The Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) is another of the seven original Breeders’ Cup races, first contested in 1984. It has always been contested at the six-furlong distance and this year again offers a purse of $2 million.
Del Mar Racetrack – Photo courtesy of Benoit / BloodHorse
This year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint won’t see a repeat winner, but is loaded with potential Eclipse Award winners
This race has always been a significant predictor of who will win the year-end Eclipse Award as 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).
Three horses have won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint twice and all in consecutive years: Midnight Lute in 2007 and 2008, Roy H. in 2017 and 2018 and Elite Power in 2022 and a year ago. 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.
Hall of Famer Corey Nakatani booted home four winners over his illustrious career including three years in a row from 1996 to 1998 – Lit de Justice, 1996; Elmhurst, 1997; 1998, Reraise; and 2006, Thor’s Echo.) Hall of Famer Bob Baffert has saddled five winners to lead all trainers (1992, Thirty Slews; 2007 and 2008, Midnight Lute; 2013, Secret Circle; and 2016, Drefong.)
Midnight Lute still owns the stakes record of 1:07.08 for his win in 2008 at Santa Anita.