Horse-by-horse-guide: Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

By Peter Fornatale

We move on to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, a race where historically the North American runners have dominated, but that appears to be changing. Europeans have won it twice in the last five years (Glass Slippers in 2020 and Starlust last year). The home team definitely holds the advantage but there are some good-looking Euros in the betting as well. Let’s look at the whole field from the rail out.

#1 MOTORIOUS

Antonio Fresu | Phillip D’Amato

Consistent and likeable seven-year-old who was runner up in the Turf Sprint last year, just missing out by a neck behind Starlust. Has shown he can run three-digit Beyers which he will almost certainly need to do to win the race this year, and has looked as good as ever in two starts in 2025. Landed the Daytona a Grade 3 level on his first start of the year and was then awarded the Green Flash in the stewards’ room having passed the post second. He was squeezed out at the start by the winner Reef Runner – who has won since – although I doubt it was a major negative given his late-running style and the furious pace they went. I like that he’s been trained with this contest in mind and he should once again get a pace meltdown at a track we know he loves – big player.

#2 REEF RUNNER

Tyler Gaffalione | David Fawkes

Was running low 90 Beyers in defeat in allowance races as recently as May but appears to have kicked into gear from nowhere off a break, finishing in front in three starts since August. He was demoted to second behind Motorious on his penultimate start but proved that run was no fluke with a fine win in the Eddie D. He recorded his first triple digit Beyer there and we know he is very effective under the conditions he will face in the Turf Sprint. A bit to find with Motorious on the Green Flash running but if things have clicked who knows how far he can go?

#3 ARIZONA BLAZE

David Egan | Adrian Murray

Talented colt who showed his liking for this trip and track in the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year, finishing a fine second to his compatriot Magnum Force. Has generally been running well all season with his only dud effort coming at York in the Nunthorpe, having previously been second in the Commonwealth Cup before beating Mgheera despite racing into a headwind. He gained a deserved Group 1 success last time out in the Flying Five, finishing powerfully despite having no cover into the breeze, taking his form to new heights in the process. His proven ability for conditions is a big plus and he remains relatively unexposed over the minimum distance. Should go well.

#4 KHAADEM

Frankie Dettori | Charlie Hills

Likeable and tough sort who had excuses for his two runs in the UK this year and was better than he was able to show in the Kentucky Turf Sprint two back. Put that right with a win in the Woodford at Keeneland last time, signalling that he is back in peak form. Should get the strong pace he craves here but high 90 Beyers suggest he will be one to use underneath in exotics as opposed to for win purposes.

#5 BRING THEBAND HOME

Javier Castellano | Mark Casse

If you’re betting just off the numbers then it’s likely you’re going to be using this guy in some capacity as his 109 Beyer two back is easily the best in this field. He clocked a 105 next time out, which proved that was no fluke, so what’s not to like about his chances? Well, both of those wins were recorded at Saratoga, where he’s now a perfect 4 out of 4. However, his record elsewhere is just 2 from 12 and he was very disappointing at shortsodds in the Neartic last time out, albeit when the recipient of some pace pressure. If he’s as good at Del Mar as he is at the Spa then there’s every chance he can bounce back and he’s going to look a big price if he does, but I think he has enough to prove now.

#6 GOVERNOR SAM

Flavien Prat | George Weaver

Consistent, likable sort who has only finished outside of the first four once in a 12-start career. Looked very good when winning the Quick Call by 3 lengths but hasn’t really gone on from that victory. Beaten in all three starts since despite running solid races and couldn’t hold off Khaadem last time out, who wouldn’t be the best of the Euros by some way. He’s never run a triple-digit Beyer so he’ll need a career best in a very difficult spot.

#7 SHE'S QUALITY

Colin Keane | Jack Davison

Well-named filly who has been extremely unlucky not to win a race this season. Spent the early part of the year making the running into headwinds with connections opting to change tactics in the King George Stakes at Goodwood on a day when speed held up. They have messed around with tactics since, holding her up again when fourth behind Arizona Blaze and Bucanero Fuerte in the Flying Five, when given far too much to do. She was up with the pace in the l’Abbaye last time out when running a fine third behind Asfoora and looks more than capable of making an impact at this level when things fall right for her, which may well be held up off a furious pace. 

