By Ray Wallin
In 2008, three new Breeders’ Cup races were added — the Turf Sprint, the Marathon, and the Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Marathon would be discontinued after the 2013 running. While the Juvenile Fillies Turf would feature dominant winners in its short history, the Turf Sprint would conversely show a lot of great finishes in the 11 runnings of this race. The total margin of victory in the 11 races is only 6 3/4 lengths, giving this short-lived BC race its own list of top finishes.
So whether you are a casual racing fan or you make your living playing the races, sit back and enjoy what is the is the best bang for the buck in the Breeders’ Cup, the Turf Sprint.
#1 Bobby’s Kitten From Way Back
In 2014, Reneesgotzip would try to take the field wire to wire again (she tried in 2013). She would fail again. Bobby’s Kitten would come flying from 12th place six wide down the center of the track to catch the favorite, No Nay Never, at the wire in the upset.
#2 Desert Code Is Diabolical In His Finish
In the initial running of the BC Turf Sprint in 2008, not only would we get a nice price, we would get a great finish. Sitting in 10th place at the stretch call, Desert Code would get up in the final strides to catch Diabolical at the wire to score the 36-1 upset.
#3 Stormy Liberal In An Upset
In 2017, Pure Sensation would try to take the field wire to wire only to lose it at the top of the stretch. Stormy breeders’ turfLiberal would battle with his stablemate, Richard’s Boy, and would prevail late at a healthy 30-1.
#4 Mizdirection Makes It Two In A Row
In 2013, the filly Reneesgotzip would try to take the race wire to wire. However, the returning champion Mizdirection would be closing late along with Tightend Touchdown. While the mare Mizdirection would repeat, Reneesgotzip and Tightend Touchdown would finish in a dead heat for second. Mizdirection is the only female to win this event.
#5 Stormy Liberal Overcomes A World Of Trouble
In 2018, Stormy Liberal became the second horse to win back to back BC Turf Sprint races yet did it with a different jockey in each race (Joel Rosario in 2017 and Drayden Van Dyke in 2018). Favorite World of Trouble would try to take the race wire to wire only to see Stormy Liberal hit the wire to repeat at 7-1.
The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint has fielded a full field of 14 in nine of the 11 runnings and never less than 12 starters. There is certainly going to be an exciting race and some solid value in the 2019 running. Who do you like this year?
Below are links to previously published Top Finishes in Breeders’ Cup races:
BC Filly & Mare Turf: https://www.usracing.com/news/top-5-breeders-cup-filly-mare-turf-finishes
BC Juvenile Fillies: https://www.usracing.com/news/top-10-breeders-cup-juvenile-fillies-finishes
BC Juvenile: https://www.usracing.com/news/top-10-breeders-cup-juvenile-finishes
BC Sprint: https://www.usracing.com/news/top-10-breeders-cup-sprint-finishes
BC Mile: https://www.usracing.com/news/top-10-breeders-cup-mile-finishes
Ray Wallin is a licensed civil engineer and part-time handicapper who has had a presence on the Web since 2000 for various sports and horse racing websites and through his personal blog. Introduced to the sport over the course of a misspent teenage summer at Monmouth Park by his Uncle Dutch, a professional gambler, he quickly fell in love with racing and has been handicapping for over 25 years.
Ray’s background in engineering, along with his meticulous nature and fascination with numbers, parlay into his ability to analyze data; keep records; notice emerging trends; and find new handicapping angles and figures. While specializing in thoroughbred racing, Ray also handicaps harness racing, Quarter Horse racing, baseball, football, hockey, and has been rumored to have calculated the speed and pace ratings on two squirrels running through his backyard.
Ray likes focusing on pace and angle plays while finding the middle ground between the art and science of handicapping. When he is not crunching numbers, Ray enjoys spending time with his family, cheering on his alma mater (Rutgers University), fishing, and playing golf.
Ray’s blog, which focuses on his quest to make it to the NHC Finals while trying to improve his handicapping abilities can be found at www.jerseycapper.blogspot.com Ray can also be found on Twitter (@rayw76) and can be reached via email at [email protected].
