The Turf Sprint, for horses 3-years of age and older, combines both speed and agility for international competitors over six and a half furlongs on the downhill turf course at Del Mar.

Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

RESULTS: STARLUST (GB) SURPRISES IN PREVAGEN BREEDERS' CUP TURF SPRINT

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 2, 2024) - Mrs. Fitriani Hay's Starlust (GB) ($69.20), last early on, found clear running along the rail in the stretch to score a neck victory over Motorious (GB) to win the 16th running of the $1 million Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at Del Mar on Saturday afternoon.

Trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Rossa Ryan, Starlust completed the 5 furlongs on a firm turf course in :55.92. It is the second World Championships victory for Beckett, who previously won with Muhannak (IRE) in the 2008 Marathon. It is the first Breeders' Cup win for Ryan.

Heavily favored Cogburn rocketed out to an uncontested lead and maintained a daylight advantage until mid-stretch when the field began to close in. Ag Bullet and Star of Mystery (GB) closed in first on Cogburn while to the inside, Starlust had clear sailing and got up in the final strides for the victory. Motorious got up for second by a nose over Ag Bullet.

Third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita last year, Starlust is a 3-year-old son of Zoustar (AUS) out of the Invincible Spirit mare Beyond Desire (GB). Now carrying a record of 18-6-3-3, Starlust picked up $520,000 for the victory that boosted his earnings to $915,137.

---

Ag Bullet

Ag Bullet is a filly who knows what she likes. And what she likes is sprinting on the grass. She has won going a bit longer but short on the green course clearly is her game.

Ignoring her career debut, the 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy has proven invincible in those conditions, with victories from Southern California to Kentucky.

She finished fifth in that first race that came on dirt at Del Mar in November 2022, but then wheeled right back to post a front-running victory at Santa Anita in January to start her 3-year-old season. Notably, the runner-up in that was Ruby Nell, another talented filly who was making her own debut.

She moved right up from that to a pace-pressing win in the listed Lady of Shamrock Stakes - her first try at a mile. While that was promising enough, her next start, under totally unfamiliar conditions, wasn't. Shipped to northern Kentucky, Ag Bullet was asked to go 1 1/16 miles on the Turfway Park all-weather course in the Bourbonette Oaks (Listed) in March and basically said, "No, thank you," finishing fifth, beaten 12 1/2 lengths.

That put an end to her 3-year-old career. She returned to California and switched trainers, coming under the care of Richard Baltas, returned to the turf and to sprinting and won the Wishing Well Stakes on the Santa Anita hillside course in February. She backed that up with a victory in the Monrovia Stakes (G3) on the same layout.

Another trip to Kentucky produced another dud as Ag Bullet finished ninth of 10 in the Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2). Then, back home at Del Mar, she turned in a front-running victory in the Osunitas Stakes (Listed) at 1 mile on the grass.

So is she a California wonder with problems on the road? Nope. A third try in Kentucky proved otherwise.

Sent to Kentucky Downs' unique turf layout in September, jockey Umberto Rispoli took Ag Bullet to the early lead in the $1.5 million Exacta Systems Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) and was never challenged, winning off by 5 1/4 lengths. The aforementioned Ruby Nell finished ninth.

Ag Bullet stretched back out to a mile in her next start, the First Lady (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 5. Sent off as the favorite, she set the pace before weakening to fourth, 4 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Gina Romantica.

---

Arzak

Throughout his five seasons of racing, Arzak has been a hard-trying and relatively versatile runner - usually in the mix at the end of his races even if he hasn't won as often as his connections might have liked.

And, though he's won at the Grade 2 and Grade 3 levels, he wasn't quite able to get to the winner's circle after either of his top-level efforts.

Bred in Kentucky by John Oxley, Arzak was sired by Not This Time, whose career was cut short after he finished second in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on the Santa Anita dirt. His dam, Delightful Melody, by Tapit, had a second and two thirds from four starts on turf, dirt and all-weather tracks.

After a career-opening fifth place at Delaware Park, Arzak managed to hit the board in seven of his next 12 outings, culminating in a victory in the Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3), going 6 furlongs on the Woodbine all-weather course in May 2022.

