Sprint Predictions, Odds, Preview


Breeders' Cup Betting Guide

Welcome to Stabile’s Breeders’ Cup Preview, an in depth look into each and every Breeders’ Cup race to be held Friday, November 6 and Saturday November 7 at Keeneland in Lexington Kentucky.

VegasInsider.com handicapper Anthony “the Big A” Stabile will take a look at the contenders in each event, talk about how the race should set-up and provide some strategies on how to get the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to betting on the race.

Sprint Morning-Line Odds

1 Echo Town 20/1
2 C Z Rocket 7/2
3 Collusion Illusion 20/1
4 Bon Raison 30/1
5 Manny Wah 30/1
6 Frank's Rockette 10/1
7 Whitmore 15/1
8 Firenze Fire 8/1
9 Empire of Gold 30/1
10 Yaupon 7/2
11 Diamond Oops 8/1
12 Hog Creek Hustle 30/1
13 Jasper Prince 30/1
14 Vekoma 3/1 Scratched
15 (AE) Lasting Legacy 30/1

Field Subject to Change

Sprint Betting Resources

  • Distance: 6 furlongs
  • Purse: $2 million
  • Age: 3up
  • Date: Saturday, November 7
  • Time: 2:36 p.m. ET

The History

Dayjur was home free in 1990 before famously jumping a shadow at Belmont Park and allowing Safely Kept to become one of three fillies to win this.

Thirty Slews won the 1992 running, introducing the world to a then unknown trainer by the name of Bob Baffert.

Kona Gold ran in the Sprint five times, grabbing the brass ring just once in 2000. Midnight Lute won back to back races in 2007 and 2008, while 2011 Juvenile Sprint winner Secret Circle won the 2013 renewal with just one prep in over 18 months.

In 2016, Drefong gave Baffert five wins in the event. Roy H went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.

Sprint Fast Facts

  • Favorites: 8 for 36 (22%)
  • Shortest: $4.60 (Ellio, 1984)
  • Highest: $54.60 (Sheikh Albadou, 1991)
  • The champ is here?:: No, as Mitole is standing stud.

How to Handicap the Breeders' Cup

The Best

Editori's Note: Vekoma, the betting favorite, was scratched for the BC Sprint on Wednesday due to a fever.

Though it’s been tough for trainer George Weaver to keep him on the track, 3-1 morning line favorite 14-Vekoma is as dangerous a racehorse there is when he is able to make it to the starting gate.

He’s won six of his eight starts, five against stakes company, including the G2 Blue Grass going nine furlongs as a three-year-old at Keeneland. This year, he’s been spectacular in all three starts, returning from a lengthy layoff to win a minor stakes at Gulfstream before rattling off a couple of G1 wins at Belmont in the seven furlong Carter and historic Met Mile when last seen on Independence Day. It is worth noting that this will be his first start at six furlongs since breaking his maiden on debut over two years ago.

Since being claimed by trainer Peter Miller for $40K at Oaklawn Park in April, 2-C Z Rocket has won all five of his starts, including the G2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship most recently to punch his ticket to this.

A knockaround high-level claimer and allowance type that grabbed checks when he dabbled in stakes before the claim, he’s been a picture of consistency since rising through the ranks to become a multiple G2 winner. He’s won both of his starts at Keeneland, including an allowance/optional claimer prior to his two stakes scores.

After winning this with the sensational Mitole last out, trainer Steve Asmussen holds another strong hand this year, despite the retirement of division leader Volatile, when he sends out a pair of three-year-olds in the undefeated 10-Yaupon and 1-Echo Town.

With all of his starts coming at this distance, Yaupon broke his maiden at Churchill from just off the pace then took an entry-level allowance contest on the lead from his rail draw against older horses.

In his last two starts against fellow sophomores, he won the G2 Amsterdam in the mud at the Spa before romping by four lengths in the G3 Chick Lang at Pimlico.

