERE missed by a head in last year’s wild Distaff finish, while IDIOMATIC has blossomed from relative unknown in May to a summer-fall sweep of the Delaware Handicap, Personal Ensign and Spinster.
NOTES:
With a $19.60 average winning mutuel all-time, the Distaff is the lowest among all Breeders’ Cup Saturday events.
3-Year-Olds have won the Distaff 11 times, most recently Monomoy Girl in 2018.
The Distaff has produced 4 of the 7 largest BC race blowouts all-time, led by top-ranked Inside Information’s 13-1/2 length score in 1995.
SCENE SETTER: One of the strongest European contingents in the 40-year history of the Turf gets set to tackle rising American star UP TO THE MARK, who also is pre-entered in the Mile division. AUGUSTE RODIN, hero of the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby, recent British Champions victor KING OF STEEL and Juddmonte International winner MOSTAHDAF carry impeccable credentials. Two-time Japan Cup-placed SHAHRYAR has bagged more than $8 million trotting the globe.
NOTES:
Europeans have won 19 of the last 24 Turf editions, including 7 of the last 8. They’ve mustered 5 of the 10 held at Santa Anita.
Irish-breds took 5 of the top 6 placings in last year’s Turf. They account for 17 BC Turf winners all-time.
5 fillies/mares have won the Turf: Tarnawa (2020 at Keeneland), Enable (2018), Found (2015 at Keeneland), Miss Alleged (1991) and Pebbles (1985).
The Arc de Triomphe has been the final prep of 10 Turf winners, easily most of any race. Belmont’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic is next with 6, but not since 2012.
SCENE SETTER: Of North America’s 17 Grade 1 races in the Classic division this year at 1-1/8 miles or longer, 16 different horses have won. Belmont Stakes and Travers winner ARCANGELO is the only dual victor – but he gave way to injury and was retired Tuesday. He adds to sophomore Classic defections MAGE and GEAUX ROCKET RIDE. This race’s strength now appears on the heels of Dubai World Cup winner USHBA TESORO, who bids to become the first Japanese-based Classic winner, and locally based ARABIAN KNIGHT, training strongly since a Pacific Classic score at Del Mar.
NOTES:
Flightline’s $2.88 mutuel last year was a record-low for the Classic (Cigar in 1995, American Pharoah in 2015 both paid $3.40). It was just the fifth sub-$3 win payoff in Breeders’ Cup history.
Only 2 of 10 Classic renewals at Santa Anita have been won by horses under 4-1 odds with 5 paying $20-plus mutuels.
13 times a 3-year-old has won the Classic, most recently Authentic in 2020. Arrogate did so in 2016 at Santa Anita, completing a three-year sophomore sweep that included Bayern and American Pharoah.
SCENE SETTER: Held at 5 furlongs on turf and not the 6-1/2 furlongs of the downhill course as in earlier Santa Anita BC renewals (and also moved post-Classic on the Saturday card), the Turf Sprint features CARAVEL, the defending champion. Upsets among the males in key preps this year at Saratoga and Keeneland put locally based MOTORIOUS in a prominent position over his homecourse. Foreign threats include LIVE IN THE DREAM and Japan's JASPER KRONE.
NOTES:
California-based trainers have won the Turf Sprint in 6 of 7 editions held at Santa Anita, though not all those runners prepped in the state.
Glass Slippers (2020) is the only European winner of the Turf Sprint, though Euros finished 2-3-4 a year ago at Keeneland.
Mizdirection (2012-’13) and Stormy Liberal (2017-’18) are the only back-to-back TS winners. Defending champs are 2-for-10 the next year in this event.
Last year’s $87.78 winner Caravel was the longest shot ever to win the TS and the fifth-longest price ever to win a Breeders’ Cup grass race.
SCENE SETTER: The Sprint moves to the final BC Saturday race on the schedule. ELITE POWER had his 8-race winning streak, which included last year’s BC Sprint, halted in Saratoga’s Forego last out. Was the defeat a one-off, or does it foreshadow danger in his attempt to become the third horse (joining Midnight Lute and Roy H) to repeat in this BC division? California will be well represented with DR. SCHIVEL, who missed by a nose in this race in 2021, and THE CHOSEN VRON, who has won 13 of 17 races overall and 8 straight. Trainer Steve Asmussen shortens the trip for GUNITE.
NOTES:
Californians haven’t won the Sprint the last 4 years, the longest drought for those runners in this division since a 5-year window in 2001-’05.
8 of the last 10 Sprint winners exited prep wins and only 1 finished out of the exacta most recently.
5 of the last 6 Sprint favorites finished out of the exacta, all at 8-5 or less odds.
The Ortiz Brothers have rattled off the last 3 Sprint victories – Irad in 2020 and 2022, Jose in 2021.
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