From then on, trainer Mike Trombetta has kept Arzak largely in graded stakes races on the turf, from Kentucky Downs to New York and across the border to Woodbine in Canada. He finished second in the Highlander Stakes (G2) at Woodbine a month and a half after the Jacques Cartier but then did not taste victory again until August 2023 when Trombetta dropped him back into the optional claiming ranks at Saratoga.

That may have restored Arzak's confidence or perhaps he just liked a return to the Keeneland turf, a favorite haunt. But, whatever the reason, his next outing produced a win in the Woodford Stakes (G2). That race is a logical pathway to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and Trombetta took that route, only to see Arzak finish sixth, 2 lengths behind the winner.

He returned to Keeneland to open his 2024 season at the spring meeting and won the Shakertown Stakes (G2). That was followed by a second in the Jaipur Stakes (G2) at Saratoga and two lackluster efforts in minor stakes at Monmouth Park and back at Saratoga.

Once again at Keeneland, he started from an outside gate in the Oct. 5 Woodford and managed to overcome that to get home third.

---

Believing (IRE)

On the surface, it would seem Believing (IRE) is just one of several promising contenders fighting for prominence in the top European sprints. That would be to ignore the 4-year-old filly's rather challenging family history.

The record speaks for itself.

Believing, a daughter of Mehmas (IRE), posted one win from eight starts in her 2-year-old season in 2022. She had throat surgery to correct a breathing issue during the winter break and came back with three victories from seven starts at age 3. The highlights were a Group 3 win in France and a close third, beaten less than a length, in the Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (G1) at Haydock Sept. 9.

She finished well in front of some established stars in the Sprint Cup and trainer George Boughey saw enough to move Believing along to the 6-furlong Qipco British Champions Stakes (G1) at Ascot. She was near enough in the first 5 furlongs of that race but tired through the last to get home 11th.

A ninth-place finish in the Chairman's Sprint Prize (G1) in Hong Kong kicked off 2024, followed by a comeback win at Haydock two months later. Boughey then turned up the heat and Believing posted back-to-back fourth-place results in the King Charles III Stakes (G1) and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) on both ends of the Royal Ascot schedule.

A trip to her native Ireland produced a win in the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (G2). A return to England found Believing third, beaten less than 1 length, in the King George Qatar Stakes (G2) at Glorious Goodwood.

She maintained her solid form on Aug. 23 at York as she rallied to finish second three-quarters of a length behind Bradsell (GB) in the 5-furlong Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1).

Believing met up with Bradsell again on Sept. 15 at the Curragh in the 5-furlong Flying Five Stakes (G1) and the result was the same. Racing over good ground, Believing rallied late but came up 1 1/4 lengths shy of catching Bradsell.

She chased Bradsell again on Oct. 6 at Longchamp in the 5-furlong Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1) over very soft ground and finished a quarter-length behind him and third of 16 overall, 1 ½ lengths behind Makarova (GB).

She has shown she can compete with the best. But the family story?

As Racing Post's Tom Peacock tells it, Believing's dam, the aptly named Misfortunate (IRE), lost her mother an hour after foaling. Then, the foal flipped in her stall and hit her head a sturdy blow "and she always held her head a bit sideways afterward," Peacock quoted breeder Mattie Smith. "She was just a bit funny in her head."

Adding to the woe, the family had not been a particularly hot commercially and then, as Believing was starting to add some value, both Misfortunate and her filly foal died this year.

Tis a sad story to which Believing could write a happier chapter through the remainder of the 2024 season.

---

Big Evs (IRE)

Big Evs (IRE) has ticked all the boxes from bloodlines to winner's circle on the way to achieving his intended goal as a top-level turf sprinter.

The colt is by Blue Point (IRE), who capped his stellar career for Dubai-based Godolphin by winning all five starts in 2019. The last two were the King's Stand Stakes (G1) and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1), just four days apart at Royal Ascot.

Big Evs has a way to go before matching that accomplishment. But he already has done something his esteemed sire did not - win at the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Blue Point never participated in the Breeders' Cup but Big Evs got that job done Nov. 3, 2023, at Santa Anita with a half-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

Big Evs came to Santa Anita with three wins and a second from five previous starts, all at different English tracks.

