The first Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) was held at 6 furlongs at Monmouth Park in 2007. Since then, it has been run at 7 furlongs on dirt.
There have been two repeat winners, Groupie Doll (2012–2013) and Goodnight Olive (2022–2023). Favorites have won seven of 18 editions of the race, a strike rate of 41%. The biggest upset was in 2017, when Bar of Gold won 66-1 odds.
The BC Filly & Mare Sprint is Saturday, Oct. 31 – the eighth race of day 2 at the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland. Post time is 3:42 p.m. ET. The race will be televised by NBC and Peacock.
The pre-entries will be announced on Wednesday, Oct. 21; the gate draw is Monday, Oct. 26.
Ways and Means dominated the 7-furlong Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga by 5 ½ lengths in late August in her most recent start, earning her a “Win and You’re In” ticket after earlier repeating in the Bed o’ Roses Stakes (G2). Brown has won this race three times (twice with Good Olive) and this 5-year-old mare has shown that she thrives with spacing between starts. She is hoping to improve on her fifth-place finish in the 2024 edition of this race at Del Mar.
Betting angle: This one will be hard to bet against at her best. She sits above just about every rival in speed, pace and class figures, and she has the connections behind her to get it done.
What to watch: How the pace sets up. She is a mid-pack stalker type who will thrive sitting behind a hot pace.
Explora is a rising star. She romped by five lengths in the Test Stakes (G1) Stakes at Saratoga in early August after a cutback in distance following a fairly decent fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She previously won the Santa Ynez Stakes and the Leslie’s Lady, both at 7 furlongs.
Betting angle: If you think she’s prime for the mild upset, bet her straight and on top in all wagers. If you like her more for a board-hitting performance, she’s a solid choice to use underneath in exactas and trifectas.
What to watch: She is a solid pace stalker with a strong closing kick. A hot early pace will only help her down the lane.
This 6-year-old mare is a consistent California-based sprinter riding a four-race stakes-winning streak. She won the Great Lady M Stakes (G2) and Rancho Bernardo (G3) in her only two starts this year and has been breezing sharply at Santa Anita since August. She was scratched from last year’s Filly & Mare Sprint but remains a proven graded winner at the distance.
Betting angle: She is a talented mare with good figures and will likely be a little overlooked at the windows thanks to the presence of the star power in here. If you like her for the mild upset, bet her heavily because it will be the best price she’s been through most of her career.
What to watch: She’s a stalker so it’ll be best for her to draw outside the speed to get into good position. A good break only helps her chances.
Evanescence is an attractive longer-priced option. She is unbeaten at Keeneland (3-for-3) and just won the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) over the track on Oct. 3 by rallying late to earn a “Win and You’re In” berth. Her running style (off the pace rather than pure early speed) fits Keeneland well, and her local form plus recent graded win gives her a legitimate chance to outrun her odds.
Why a value bet? If her odds are 10-1 or higher, she is worth the straight wager and brings extreme value to exotics.
The risk: This is the toughest field she’s ever faced and will need to rise to the occasion.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
