The $750,000 Grade One Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint

The Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint will be an exciting renewal which includes three previous End of Year Champions in the turf sprinting discipline, and it’s no secret that this race will go a long way in deciding this year’s awards, as well. 14 excellent turf sprinters will be making their way to the gate on Friday with the winner taking the ultimate bragging rights in the division and the biggest share of a $750K purse. Let’s now take a look at the field:

1)  LIKE YESTERDAY, 12/1 

5yo Horse

Owner: Givenhot2

25-10-6-4, $1,204,308, 80% ITM

Zoustar – Danarazi (Arazi), ENG

The reigning Sand Castle Turf Sprint champ which took him over the $1 Million earnings plateau. Sire is a prolific turf sprint producer, and stakes winning dam whose black type triumph came close to two decades ago. He will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 8th place finish in The Sprint Cup. Another big question could be the extra sixteenth of a mile being taken on from a horse who has not raced over six furlongs at the top level in his career. 

2) Lullaby Bye Baby, 12/1

4yo Colt

Owner: Givenshared

18-8-4-4, $1,097,700, 89% ITM

Snitzel – Ballad (Elusive Quality), AUS

Pace-stalking winner of the Sydney Sprint back in April has been on the board in five straight races, including two wins. Dam is a G2 winner and sire has produced a hall of fame turf sprinter. The first two spots in the gate are occupied by $1 Million earners out of the Given barn, and this runner has shown a little more consistency this year than his stable mate to the inside. 

3) Secret of Kings, 16/1

4yo Colt

Owner: Tarton 5

19-8-2-2, $2,696,580, 63% ITM

Kingman – Secret Bang (Pollard’s Secret), GB

$2.7 million earner in 19 races who is hoping to add a Breeders Bowl victory to an already accomplished career which included an End of Year award as last year’s three-year-old turf sprint champion. Has two G1 winners on his docket this year but slipped up last time out in The Sprint Cup (G1). First foal of a stakes winning mare sired by a worldwide top turf stallion. Will hope to use some of his tactical speed in order to capture victory on Friday. 

4) Coc Tat Strong Leg, 9/1

4yo Colt

Owner: iremat

19-10-2-4, $811,200, 84% ITM

No Nay Never – Tete Heksekunst (Dark Angel [IRE]), IRE

Ten race winner – eight of which are stakes and graded – will be making his Grade One debut in the deepest part of the pool. Has raced exclusively in North America, so we’ll get to see how he holds up against the worldwide invaders in this event. A victory in The Near Tic (G2) with a strong 115 SP has given the Cuetec barn the green light to take a shot at the Breeders Bowl. 

5) NAILPHANEIA, 9/1

4yo Gelding

Owner: Givendimestore

22-11-5-3. $620,020, 86% ITM

Epiphaneia (JPN) – Hobnailed (Fastnet Rock [AUS]), JPN

Another runner in his first ever Grade One race, this gelding earned his graded stakes badge back in August in The Hungry Ford (G3). After another formidable runner-up effort in The De La Force (G2) you can add another Given competitor in this strong field. 

6) MANTICORE HQ, 16/1

4yo Colt

Owner: xpansion3

21-8-6-2, $682,055, 76% ITM

Oasis Dream (GB) – Miss Guevera (Dark Angel [IRE]), GB

Oasis Dream(GB) runner is heading back to the States after a four-race European tour which yielded two graded wins and a runner-up finish. Both wins during that stretch were on off tracks in May and July. The son of a stakes-winning dam ran a disappointing 9th in the Longchamp Sprint in late September so Dixiedotco will hope to capture some of the form in the Spring and Summer. 

7) MINION OF MISCHIEF, 8/1

4Yo Colt

Owner: fallout

16-6-2-2, $690,818,62% ITM

Into Mischief – Minion of War (War Front), KY

Made a positive jump into grade one territory last time out with a runner up finish in The Sprint Cup. The winner of that race, Yes Yessir elected not to make the overseas trip to California clearing the path for this Into Mischief colt to become one of the top wagering interests in the race. Also returning from a four race European stint; if the form continues trending upward, the colt could give a Breeders Bowl win to Francua4. 

8) UNFARNAN, 30/1

3yo Colt

Owner: chepstow

13-8-0-1, $1,792,320, 69% ITM

Farnan (AUS) – (Unfuwain), AUS

The lone three-year-old in the race is hoping to make it a Breeders Bowl double after taking last year’s Juvenile Turf Sprint. A globe-trotting sophomore campaign saw three wins, two of which against graded company over off tracks. Scoring a nice victory in The Goldene (G2) against open competition last time out went a long way in proving this Farnan colt was not just a two-year-old wonder. The public might be taking this one a bit too lightly at 30/1. 

9) CENTENARY COURSE, 6/1

5yo Horse

Owner: gowans2013

21-12-1-3, $1,605,291, 76% ITM

Gleneagles – Hammerjack (Gone West), IRE

This red-hot Gleneagles five-year-old is looking to make it three grade one victories in a row. His only blemish in four races was a tight finish between four horses in a grade one event back in March. Gowans is opting to chase a third consecutive grade one win coming off of a three month and change layoff. 

10) WASH RINSE REPEAT, 9/1

5yo Gelding

Owner: Appalachia

21-10-2-2, $3,308,880, 67% ITM

Sea the Stars – (Danehill), IRE

The aptly named scratch bred will be appearing in his 14th straight Grade One contest. He won last year’s edition of this race en route to the End of Year championship as the top male older sprinter. Last year’s Breeders Bowl win was the start of a three race run hitting the finish line first in grade one events, but the rest of the season has seen diminishing returns for Lenny’s champion turf sprinter. Leave out at your own peril as he goes for back-to-back BB championships. 

11) IMAGINARY DAY, 10/1

4yo Colt

Owner: plano21

20-8-3-5, $652,020, 80% ITM  

All Too Hard – (O’Reilly), AUS

Ultra-consistent, scratch bred colt out of the Planoaxius consortium. Was a length behind the winner and Friday rival, Like Yesterday back in March in the Sand Castle Turf Sprint (G1). Found the winners circle once and tossed in three runner-up finishes after that – all graded races. Has hit the board in seven straight and 13 out of 14 contests. 

12) NATHANIEL HAWTHORN, 9/1

4yo Colt

Owner: 59flat

21-7-3-2, $803,600, 57% ITM

Pariah (AUS) – Hamandcheesemelt (Nathaniel), AUS                                                                                            

Tactical runner from the Metallinut stable is coming off of a nice win in The De La Fore (G2). Out of a G1 winning sire, and dam is also sired by a G1 winner. Looking for a victory in his third ever run against grade one company, his SP numbers indicate he can get the job done in this group.

13) BEACH GLASS, 11/1

4yo Colt

Owner: kobras5

18-7-4-0, $1,087,490, 61% ITM

Bricks and Mortar – Leader of the Pack (Theatrical), JPN

Almost a year removed from his last win which was a G1 in the Mike Beal Memorial (G1). The Bricks and Mortar colt has seemingly found difficulty following up on strong 2yo and 3yo campaigns. However, he has the G1 win and two runner-up finishes in graded events to get in here, and he is showing an improvement out with the 2^nd place finish in the previous race.

14) JUNGLANO, 5/1

6yo Gelding

Owner: astinator

27-12-8-3, $3,047,440, 85% ITM

Jungle Pocket – World of Trouble (Giant’s Causeway). JPN

The slight favorite ran a close 2^nd to a 122 SP last time out, so the oddsmakers are giving him the nod here with the lack of his rival in the last race, Time for Justice B. He has been solid as of late being in the money four out of the five including a win in The Thank You Stakes (G3). Dam has produced solid runners to this point and this is the only graded winner for this sire, but that still does not deter this runner out of the Adrian barn who will be very strong here if he runs back to the prior race.   

My top pick is Centenary Course who’s summer form should carry over into November and give him a breeders cup win.

Junglano ran an impressive race in a losing effort last time and could be tough to beat in this spot.

Unfarnan is a live longshot in this spot, and might turn some heads as the only 3yo competitor in the race.

Thanks for reading and enjoy Breeders Bowl weekend. Good luck to everybody competing and have fun.