He started with a second at Redcar, leading and then just yielding late while racing greenly in the final furlong. Trainer Michael Appleby saw enough promise in that run to send him along to Royal Ascot, where he jumped up to win the Windsor Castle Stakes, finishing 3 lengths in front of runner-up Johannes Brahms (GB).

That was followed by a victory in the Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes (G3) at Goodwood and then the only serious blot on the colt's record -- a fading 14th-place finish in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York's prestigious Ebor Meeting.

Appleby could offer no explanation for the defeat but Big Evs showed it to be the exception that proves the rule with a victory in his next start, the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes (G2) at Doncaster in September. That rebound was enough to send him flying to California.

The 2024 season started with an easy win at York and a solid third of 17 in the King Charles II Stakes (G1) at the Royal meeting, finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind Asfoora (AUS).

On Aug. 2, Big Evs turned the tables on Asfoora by hanging on for a narrow victory in the 5-furlong King George Qatar Stakes (G2) at Goodwood.

---

Big Invasion

With only a few exceptions, Big Invasion has been a model of consistency for his connections, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and trainer Christophe Clement. Ironically, one of blots on his record came in his "big invasion" of Royal Ascot.

The nicely bred son of Declaration of War was a bargain buy at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale, fetching just $72,000. He did not race as a 2-year-old but by the end of the 2022 season, that investment had paid off big time as Big Invasion racked up six wins, a second and a third in eight starts.

The victories included stakes events at Gulfstream Park, Churchill Downs and Belmont Park -- all in quick succession. Sent to Saratoga, he won his first graded start, the Quick Call Stakes (G3) at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf, then easily scored again in the Mahoney Stakes. He ran into a bit of a buzzsaw at the challenging Kentucky Downs meeting in September, finishing third in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G2) after being solidly bumped right out of the gate.

He won his first start at age 4, then finished seventh -- his first off-the-board effort -- in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs with traffic problems. A second in the Jaipur Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park was his ticket to England but the "big invasion" was a bust as Big Invasion finished 13th of 16 without making an impact in the 6-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1).

Back on track on the other side of the Atlantic, Big Invasion was second in a Saratoga stakes, then won the Nearctic Stakes (G2) at Woodbine before finishing second, beaten just a neck in the 2023 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

The 2024 campaign was a rockier ride. A fourth-place showing in the Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park was followed by two 10th-place finishes in the Twin Spires and the Jaipur. A bit of class relief brought better results as Big Invasion got home second in a Belmont Park allowance on the Fourth of July, then won the Harvey Pack Stakes (Listed) at Saratoga Sept. 2.

Big Invasion headed west for his next start, the California Crown Eddie D. (G2) at Santa Anita on Sept. 28. He turned in another solid effort in the 6 1/2-furlong test, finishing fourth of 11, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by the victorious First Peace.

---

Bradsell (GB)

He's been up and down more than the average yo-yo but, after his latest impressive return, Bradsell (GB) seems ready to stay on the upswing for a while.

The 4-year-old Tasleet (GB) colt started his career with a bang, winning his first start at Norfolk in May 2022 by 9 lengths. That put him right into the Coventry Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot the following month and he won that, too.

Trainer Archie Watson asked a harder question next, tossing Bradsell into the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) in Ireland where he beat only one rival while finishing 8 1/2 lengths behind the winner, Little Big Bear (IRE).

That sent him to the sidelines for the first of two extended absences that have marked his career - this one for 270 days. Back in action in May 2023, he posted two third-place finishes and was sent back to the Royal Meeting for the King's Stand Stakes (G1), one of two major sprints in the five-day meeting. He won, getting home first by 1 length over heavily favored Highfield Princess (FR).

The summer was less kind as he finished third in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Stakes (G1), one of the highlights of York's Ebor Festival, then seventh in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Flying Five Stakes (G1) back in Ireland - a low point in the yo-yo cycle.

That showing sent Bradsell to the sidelines for a 329-day break. He returned in France with a victory in a listed race at Deauville to kick off his 4-year-old season and bounced all the way back to the top of the form pattern by returning to York for an upset victory in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) on Aug. 23.

Bradsell added another Group 1 victory to his ledger at the Curragh on Sept. 15 when he held off Believing (IRE) by 1 ¼ lengths in the 5-furlong Flying Five Stakes over good ground.

