Breeders' Cup Sprint

Introduction

When it comes to sheer speed and adrenaline, few races can rival the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. As one of the original seven races of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships inaugurated in 1984, the Sprint has been an electrifying display of speed and raw power for forty years and counting. This Grade 1 event consistently brings together the fastest horses over a dirt surface but pure speed must be allied to gritty resolution, making the Breeders’ Cup Sprint the quintessential race for dirt dashers to prove their mettle.

Breeders’ Cup Sprint History

The Breeders’ Cup Sprint was conceptualized as part of the Breeders’ Cup initiative to crown year-end champions in various racing categories. The Sprint quickly became the decisive factor in determining the Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter, elevating it to one of the most important sprint races in North America. With a purse of $2 million, the financial stakes are as high as the reputational ones.

The Sprint is open to horses aged three years and older and is contested over a distance of six furlongs on a dirt track, making it a true test of horses’ speed and jockeys’ tactical acumen.

2025 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Challenge Series Races

Breeders’ Cup Sprint Trends

• 2007+, the BC Sprint winners came into the race with a combined 115/223 lifetime win record (51.6%)
• 32 of last 33 winners had at least 50% 1-2 strike rate at 6f
• 38/41 won a G1-3 that season
• 1+ 6f wins AND ran sharp 7f last 12 months a solid recent angle (’22 & ’23 winners nailed this)
• 24 of last 32 had 2+ 6f wins that season (’24 winner only ran 2x in season)
• 17 of last 27 winners were 50%+ lifetime winners
• 17 of last 21 winners had 6 or fewer seasonal starts
• 23 of last 31 winners showed a bullet workout
• 30 of last 33 winners notched at least 103 Beyer in same season (’21 winner 102, ’22 winner 101)
• Bob Baffert 5 wins, Bill Mott 2, Peter Miller 2
• 3 back to back winners since 2007/8 (Midnight Lute, Roy H, Elite Power)

To view the following sections:
 – How the Runners Fit the Trends
 – Pace Map
 – Trends Contenders
 – Form Overview
 – Form Contenders

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Breeders’ Cup Sprint Results

Key: PP – post position; RS – run style (lengths behind leader: 4 <½L, 3 ½L- 1½L, 2 1¾L – 3½L, 1 > 3½L); Odds – return for a 1 unit stake; SR – Equibase speed figure

Noteworthy Breeders’ Cup Sprint Winners

Precisionist (1985)

Precisionist, primarily known for his route prowess, was versatile and durable enough to run at four of the first five Breeders’ Cups through the mid-1980’s, but it was in 1985 that he achieved his win, sprinting to a decisive near two length victory under Chris McCarron for trainer Leland Ross Fenstermaker. In 2003, Precisionist was inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame.

Midnight Lute (2007, 2008)

Trained by Bob Baffert, Midnight Lute became the first of only two horses to win consecutive editions of the Sprint, stamping his authority over the sprinting division.

Amazombie (2011)

Amazombie’s 2011 victory was a testament to tenacity, as he waited behind a searing early tempo before fighting off multiple challenges to win under Mike Smith in a thrilling finish from the trailblazing Force Freeze.

Mitole (2019)

Mitole’s victory in 2019 capped off a sensational season and helped secure his Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter. In the race, he sat uncharacteristically off the early dash before making his move entering the straight and mastering the gallant Shancelot deep in the final furlong.