By: Andrew Rdesinski
Breeders Cup Turf Sprint
Race #4: The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Turf – 5 ½ Furlongs) 3 YO & Up
Purse: $1 Million
The Breeders Cup Turf Sprint kicks off the string of Breeders Cup races on Saturday. There are some very strong entrants in this field. I want to start with the Euro shipper #6 Highfield Princess. This mare is facing both boys and girls in the BC Turf Sprint but I don’t think that really matters when it comes to this quality of horses. She has been getting better in each start and her current turn of foot has been remarkable. I think out of the Euros, she is in the top tier at this distance. I actually like another filly in this field and that is #4 Campanelle who is an Irish bred who started her career in America for Wesley Ward. Frankie Dettori is going to ride this one instead of Irad who has ridden her as of late. Dettori rode her 5 times in 3 different countries during her 2 and 3 year old campaigns. He has won on her back and I think that is key. She also prefers Keeneland I think. Now I am going to also toss into the mix a longshot I like. That longshot is #12 Bran. Bran I think is a horse that will be overlooked due to him wanting a little longer and only being a G2 winner at best. However, I think he is the most fit right now out of the American horses. Vincent Cheminaud is one of my favorite turf riders in the states currently so him riding this one is a massive plus for me. He has the ability to be sent to the front or sit off, which is a good thing in a race like this. A lot of the euros haven’t raced on anything besides straight aways so some might not know how to handle the turns like Bran has proven to be able to do. There is one horse I am going to be fading here and that is #8 Golden Pal. Golden Pal is still a top horse in this division but he is slowly regressing in my opinion. He isn’t the horse that he was a year ago at this time. He almost lost the Troy and got lucky. Then in the Woodford when he made the lead he seemed to get tired late but was still much the best. His time was slower in the Woodford too by almost half a second. I think he can be beat and if he is going to be beat it will be in this race against this quality of field. I think if you wanted to spread and toss Golden Pal this would be the time to do it. Golden Pal will go off the favorite and possibly a heavy one. If that is the case the value is there. I will be using 4,6,12 as my top 3.
Now there are other horses in this field that have a shot even if to me it is an outside shot at winning. There are two horses that are in this field that have finished ahead of Campanelle in the past year. Those two are #9 Naval Crown and #1 Creative Force. Naval Crown is a big longshot here but has shown promise, would need to bring his A game which we have not seen since June. #1 Creative Cause would be my 4th choice in this field since I am completely fading Golden Pal. He lost to a talented Kinross last time out and that race came after a couple month layoff. This horse has proven time and time again that he is better the 2nd time out off a layoff. That would count for today which makes me like him even more. He can close from far out or sit closer to the lead. William Buick ships to ride and Buick has done well stateside over the past few years. The 2nd tier of American horses in my opinion are highlighted by #7 Arrest Me Red who I think prefers to go further. You also have the horse that took down Arrest Me Red in the Jaipur which is #11 Casa Creed. He has 2 G1 wins this year stateside but they were at 6F and 1M. This distance is too short for me to like Casa Creed. #10 Caravel and #14 Artemus Citylimits are horses that if they sit the right trip could blow the tote board up. I don’t see it happening but if you like one of these horses, you are going to get 30/1 or higher.
Top Pick: #6 Highfield Princess
- I think Highfield Princess still has yet to show her true ability. That being said she is looking to keep her undefeated streak alive. She has an amazing turn of foot and she will be forwardly placed. She is game and she is a fighter and I like her chances here today.