In his most recent start, Bradsell finished second of 16, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Makarova (GB) in the 5-furlong Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines over very soft ground.

Bradsell has been ridden throughout his career, except for the first start, by Hollie Doyle, one of the brightest young female jockeys on the world scene.

---

Cogburn

Cogburn, a son of Not This Time, trained by Steve Asmussen, won at ages 2, 3 and 4 and started his 5-year-old campaign in 2024 better than ever with back-to-back victories in prestigious graded stakes in his first three starts.

The key to high-level success has been a switch in May 2023 from the dirt, where he made his first eight starts, to the grass and specifically to grass sprints. After that, he reeled off three consecutive wins and six victories from seven starts.

The sole blemish during that string was a fifth-place finish in the $1 million Ainsworth Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs -- a race in which the first seven finishers were separated by just 1 length.

"He has found a home. He really has. His turf races have been beyond excellent," Asmussen said after Cogburn won the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Presented by Sentient Jet (G2) in May 2024.

The horse confirmed that assessment by leading all the way to a 3 1/2-length victory in his next outing, the Jaipur Stakes Presented by Resolute Racing (G1) in his first Grade 1 appearance.

Cogburn was fast from gate again in his next start, the 6-furlong Ainsworth Turf Sprint on Sept. 7. Under Irad Ortiz Jr., who has been aboard for all of his 2024 starts, Cogburn quickly assumed command, maintained a clear lead into the stretch and never was threatened in posting a 3 1/4-length victory while being geared down in the final yards.

The graded stakes wins also coincided with a newfound ability to get away cleanly from the starting gate -- a problem early in Cogburn's career.

Cogburn was bred in Kentucky by Bellary Bloodstock. His dam, In a Jif, was herself a stakes winner and produced winners from her two previous foals to race. Cogburn was purchased for $150,000 at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training by Clark Brewster who campaigns him in partnership with William and Corrine Heiligbrodt.

His sire, Not This Time, is by Giant's Causeway, a six-time Group 1 winner in Europe and second by a neck to Tiznow in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs.

---

Isivunguvungu (SAF)

The name means "Storm" in a Zulu language spoken in the 6-year-old gelding's native South Africa.

Isivunguvungu (SAF) was one of 11 horses shipped to the United States in March 2024, several specifically intended for the Breeders' Cup World Championships in November at Del Mar. Because of import-export protocols in place for many years, all of them had to endure a strict two-month quarantine, basically restricted to their stalls.

With that out of the way, Isivunguvungu was given over to the care of trainer Graham Motion, who said he hoped to get him to the races in time for a prep or two before the Del Mar showdown.

The first prep came Sept. 7 at Colonial Downs in the 5 1/2-furlong Da Hoss Stakes. Benefitting from a ground-saving trip from Manny Franco, Isivunguvungu took command at the top of the stretch and held on for a neck victory.

Isivunguvungu was South Africa's champion sprinter of 2023 and a dual Group 1 winner with six wins from 15 starts. He has missed a first-three finish only three times and just once since his 2022 campaign. His performance in America, and that of a few other of South Africa's stars, will be a gauge of how well the country will stack up on the world scene.

Isivunguvungu's roots are firmly in the United States.

His sire, What a Winter (SAF), is by Western Winter, a son of Gone West. Western Winter was placed in four graded stakes, including a second in the 1997 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park. Isivunguvungu's dam, Miss Tweedy (SAF), is a daughter of Tiger Ridge, in turn a son of the mighty Storm Cat.

---

Motorious (GB)

Motorious (GB) turned a serious corner when he was dispatched from England to try the greener pastures of California after the 2021 season

The son of Muhaarar (GB) raced in relative obscurity in his native land. He made one start as a 2-year-old, finishing fourth in a novice stakes at Yarmouth in October 2020. He wasn't seen again until the following May, returning as a gelding.

He turned in three decent also-ran performances on the turf at minor British tracks until trainer Stuart Williams tried him on the all-weather Aug. 4 at Kempton Park. That did the trick as Motorious rallied from well back to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

He won again the following month at Wolverhampton, again on the all-weather, but had little to offer when put back on the grass in October at Newbury, finishing ninth in a field of 18.

