ARCADIA, Calif. – The Breeders’ Cup Sprint theoretically brings together the fastest Thoroughbreds in the world. But when assessing the pace scenario of this year’s Sprint, handicappers may wonder, “where’s all the speed?”
Only 11 horses were pre-entered for the six-furlong Sprint, one of whom, Jasper Krone, has first preference in the Turf Sprint, and a second, Anarchist, has been withdrawn due to injury. The field is headed by Elite Power, who was voted 2022 sprint champion on the strength of his come-from-behind one-length victory over the veteran C Z Rocket in the Sprint at Keeneland.
Elite Power had the extremely fast Super Ocho to set a lively pace for him to run at in last year’s Sprint. He may not have that luxury when attempting to defend his title, especially when taking into account the fact not a single member of this year’s lineup was on the lead at either the first or second call in their most recent start.
Gunite avenged a pair of losses earlier this year to Elite Power in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint and Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap when leading gate to wire to finally defeat his nemesis in the seven-furlong Forego. He may try to use similar tactics when the duo square off for the fourth time in a little over eight months in the Breeders’ Cup.
Dr. Schivel, who dropped a heart-breaking nose decision to Aloha West in the 2021 Sprint, and the lightly raced Speed Boat Beach, both prompted the early pace before finishing first and second, respectively, a neck apart, in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship and also figure to be prominently placed during the early stages of the Sprint. Speed Boat Beach is perhaps the quickest of the bunch and the most likely to get loose on the front end if he breaks cleanly.
Dr. Schivel and Speed Boat Beach, whose trainer Bob Baffert will be seeking a record-setting sixth Sprint victory, are two members of a very formidable group trying to return the Sprint title to the West Coast along with The Chosen Vron, who has been freshened since overcoming a nightmarish trip to capture the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar on July 29.
The California contingent was also supposed to include Pat O’Brien winner Anarchist, but he was removed from consideration for the race by trainer Doug O’Neill after coming out of his work here Saturday with a chip in his knee.
“We’re going to do surgery and he’ll have a comeback and kick some butt next year,” said Doug O’Neill. “Obviously the timing was not good. He was doing very well. As deflating as it was, the owners want to do the right thing, get him the surgery and get him healthy again as soon as possible.”
Hoist the Gold and Nakatomi, the first- and second-place finishers, respectively, in the Grade 3 Phoenix at Keeneland; Three Technique, who rallied from near the rear of the field to win the seven-furlong John Nerud this summer at Belmont Park; and longshot American Theorem, winless since upsetting the 2022 Bing Crosby 15 months ago, round out the field.
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