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Breeders' Cup TwinSpires Sprint
The last of the sprint races in the Breeders’ Cup is the Breeders' Cup Sprint, and it's generally the most competitive of all of the sprints in the world championships. It takes a special type of horse to run just six furlongs in style, especially when those colts are getting up there in age as some of these who will be running in this race.
The Breeders' Cup Sprint is the fifth of the nine races to be held on the second day of the Breeders' Cup on Saturday, November 2 at Santa Anita Park, and all of the action can be seen live on NBC Sports Network. Post-time is scheduled for 5:36 p.m. ET.
2019 TwinSpires Sprint at a Glance
Race Distance: 6 furlongs
Record: 1:07.08 (Midnight Lute, 2008)
Purse: $1.5 million
Qualification: 3-year olds and up (colts, fillies and mares)
2019 Breeders' Cup TwinSpires Sprint Field
The 2019 Breeders’ Cup Sprint should have four horses go off at odds between 2-1 and 6-1. Mitole for trainer Steve Asmussen could end up as the favorite. The horse has 9 wins in 13 starts and he is coming off a win in the Forego.
Imperial Hint for trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. has 14 wins in 23 starts. He has been outstanding at six furlongs with 10 wins in 15 starts including a win in the Vosburgh at Belmont Park in September. He finished third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint as the betting favorite.
Shancelot for trainer Jorge Navarro has three wins in five starts. He lost a duel with Omaha Beach in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship but there is no shame in losing to Omaha Beach.
Catalina Cruiser for trainer John Sadler has 7 wins in 8 starts. The horse could have raced in the Dirt Mile but perhaps facing Omaha Beach didn’t appeal to Sadler and he chose the Sprint instead.
Darhorse contenders include Engage for trainer Steve Asmussen and Firenze Fire for trainer Jason Servis.
Longshots in the race include Hog Creek Hustle, Lexitonian, Promises Fulfilled and Whitmore.
Breeders' Cup TwinSpires Sprint Qualifying
The Breeders' Cup Sprint features five "Win and You're In" races, with two on the West Coast at Del Mar and Santa Anita.
Breeders' Cup TwinSpires Sprint "Win and You're In" Races
| RACE |
LOCATION |
WHEN RUN |
| Bing Crosby Stakes |
Del Mar Racetrack |
July |
| John A. Nerud Stakes |
Belmont Park |
July |
| Vosburgh Stakes |
Belmont Park |
October |
| Phoenix Stakes |
Keeneland Racecourse |
October |
| Santa Anita Sprint Championship |
Santa Anita Park |
October |
Though it's not a given, the winner of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship is usually the favorite to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Handicappers love to look at recent races when picking these Breeders' Cup races, and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship is both the biggest of the prep races and the last one that gets run before the Breeders' Cup.
There aren't any international races as a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge for this race, but there are almost always a couple sprinters who come out of the woodwork to run in the Breeders' Cup Sprint anyway.
List of Breeders' Cup TwinSpires Sprint Winners
| YEAR |
WINNER |
JOCKEY |
TRAINER |
AGE |
TIME |
| 2018 |
Roy H |
Paco Lopez |
Peter Miller |
6 |
1:08.24 |
| 2017 |
Roy H |
Kent Desormeaux |
Peter Miller |
5 |
1:08.61 |
| 2016 |
Drefong |
Martin Garcia |
Bob Baffert |
3 |
1:08.79 |
| 2015 |
Runhappy |
Edgar Prado |
Maria Borell |
3 |
1:08.58 |
| 2014 |
Work All Week |
Florent Geroux |
Roger Brueggemann |
5 |
1:08.28 |
| 2013 |
Secret Circle |
Martin Garcia |
Bob Baffert |
4 |
1:08.73 |
| 2012 |
Trinniberg |
Willie Martinez |
Shivanada Parbhoo |
3 |
1:07.98 |
| 2011 |
Amazombie |
Mike Smith |
Bill Spawr |
5 |
1:09.17 |
| 2010 |
Big Drama |
Eibar Coa |
David Fawkes |
4 |
1:09.05 |
| 2009 |
Dancing in Silks |
Joel Rosario |
Carla Gaines |
4 |
1:08.14 |
| 2008 |
Midnight Lute |
Garrett Gomez |
Bob Baffert |
5 |
1:07.08 |
| 2007 |
Midnight Lute |
Garrett Gomez |
Bob Baffert |
4 |
1:09.18 |
| 2006 |
Thor's Echo |
Corey Nakatani |
Doug O'Neill |
4 |
1:08.80 |
| 2005 |
Silver Train |
Edgar Prado |
Richard Dutrow |
3 |
1:08.86 |
| 2004 |
Speightstown |
John Velazquez |
Todd Pletcher |
6 |
1:08.11 |
| 2003 |
Cajun Beat |
Cornelio Velasquez |
Stephen Margolis |
3 |
1:07.95 |
| 2002 |
Orientate |
Jerry Bailey |
D. Wayne Lukas |
4 |
1:08.89 |
| 2001 |
Squirtle Squirt |
Jerry Bailey |
Robert Frankel |
3 |
1:08.41 |
| 2000 |
Kona Gold |
Alex Solis |
Bruce Headley |
6 |
1:07.60 |
What makes the Breeders' Cup Sprint so great is the fact that horses of all ages have a legitimate shot to win. By the time ponies reach six or seven years old, they tend to not have the legs under them any longer to go distances over a mile. That's why we've seen a couple seven-year olds actually win this race in the past, though you have to go back to 1997 with Elmhurst to find the last to do so.
As amazing as it sounds though, a race which many have run in three times or even more in their careers has featured just two repeat winners, Roy H in 2017 and 2018 and Midnight Lute in 2007 and 2008.
Jockeys and trainers though, are a far different story. Corey Nakatani has won the Breeders' Cup Sprint four times in his career, while Bob Baffert is the most accomplished trainer in the history of this race with five victories.
Don't let that fool you, though. Often times, unknown trainers who specialize in training sprinters have their way in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Outside of the two races that Baffert has won since 2008, the trainers who have won the Breeders' Cup Sprint have been relative no-names.
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