(c) Ting Shen/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders CupBreeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Introduction
In a championship series renowned for its variety, the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint stands out as an 'all the fun of the fair' thrilling contest of speed and agility on the lawn. Introduced in 2008, when it was run on the unique Oak Tree at Santa Anita downhill track, the Turf Sprint has become a firm favourite with fans of both the sport and wagering on it with the complexion of races frequently changing dramatically in the final sixteenth of a mile. This Grade 1 event is a popular proving ground for the top speedsters on both sides of the Atlantic.
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint History
The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint was added to the Breeders' Cup lineup to provide a unique challenge for sprinters specialising in turf racing. Before its inception, such horses often had to divert to longer turf races or switch to dirt sprints. The Turf Sprint filled this gap effectively and has since become a key year-end target for fast grass horses. The purse for the race is $1 million, making it one of the richest turf sprints in the world.
The Turf Sprint is open to horses aged three years and older, and the race distance varies depending on the host track but generally hovers between five and five and a half furlongs. Indeed, since the Oak Tree downhill track was excluded from Breeders' Cup consideration, the race has been run exclusively at five and a half or a flat five furlongs. The 2023 Santa Anita renewal will be contested at the flat five distance. Speed from the gate, agility in the turn, and enough stamina to see out the trip are core attributes, with three of the last four winners having made all the running.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Challenge Series Races
| DATE | TRACK | RACE | GRADE | DISTANCE | AGE | SEX | DIVISION | AREA | WINNER |
| 08/06/2024 | Sar | Jaipur Presented by Resolute Racing | I | 5 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | New York | Cogburn | |
| 18/06/2024 | ASC | The King Charles III Stakes | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | Asfoora (AUS) | |
| 23/08/2024 | YOR | Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | Bradsell (GB) | |
| 31/08/2024 | Dmr | Green Flash Handicap | III | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | California | Motorious (GB) | |
| 07/09/2024 | KD | The Ainsworth Turf Sprint | II | 6 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | Kentucky | Cogburn | |
| 15/09/2024 | CUR | Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | Ireland | Bradsell (GB) | |
| 06/10/2024 | Lch | Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | France | Makarova (GB) |
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Trends
- 11/16 distance winners (material when run at 5.5f or 6.5f, less so at 5f - '22 winner 7/11 at 5.5f, paid $42.89; '23 winner 3/6, paid $12)
- Age 3-2; 4-6; 5-4; 6-3; 8-1 (all largely in line with representation)
- 14/16 winners were top 3 or within 3L of the winner last time out
- 13/16 had 99+ Beyer or 115+ RPR; 16/16 96+ Beyer or 115+ RPR
- 14/16 had 4+ starts in year
- 14/16 had a 28+ day layoff
- 16/16 placed in Graded Stakes (12/16 WON Graded Stakes)
- Europeans 1 from 23 so far (Glass Slippers in 2020, 2nd-3rd-4th in 2022; 3rd/4th in 2023)
- Favourite is 5/16
- Peter Miller won the three renewals between 2017 and 2019 (including 2x exacta)
- Wesley Ward only BC Turf Sprint win was in 2021, from 16 runners to date
How The Runners Fit
To be determined
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Pace Map
To be determined
Key Trials
Go to breederscup.com for race videos.
2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Trends Contenders
To be determined
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Form Preview
To be determined
2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Form Contenders
To be determined
Breeders’ Cup Turf 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
| Track | Date | Dist | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | PP | RS | Odds | SR | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Anita | 4/11/2023 | 5f | Nobals | Larry Rivelli | Gerardo Corrales | 6 | 2 | 12.00 | 108 | Result |
| Keeneland | 5/11/2022 | 5.5f | Caravel | Brad H. Cox | Tyler Gaffalione | 10 | 4 | 42.89 | 121 | Result |
| Del Mar | 6/11/2021 | 5f | Golden Pal | Wesley A. Ward | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 3 | 4 | 2.50 | 126 | Result |
| Keeneland | 7/11/2020 | 5.5f | Glass Slippers (GB) | Kevin A. Ryan | Tom Eaves | 6 | 1 | 10.20 | 118 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 2/11/2019 | 5f | Belvoir Bay (GB) | Peter Miller | Javier Castellano | 12 | 4 | 14.80 | 120 | Result |
| Churchill | 3/11/2018 | 5.5f | Stormy Liberal | Peter Miller | Drayden Van Dyke | 9 | 2 | 7.00 | 116 | Result |
| Del Mar | 4/11/2017 | 5f | Stormy Liberal | Peter Miller | Joel Rosario | 4 | 1 | 30.20 | 124 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 5/11/2016 | 6.5f | Obviously (IRE) | Philip D'Amato | Flavien Prat | 2 | 4 | 3.80 | 115 | Result |
| Keeneland | 10/31/2015 | 5.5f | Mongolian Saturday | Enebish Ganbat | Florent Geroux | 14 | 3 | 15.90 | 122 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 1/11/2014 | 6.5f | Bobby's Kitten | Chad C. Brown | Joel Rosario | 6 | 1 | 7.20 | 116 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 2/11/2013 | 6.5f | Mizdirection | Mike Puype | Mike E. Smith | 11 | 1 | 2.70 | 102 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 3/11/2012 | 6.5f | Mizdirection | Mike Puype | Mike E. Smith | 11 | 1 | 6.90 | 109 | Result |
| Churchill | 5/11/2011 | 5f | Regally Ready | Steven M. Asmussen | Corey S. Nakatani | 8 | 3 | 2.30 | 122 | Result |
| Churchill | 6/11/2010 | 5f | Chamberlain Bridge | W. Bret Calhoun | Jamie Theriot | 1 | 1 | 6.90 | 116 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 7/11/2009 | 6.5f | California Flag | Brian J. Koriner | Joseph Talamo | 3 | 4 | 3.40 | 116 | Result |
| Santa Anita | 10/25/2008 | 6.5f | Desert Code | David E. Hofmans | Richard Migliore | 9 | 1 | 36.50 | 116 | Result |
Noteworthy Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Winners
Desert Code (2008)
In the inaugural edition, Desert Code pulled off a stunning upset at 36.5/1, which remained the longest priced winner until Caravel's all the way verdict in 2022 at odds of 42.89/1.
Stormy Liberal (2017, 2018)
Sprint king Peter Miller's hard-knocking gelding became the first horse to win back-to-back editions of the Turf Sprint. In so doing, he provided his trainer with a remarkable sprint double-double as Roy H won the Breeders' Cup Sprint in the same two years. Miller went on to add a third Turf Sprint in a row to his CV when Belvoir Bay scored in 2019
Glass Slippers (2020)
It was a long time coming for the Europeans but Glass Slippers finally recorded a first overseas triumph. The British invader captured the Turf Sprint at Keeneland, under a patient 'ride for luck' along the inside rail. The splits came at the right time for Tom Eaves who took a leaf out of Calvin Borel's book to get it done: