The Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) is another of the seven original Breeders’ Cup races. It has always been contested at the six-furlong distance and this year again offers a purse of $2 million.
This race has always been a significant predictor of who will win the year-end Eclipse Award as an outstanding sprinter and only 13 times in the 39 previous editions has the winner not collected championship honors at the end of the season – 1987, Very Subtle won, and Groovy was champion.
Others are 1989, Dancing Spree (Safely Kept); 1990, Safely Kept (Housebuster); 1991, Sheikh Albadou (Housebuster); 1992, Thirty Slews (Rubiano); 1995, Desert Stormer (Not Surprising); 1997, Elmhurst (Smoke Glacken); 2003, Cajun Beat (Aldebaran); 2005, Silver Train (Lost in the Fog); 2008, Midnight Lute (Benny the Bull); 2009, Dancing in Silks (Kodiak Cowboy); 2013, Secret Circle (Points Offthebench); and Aloha West (Jackie’s Warrior).
Two horses have won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint twice and both in consecutive years: Midnight Lute in 2007 and 2008 and Roy H. in 2017 and 2018. This year, fans eagerly await the performance of Elite Power, who seeks a repeat victory after his impressive win at Keeneland in the previous edition. Elite Power’s career has been nothing short of spectacular, and he hopes to cap it off with another Breeders’ Cup Sprint triumph before embarking on his stud duties at Juddmonte Farm next year.
Midnight Lute’s Stakes Record: A Breeder’s Cup Sprint Masterpiece
Retired jockey Corey Nakatani rode four winners, including three in a row – Lit de Justice, 1996; Elmhurst, 1997; Reraise, 1998 and Thor’s Echo, 2006. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert has tightened the girth on five winners – Thirty Slews, 1992; Midnight Lute, 2007 and 2008; Secret Circle, 2013; and Drefong, 2016.
To this day, Midnight Lute’s incredible speed still holds the stakes record for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, with a remarkable time of 1:07.08 during his unforgettable win in 2008 at Santa Anita. This race continues to captivate horse racing enthusiasts and showcases the finest sprinters in the world, making it a must-watch event in the Breeders’ Cup series.
As fans eagerly anticipate this year’s edition, they look forward to witnessing yet another breathtaking display of speed, skill, and determination on the racetrack. The Breeders’ Cup Sprint remains an essential fixture in the world of horse racing, where legends are born, records are set, and champions are crowned.
| 1 | Nakatomi | 15-1 | Wesley A. Ward | Luis Saez |
| 2 | Dr.Schivel | 5-1 | Mark Glatt | Juan Hernandez |
| 3 | American Theorem | 30-1 | George Papaprodromou | Umberto Rispoli |
| 4 | Hoist The Gold | 12-1 | Dallas Stewart | John Velazquez |
| 5 | Three Technique | 20-1 | Jason G. Cook | Rafael Bejarano |
| 6 | The Chosen Vron | 5-1 | J. Eric Kruljac | Hector Berrios |
| 7 | Speed Boat Beach | 3-1 | Bob Baffert | Mike Smith |
| 8 | Elite Power | 9-5 | Bill Mott | Irad Ortiz,Jr. |
| 9 | Gunite | 4-1 | Steven M. Asmussen | Tyler Gaffalione |