BC – Turf Sprint

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Distance: 5 ½ furlongs (T)
Purse: $1 million
Age: 3up
Date: Saturday, November 3
Time: 12:38 p.m. ET

The History

Run down the hill going 6 ½ furlongs in its first two runnings before going to this distance in 2011. Mizdirection became the first female to win the event in 2012 and first to repeat in 2013, when there was a dead-heat for second between Tightend Touchdown and Reneesgotzip.

Favorites: 4 for 10 (40%)
Shortest: $6.60 (Regally Ready, 2011)
Highest: $75.00 (Desert Code, 2008)
U.S based: 10/Foreign based: 0
The champ is here? Stormy Liberal is back.

A yearly ritual…I never use my traditional format for this race. Too much going on in these turf sprints.

Also, you may want to keep in mind that, depending on which past performances you use, they’ll group five furlong and five and a half furlong races together in the DISTANCE column of the PPs. I’ve included their lifetime record at THIS distance next to each name.

Here is the field, in alphabetical order.

Bucchero (5-2-1-0) finished fourth in this event last year when he was beaten just a length. He’s made seven starts since, all in stakes competition including a trip to Royal Ascot this past June where he finished fifth. He notched his only win of the season when he rallied from off the pace to win the G2 Woodford at Keeneland for the second straight year.

Chanteline (6-3-1-0) takes on the boys for the first time in her 26-race career while in the best form of her life. She’s won three of her last four, including the Smart and Fancy at Saratoga and the G3 Franklin County at Keeneland last out.

Conquest Tsunami (0-0-0-0) missed by a head after setting the pace in the G3 Eddie D at Santa Anita when racing down the hill. Earlier this year, he won twice over that course, including the G3 Daytona before a third-place finish in the G1 Al Quoz on the Dubai World Cup undercard and a runner-up performance in the G2 Jaipur at Belmont.

Speaking of the Jaipur, it’s back-to-back winner and world record holder at six furlongs Disco Partner (4-1-0-3) comes in off of a daylight score in the Belmont Turf Sprint. Third in this last year, he may appreciate just a bit more ground.

Havana Grey (0-0-0-0) ships in from Europe off of an eighth-place effort in a G1 on Arc weekend. Two starts back he captured a G1 at the Curragh in Ireland and has hit the board in nine of his 15 career starts.

Hembree (2-1-1-0) has won three of his last four on turf since being claimed by Mike Maker who does a remarkable job with these reclamation projects. Three weeks ago, he rallied from well off the pace to win the G2 Nearctic at Woodbine by a neck.

After missing over 10 months, Lost Treasure (0-0-0-0) has won three of his seven starts, spanning just 55 days, this year for Coolmore. Last out, he was third when blinkers were added in a G3 over a synthetic course.

Rainbow Heir (4-1-0-1) has literally come out of retirement to take part in this event. After taking the Gulfstream Turf Sprint in late January and a failed retirement, he rallied to miss by less than a length in the G3 Turf Monster at Parx.

Richard’s Boy (0-0-0-0) is winless in eleven starts since winning the Turf Sprint at Pimlico in May 2017. Beaten just a head in this last season, he comes into this running off a couple of runner-up finishes in minor stakes at Del Mar and Santa Anita.

Ruby Notion (4-1-0-2) tries the boys after winning her last two, the Caress at Saratoga and Ladies Sprint at Kentucky Downs, appearing to move up considerably over courses that had some give in the ground.

Defending champ Stormy Liberal (0-0-0-0) lost four in a row after this last year, including the G1 Hong Kong Sprint where he finished far back and Al Quoz by a half-length but has rattled off three straight since, including a minor stakes at Del Mar and the Eddie D.

Vision Perfect (0-0-0-0) has made just five, well-spaced-out starts this year that’s included wins in a minor stakes at Gulfstream and the G3 Parx Dash. He was second by just a neck in the Turf Monster last out some two months ago.

Will Call (7-3-2-0) swooped the group to win the G3 Turf Sprint and allowance/optional claimer earlier this season in his only two starts over this course.

World of Trouble (1-1-0-0) takes on older for the first time off of wins in the Quick Call at Saratoga and Allied Forces at Belmont, his only two starts on turf.

The following horses, in order, need defections to get into the race.

Pay Any Price (0-0-0-0) has won four consecutive minor stakes in gate-to-wire fashion at Gulfstream Park.

Extravagant Kid (3-1-1-1) missed by just a length in the Woodford and took a restricted stakes at Saratoga two starts back.

Blind Ambition (2-1-1-0) won the Elusive Quality at Belmont earlier this season, his love victory in eight starts. Last out he was second in the Belmont Turf Sprint.

El Astronaute (4-3-1-0) will remarkably be making his first start in a graded stakes in 4o starts should he draw in.

Insta Erma (0-0-0-0) won the G3 Ladies Turf over a mile at Kentucky Downs two starts back before a failed run in the G1 First Lady at Keeneland.

B Squared (0-0-0-0) has beaten only California-breds in his four victories from 21 starts and will likely run in the Sprint.

If I’m Right...

You will need to spread in this event. This is a real head-scratcher.

Live Longshot

I’d be interested in El Astronaute and that solid record at the distance if he draws in. Richard’s Boy always shows up as well.