#8 AG BULLET.

John Velazquez | Richard Baltas

Last year’s Turf Sprint third comes into this year’s race off the back of a light but excellent campaign. She was somewhat disappointing on her seasonal debut but with a new jockey on finally got a much-deserved Grade 1 success in the Jaipur two back, hitting a 101 Beyer in the process. She has since followed up in the Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes where she looked the winner at every stage of the race. The Beyer was a little lower there, but the form has worked out well with the runner up going on the win a Grade 1. I felt 5 furlongs around here was sharp enough for this mare last year but I think she’s a bit quicker and better now and she was only beaten a length in any case. Tactically versatile and clearly a key contender.

#9 BEAR RIVER

James Graham | Keith Desormeaux

Generally a tough and consistent allowance horse for most of his career, this son of Flameaway appears to have taken off on his last two starts. He broke through at Stakes level in the KY Downs Preview Turf Sprint at Ellis Park, winning that listed event with a career-best Beyer of 95. Stepped up to graded level next time out, he appeared to improve yet again, this time landing the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Sprint with something in hand. It could be argued the runner up was a bit unlucky there, but I felt Bear River was just doing enough and went again when challenged. This was a really nice performance visually and it was backed up by the 103 Beyer, a first three-digit number for this ridgling and another career-best. I think the bare five furlongs around here is going to pose a different type of challenge for him, but he’s on an upward curve now so it’s hard to rule out a big run.

#10 SHISOSPICY

Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jose D’Angelo

Unbeaten in the US on turf but has been racing exclusively against fillies. Beaten a long way in the Commonwealth Cup but wasn’t a huge price for that and it likely had more to do with the track and/or travelling than a lack of ability. Has bounced back with an emphatic win in the Music City since with a career-best Beyer, but that was just a 92 which clearly gives her a fair chunk to find stepping back into Group 1 company against males. 

#11 BUCANERO FUERTE

Umberto Rispoli | Adrian Murray

Stablemate and ownermate of Arizona Blaze and he has also had a fine season. Made all on his seasonal bow in the Sole Power Sprint Stakes before following up with the benefit of a tailwind in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes. Behind Arizona Blaze last time out in the Flying Five but was a bit further forward and racing into the wind there, and still ran well to finish third with pretty much a career best. Had a light season and has plenty of tactical pace, so plenty to like.

#12 INVINCIBLE PAPA

Daisuke Sasaki | Daishi Ito

Japanese raider who has generally been running in races below Graded level. Did break through in that grade last time out, however, making all to defeat a big field in the CBC Prize. The runner up in that race was only beaten a head in a Grade 1 next time out and I liked the way he moved smoothly through the race, showing plenty of pace. The drop back to five furlongs shouldn’t be an issue, but ultimately it’s difficult to line him up with the European and American runners. Timeform have him rated some 11lbs below Arizona Blaze, suggesting he has work to do.

#13 PURO MAGIC 

Oisin Murphy | Shogo Yasuda 

First on the also-eligible list. Caught the eye in Dubai earlier in the year running to be beaten just a couple of lengths by Believing and then won a Grade 3 off a break in his native Japan. Not as good next time out in a Grade 1 but this keen sort should enjoy having a decent pace to run at and could run better than his odds. 

#14 YELLOW CARD 

Kazushi Kimura | Mike McCarthy 

Second on the AE list. Deep closing second in the Grade 1 Franklin-Simpson represented a career high watermark in form terms, but he produced his best Beyer in the Eddie D last time out when ridden closer to the pace. Never won a Stakes race but he's lightly-raced enough to improve and numbers don't leave him a lot to find. 

#15 NO NAY HUDSON 

Pablo Morales | Wesley Ward 

Seemed to come forward ridden further back when closing off good fractions to win the Neartic but consistently only runs to a low 90s number and that's not enough here.