It was off to California where Motorious finished second in his first U.S. start for trainer Phil D'Amato in March 2022 and then finished third a month later while tackling Santa Anita's downhill turf course.

After a seven-month break, things picked up as the gelding got his first U.S. win at Del Mar in November and followed with another win back at Santa Anita on Jan. 2, 2023. A good second in the Clockers Corner Stakes on the downhill course later that month convinced D'Amato Motorious was ready to take off and the horse proved his judgment right.

In close succession, he won the San Simeon Stakes (G2), finished second in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs and won the Green Flash Handicap (G3) back at Del Mar. He wound up 2023 starting as the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) -- and finished fifth with a troubled trip, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths.

He started 2024 back at Churchill Downs, finishing seventh in the Twin Spires, then was fourth in a Santa Anita allowance before repeating as victor in the Green Flash, earning a "Win and You're In" spot in the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

---

Star of Mystery (GB)

There's a popular meme that Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin operation had a tough 2024 in England in terms of top-level successes. If so, that could be in large measure because trainer Charlie Appleby has put some of his best horses where the best purses reside -- Dubai and the top U.S. racing circuits -- rather than the purse-challenged English venues.

Such is Star of Mystery (GB). The Godolphin homebred daughter of Kodiac (GB) raced exclusively in England as a 2-year-old, turning in two wins and two seconds in her first four starts. The runner-up finishes included the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (G2) July 14 at Newmarket.

She finished the year with a close-up sixth-place finish in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (G2) at York in August and hasn't raced in England since.

Appleby opted to start Star of Mystery's 3-year-old campaign at the Godolphin mothership -- Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. She responded beautifully, winning twice in January, then was second to longshot Frost at Dawn in the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3) on Super Saturday, March 3.

None of those efforts earned big-money purse awards but the returns improved when Star of Mystery got home second to Hong Kong star California Spangle (IRE) in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on Dubai World Cup (G1) night.

It was on to America with the first assignment the $500,000 Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct June 8 with Star of Mystery third in a field replete with likely candidates for November's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

A little dip in class produced a victory in the Quick Call Stakes (G3) at Saratoga and then traffic limited Star of Mystery to second place in the $350,000 Franklin Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 13.

The international travel helped Star of Mystery, as of the Franklin outcome, to a record of five wins, five seconds and one third from 12 starts and earnings of $834,862, per industry recordkeeper Equibase.

Illustrating the relative opportunities, Star of Mystery's five British starts contributed only $70,623 to that earnings total.

---

Aesop's Fables (IRE)

** coming soon **

---

Starlust (GB)

** coming soon **

What is the Breeders Cup' Turf Sprint?

The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint is a Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up. As its name implies, it is a part of the Breeders' Cup thoroughbred championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing. The distance of the race will vary depending on the host track's turf course requirements.

The Turf Sprint is a fast and furious charge across the downhill turf course and into the homestretch at Santa Anita Park this year. Run at approximately 1400 yards (6.5 furlongs) for horses 3-years of age and older, this race combines both speed and agility for the international competitors. The race was run for the first time in 2008 during the second day of Breeders' Cup racing at that year's host track, Santa Anita Park.

Distance : 6.5 Furlongs

The 2008 race was held at a distance of six and a half furlongs and was contested on Santa Anita's signature El Camino Real "downhill" turf course. In 2008 the race was limited to 14 starters. Besides Santa Anita, the only tracks in North America capable of contesting longer than six and 1/2 furlong turf races are Woodbine and Belmont. Churchill Downs, which has hosted the Breeders' Cup eight times, only conducts turf sprints at 5 furlongs. Breeders' Cup Officials did announce a preferred distance for the race, unlike all other Breeders' Cup races.

Because of technical requirements, it was not eligible for classification as a graded stakes race in its first two runnings. Starting in 2010, it was a Grade II race, and was upgraded to Grade I for 2012.

Automatic Berths
Beginning in 2007, the Breeders' Cup developed "The Breeders' Cup Challenge," a series of races in each division that alloted automatic qualifying bids to winners of defined races. Each of the fourteen divisions has between three and six of these, "Win and You're In," qualifiers. In the Breeders' Cup Distaff Division there are four automatic births.

2024 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE