The $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) was run for the first time in 2008 at about 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s signature downhill turf course. Now a Grade 1, it was contested as an ungraded event until 2010, when it earned a Grade 2. It was elevated to its current grade in 2012.
Because not all North American tracks are capable of running a 6 ½-furlong sprint over their turf course, this race has been held at varying. At Churchill Downs on 2010, 2011 and 2018 the distance was 5 furlongs. At Keeneland in 2015, 2020 and 2022 the distance was about 5 furlongs and at Del Mar in 2017, last year, and on Saturday, it will be run at 5 furlongs.
Because this division competes with the traditional sprinter division for Eclipse Awards, no winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint has earned the title as champion sprinter. However, in 2018 after his second victory in the race, Stormy Liberal was voted champion turf horse. He isn’t the only runner to have won two editions as the mare Mizdirection took home the victory in 2012 and 2013.
Check the Time for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint below:
| Race | Race Name | Post Time ET |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sunrise (Allowance) | 1:05pm |
| 2 | The Ocean View (Allowance) | 1:40pm |
| 3 | Goldikova Stakes (G3) | 2:15pm |
| 4 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) | 3:00pm |
| 5 | Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) | 3:41pm |
| 6 | Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) | 4:21pm |
| 7 | Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) | 5:01pm |
| 8 | Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) | 5:41pm |
| 9 | Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) | 6:25pm |
| 10 | Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) | 7:05pm |
| 11 | Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile | 7:45pm |
| 12 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) | 8:25pm |
California-based conditioner Peter Miller is the race’s leading trainer with three winners. In addition to Stormy Liberal, he also conditioned the filly Belvoir Bay, who survived the 2017 Lilac Fire in San Diego County before becoming a Breeders’ Cup winner.
Hall of Famers Mike Smith (2012, 2013) and Joel Rosario (2014, 2017) each had two winners to lead all riders.
2016 -- Obviously Edges Om in a nose thriller (Santa Anita, 6½ Furlongs) At age 8, Ireland bred Obviously (7-2 favorite) blasted to the lead down the hill, set hot fractions of :21.41 and :43.08. But deep-closer Om surged late to force a desperate stretch duel. Obviously dug in gamely to prevail by a nose in 1:11.33 -- his fifth Breeders’ Cup start and a career-capping triumph.
2018 -- Stormy Liberal’s hard-fought neck victory (Churchill Downs, 5½ furlongs). Defending champ Stormy Liberal (6-1) stalked pacesetter World of Trouble early, then unleashed a furious rally on a yielding turf course. The pair hooked up in a brutal homestretch slugfest, with Stormy Liberal grinding past by a neck in 1:03.85, becoming the first back-to-back Turf Sprint winner since Mizdirection (2012-13).
2020 -- Glass Slippers rail-skimming rally (Keeneland, 5½ furlongs). Amid a blistering early pace (:21.26, :43.81), 8-1 shot Glass Slippers dropped back early in a 14-horse chaos. She then weaved through traffic, splitting foes on the rail in the stretch to collar Wet Your Whistle by a half-length in 1:03.22 for her first Grade 1 win.
2023 -- Nobals’ longshot surge boosts epic Pick 4 (Santa Anita, 5 furlongs). 12-1 Nobals sat off the leaders early before powering home on the downhill turf, holding off unlucky Big Invasion (checked twice) by a neck in :55.15. The upset capped a string of favorites in prior races, inflating the All-Turf Pick 4 to six figures.
2024 – Starlust in a stewards’ inquiry shocker (Del Mar, 5 furlongs). British invader Starlust, trained by Ralph Beckett, rallied from mid-pack to win at 33-1, edging the field, including 4-5 favorite Cogburn (fifth) in a bumping-filled finish. A stewards’ inquiry loomed over contact, but her win stood, capping a banner year for Beckett and jockey Rossa Ryan with international flair.
The Turf Sprint emphasizes speed and positioning, with pace dynamics shifting based on distance and track. At shorter 5-furlong distances, front-runners excel; at 5 ½ to 6 furlongs, mid-pack closers can rally.
Front-runners dominate short distances: four of the last 10 winners went gate-to-wire, and three of the last four (including Nobals in 2023 and Caravel in 2022) made all the running. This is especially true at 5 furlongs, where early speed holds up better than in longer turf routes.
Closers in longer versions: At 6 ½ furlongs, late runners thrive, as seen by Obviously (2016) and Starlust (2024), who rallied from off the pace along the rail.
Track bias influence: Del Mar and Santa Anita favor speed biases on firm turf; Keeneland’s undulating course aids closers. Winners often have 99+ Beyer Speed Figures or 115+ Racing Post Ratings, with 15 of 17 having four or more starts that year and a 27-day or longer layoff for freshness.
Post position draw: Low to mid draws (1-6) produce more winners, but high draws (10 in 2022, 14 in 2015) can succeed with clear paths. Recent examples: Gate 3 (2024, 2021); Gate 6 (2023, 2020).
General turf insights: Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint winners are 0-for-6 in the Breeders’ Cup since 2014. Europeans (2-for-29) often close late but struggle with the tight turns.
The race has a strong longshot bias, with an average winning payout of $27.65 to win (based on 17 runnings through 2024). Over 40% of winners have gone off at 10-1 or higher, and only three favorites (under 3-1) have prevailed in the last 10 years. California-based horses dominate when hosted at Santa Anita (seven wins), while Europeans have won three of the last five (2020–2024).
The race excels in exotic bets due to chaos: average $1 exacta $150+, trifecta $500+, superfecta $2,000+. Longshots inflate multis, like 2023’s All-Turf Pick 4 ($1,200+ on 50¢ base).
Exotic strategy tip: Box top 4 morning line longshots (8-1+) in superfectas for $24 (50¢ base); In 2024, the wager paid $9,250.
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.