Echo Town took down the G1 H Allen Jerkens at Saratoga against fellow sophomores going seven furlongs this past summer and has hit the board in all three starts at this trip, including three victories. He’s won while setting the pace and from well off of it.

Jack-of-most-trades 11-Diamond Oops took down the G2 Phoenix for his third win in five starts locally. He’s won going short on both turf and dirt, just missed in the G1 Shadwell Turf Mile last season and finished fourth in the G1 Pegasus World Cup going nine furlongs earlier this season at Gulfstream.

Trained by Patrick Biancone, who had his pick of five Breeders’ Cup races with this guy, Diamond Oops’ versatility enables him to lay up on the pace or come from well off of it.

The Rest

The battle-tested 7-Whitmore will be making his fourth consecutive start in the Sprint at the age of seven. He was off the board in 2017, second in 2018 and third in last year’s renewal. This season, he won the Hot Springs for the fourth year in a row and G3 Count Fleet for the third time in four years (he finished second to Mitole last year) at Oaklawn Park. He counts the 2017 Phoenix over this course among his 12 wins from 23 starts at this distance in which he’s only been out of the trifecta twice.

8-Firenze Fire makes his fourth consecutive appearance in the Breeders’ Cup having tried the Juvenile, Dirt Mile and Sprint in the past three years. Since being transferred to his new barn after the Jason Servis incident in March, he’s won two of his five starts, including the G2 True North and G2 Vosburgh from just off the early pace most recently.

Three-year-old filly 6-Frank’s Rockette takes on the boys for the first time She’s finished in the exacta in all 10 starts, winning six times. She comes into this on a four-race win streak but will be taking a huge jump in class. Most recently, she easily defeated older rivals in her first start outside of age-restricted competition when she won the G2 Gallant Bloom at Belmont.

3-Collusion Illusion tasted defeat for the first time in a sprint last out when third in the SA Sprint Championship. He won his prior five tries at six or six-and-a-half furlongs, including the G2 Best Pal last year and G3 Laz barrera earlier this year before holding on by a nose to win the G1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar.

5-Manny Wah is seeking his first stakes win and first victory in over a year after missing by a nose in an allowance/optional claimer over the course just three weeks prior to this. Earlier this year he finished third in the Count Fleet then again to Volatile in the Aristides at Churchill in back-to-back starts.

9-Empire of Gold almost busted up the tote at 51-1 in the Phoenix when beaten less than a length in the final yards. He’s finished second in all three starts at this distance and would likely need to improve even further to get a piece in here while vying for the lead.

12-Hog Creek Hustle is winless in 11 starts since upsetting the G1 Woody Stephens going seven furlongs on Belmont Stakes Day 2019. He’s been overmatched against stakes competition as of late and is winless in five starts at this trip.

13-Jasper Prince ships in from Japan while taking a big step up in class. This son of Violence has won five of his 19 starts, including two at this distance.

Former claimer 4-Bon Raison will be making his first start in a G1 contest in career start 44. Last out he defeated Manny Wah when closing from last in just his second start since being claimed for $80K this past July in Saratoga.

15-Lasting Legacy was claimed out of his most recent effort, a fourth-place finish going seven furlongs locally and is a former stakes winner at the distance having won the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park in September 2019. He is the lone also eligible in the field.

Sprint Predictions

If I’m Right...

Likely favorite Vekoma seems vulnerable. I’m not sure he is a true, six-furlong type and he is facing a field full of them.

Live Longshot...

8-Firenze Fire should be able to work out a great trip behind the first group of speed horses at his morning line of 8-1 or so.

Listen to "The Big A"

Anthony “the Big A” Stabile can be heard regularly on the Horse Racing Radio Network from 3-6:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday and 3-7:00 p.m. ET Thursday and Friday. Tune in on Sirius 219, XM 201 or streaming live at horseracingradio.net. He also is a contributor on NYRA-TV as the co-host of Talking Horses and a backup racetrack announcer. Follow him on Twitter @TheBigAStabile