ARCADIA, Calif. – Kopion has changed direction for the Breeders’ Cup. Instead of racing seven furlongs as the favorite in the Filly and Mare Sprint, Kopion will take on boys in the BC Sprint at six furlongs.
Trainer Richard Mandella confirmed the move Saturday morning. He said Kopion will join comebacker Big City Lights in the BC Sprint; Tamara will be the only Mandella starter in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.
Kopion and Tamara are owned by Spendthrift Farm. “The two of them are just doing so good, I think it’s worth [splitting them up],” Mandella said. Referring to Kopion in the BC Sprint, Mandella said “on her day, she’s as good as any of them.”
Kopion has earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures three times this year, and was the early 2-1 favorite in the Filly and Mare Sprint by Daily Racing Form; Kopion is listed 7-2 second favorite behind Bentornato in the Sprint. With Kopion moving to the Sprint, Filly and Mare Sprint favoritism shifts to Sweet Azteca.
Kopion will try to become the fourth female to win the Sprint, and first since Desert Stormer in 1995. The fillies Safely Kept in 1990 and Very Subtle in 1987 also won the Sprint.
Kopion won the first three starts of her campaign at seven furlongs, including a pair of Grade 1 races. Kopion subsequently finished second to Sweet Azteca with a wide trip in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. at Los Alamitos, and second behind Seismic Beauty in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsh, a 1 1/16-mile race at Del Mar in which she was compromised by a passive ride.
“I think she’s been a victim of circumstance her last two races,” Mandella said. “She deserves a shot to clean her record, and we’d like Tamara to have her best shot, too.”
The BC Sprint will not be the first time Mandella started a filly against boys in a stakes. Beholder won the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in 2015; Advancing Star beat males in the Hollywood Turf Express in 1997.
Big City Lights and Kopion will be the first BC Sprint starters for Mandella since 2012. He has started four runners in the Sprint; Crown of Thorns finished second in 2009.
Big City Lights will be making his first start since January, when he earned a career-high 103 Beyer Speed Figure winning the California Cup Sprint. Big City Lights has won seven races and $578,420 from 13 starts. His six stakes wins include the Grade 3 Palos Verdes in 2024 at Santa Anita.
Jockey assignments for the Mandella sprinters are fluid. Mike Smith rides Tamara in the Filly and Mare Sprint; the jockey assignments for Kopion and Big City Lights were undecided as of Saturday morning.
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