The Breeders' Cup 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

Ag Bullet

Ag Bullet hasn't been the most consistent performer in her division but when she's been on, she has been very good indeed. And, looking forward to the 2025 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, it stands out that the 5-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy has not finished out of the money in three starts on the grass where the turf meets the surf.

That record includes a third-place finish in the 2024 Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1), beaten just a neck and a nose for the win after leading late.

Ag Bullet had a busy year in 2024 for trainer Richard Baltas and owners Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran with six starts leading up to the Breeders' Cup.

She started with wins in the Wishing Well Stakes and Monrovia Stakes (G3), both on Santa Anita's iconic hillside turf course. A trip east proved disappointing as she finished ninth in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2), fading from the lead when asked to go beyond her best trip.

She did manage to win at the 1-mile distance back at Del Mar in August against arguably easier competition in the Osunitas Stakes (Listed). The connections then hit the jackpot on the unique, European-style Kentucky Downs turf as Ag Bullet led, drew off to win the Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) by 5 1/4 lengths and snagged the $878,940 winner's share of the rich purse.

It was back to 1 mile at Keeneland in the First Lady Stakes (G1) in October and Ag Bullet, the favorite, persevered on the lead for the first 7 furlongs of that event before slipping back to finish fourth. After the close third in the Breeders' Cup, her final start of the year, the Matriarch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, produced an outcome almost identical to the First Lady -- lead, finish third.

Ag Bullet's 2025 debut, the Unbridled Sidney (G3) at Churchill Downs, was compromised by some traffic issues and a course-record performance by the winner. She finished seventh in that but rebounded nicely to win the Jaipur Stakes (G1) on June 8 at Saratoga by 2 lengths, switching tactics to a stalking game. That victory carried a "Win and You're In" Challenge berth in the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

Ag Bullet returned to the races Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs and became a two-time winner of the Ladies Turf Sprint by leading all the way for a three-quarters of a length victory.

Ag Bullet was bred in Kentucky by H & E Ranch. Her dam, Noble Grey, is a daughter of Forestry.

Motorious (GB)

If straight-line progressions meant anything in horse racing, Motorious (GB) would be a shoo-in for the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Why? Well, the now 7-year-old gelding won the Green Flash Handicap (G3) in 2023 at Del Mar and went on to the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita in his next start, finishing fifth. A year later, Motorious again won the Green Flash and again headed straight to the Breeders' Cup, finishing second.

It took some help from the stewards room but he won the Green Flash for the third straight year Aug. 30, earning a "Win and You're In" Challenge spot for a third try in the Turf Sprint. Motorious finished a nose behind Reef Runner in that third Green Flash but was moved up as a result of an infraction by that rival shortly after the start.

Motorious started his career in England in October 2020 and ran six times there in 2021, winning twice, both on all-weather tracks. Sent to Santa Anita at the start of the 2022 season and handed over to trainer Phil D'Amato, he showed promise right away finishing second and third in allowance races before heading to the sidelines for nearly seven months.

Refreshed, he won his first two starts back, then started 2023 with a second in the Clockers' Corner Stakes and a victory in the San Simeon Stakes (G3). A a road trip to Churchill Downs produced a second in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2).

All of that culminated in his first victory in the Green Flash and his first trip to the Breeders' Cup, held that year at Santa Anita.

After another six-month break, another crack at the Twin Spires Turf Sprint proved a bridge too far as Motorious finished seventh. An allowance test back home preceded the second Green Flash win and the marked improvement in the 2024 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.

Since the Breeders' Cup, Motorious has done all,of his running in California, reeling off well-spaced victories in the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2) on the Dec. 26 Santa Anita meeting opening day, the Daytona Stakes (G3) in June and his third Green Flash.

Motorious was sired in England by Muhaarar (GB), out of the Pastoral Pursuits (GB) mare Squash (GB). Muhaarar was a four-time Group 1 winner in turf sprints.

Bear River

Bear River looks like a late-developing type, with his speed figures and placings peaking at just the right time in his 4-year-old career.

That "right time" just happened to be the Kentucky Turf Sprint (G2) Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs. Based on his previous record of six wins from 21 starts, the Flameaway ridgling was dispatched at odds of 19-1, led throughout the 6 furlongs under jockey James Graham and got home first, a half-length in front of the solid favorite, Howard Wolowitz.

Owner Charles Marquis collected a $1,154,900 winner's share, more than double Bear River's total haul of $543,923 from all his earlier efforts combined. Marquis bought Bear River at the Ocala Breeders' Sale in 2023 for what turned out to be the bargain price of $50,000.

He was ambitiously placed from the first, starting his career at Del Mar with a decent fifth-place effort in his debut. Hopes of early stakes glory were brought to earth with fifth-place finishes in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G2) and the Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita.

Two more also-ran results at Churchill Downs in November finished his 2023 season. A move to Fair Grounds produced his maiden win in January but that was followed by four more losses, two in stakes races.

The penny dropped back in Kentucky as Bear River turned in three straight wins, two in Churchill Downs allowance races, then in the off-the-turf Dade Park Dash Stakes at Ellis Park. Again, though, came a string of losses up to a season-ending win in the Richard R. Scherer Memorial at Fair Grounds, a front-running score at 5 1/2 grassy furlongs.

A seventh-place finish in the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes in January of 2025 led to a 5 1/2-month layoff and a warm-upthird-place return at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He then showed his stuff with a victory at Ellis Park in the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Stakes (Listed).

Bear River was bred in Kentucky by Dreamfields Farm, Don Brady and Brendan Burke. His dam, Sixtyfivenorth, a daughter of Midshipman, spent her entire racing career at Horseshoe Indianapolis, winning twice from 13 trips.

Arizona Blaze (GB)

Arizona Blaze (GB) arrived at Del Mar for the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) as a relatively unappreciated part of a massive international field but outran his 27-1 odds to finish second.

A return engagement in America might find him better regarded after an impressive first half of 2025.

The 3-year-old colt, by Sergei Prokofiev out of the Equiano (FR) mare Liberisque (GB), had only two wins from eight starts before lining up in the Breeders' Cup. Granted, one of those came at the expense of Camille Pissarro (IRE), who went on in 2025 to win the Prix du Jockey Club (G1) or French Derby.

Still, that left him well shy on the Del Mar tote board behind other European youngsters and the big favorite, Japan's Ecoro Sieg (JPN). After saving ground around the turn, jockey Umberto Rispoli got the colt out between horses and closed ground on the leader, Governor Sam. In a close finish, Magnum Force (IRE) came up the rail to win with Arizona Blaze charging outside to take second.

After a short break, he returned in March for an easy win on the Dundalk all-weather course. He then was third in the Ballylinch Stud "Red Rocks" Stakes (G3), won by Henri Matisse (IRE).

A trip across the Channel found him back in the winner's enclosure after the Prix Sigy (G3) at Chantilly. Entered at 6 furlongs in the Sandy Lane Stakes (G2) at Haydock May 24, Arizona Blaze blazed away on the lead but ran out of gas, fading through the final furlong to finish sixth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths.

Trainer Adrian Murray retained enough faith after that experience to put his colt into Group 1 company in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot. Again, he led. Again, he couldn't hold on. But this time, he missed by just a neck to Time For Sandals (IRE) -- an impressive showing in a prestigious race against a huge field of 21.

He showed that was no fluke with a definitive, 2-length victory across the other Channel in the Sapphire Stakes (G2) at the Curragh in Ireland July 19 as the joint favorite.

Arizona Blaze was favored in a field of 17 in the 5-furlong Nunthorpe (G1) at York on Aug. 22 but he tired late and faded to finish 11th, 6 lengths behind Asfoora (AUS).

On Sept. 14 at the Curragh, Arizona Blaze would turn the tables on Asfoora as he posted a 1-length victory in the Flying Five (G1) going 5 furlongs over yielding turf. Arizona Blaze hit the front with a quarter-mile to go and held off a bid from Njghteyes (IRE) while favored Asfoora faded to seventh in the field of 15.

Shisospicy

Trainer Jose D'Angelo first took Shisospicy to the races Oct. 18, 2024, on the Gulfstream Park main track and she proved spicy, indeed. Sent off the second-favorite in the 6-furlong maiden race, the Mitole filly blasted off to a 16 1/4-length victory with Paco Lopez along for the ride.

Sent north to Churchill Downs, Shisospicy found winners a little tougher and faded from a contested lead to finish third in the 6 1/2-furlong Fern Creek Stakes, again on the dirt.

Back to Gulfstream to start her 3-year-old season, Shisospicy opened a daylight lead in the 6-furlong Mockingbird Stakes but couldn't hold it, finishing second, beaten just 1 length. That sent D'Angelo back to the drawing board to devise a new plan -- shorter and on the grass. Shisospicy responded, winning a conditioned allowance event at 5 furlongs on the Gulfstream Park lawn by 2 3/4 lengths Feb. 5.

That result opened new doors and Shisospicy moved right on through with a front-running, half-length win in the Limestone Stakes (Listed) at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Keeneland turf April 11 and a 4 3/4-length romp in the Mamzelle Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs May 10.

With Qatar Racing Ltd joining owners Morplay Racing LLC, Shisospicy then hopped a flight to England to take on some of the world's most promising 3-year-olds in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot. She showed her usual speed through two-thirds of the 6-furlong sprint but waved the white flag and faded to get home 15th of 21.

After a nearly three-month break, Shisospicy returned at Kentucky Downs Sept. 9 and returned to her dominating ways, stalking the pace in the Music City Stakes (G2) before scooting off to win by 3 lengths.

Shisospicy was produced by the Into Mischief mare Mischief Galore and bred in Kentucky by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.

Governor Sam

Expectations were high from the beginning for Governor Sam, a Kentucky-bred Improbable colt trained by George Weaver. And it didn't take long for Governor Sam to live up to those expectations.

The colt's first start came in a tough spot, the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park in May 2024. That race is a gateway to the juvenile heats at the Royal Ascot meeting in England and attracts some of the most promising young turf runners. Starting him there showed high hopes, indeed.

Governor Sam dueled for the early lead in the Royal Palm but paid the price, fading to finish sixth. If that was a learning experience, he learned his lesson well as the next outing produced a victory in a July maiden affair at Saratoga, followed by his first stakes win, the Tyro at Monmouth Park Aug. 3, another victory in the Rosie's Stakes at Colonial Downs a month later and still another triumph in the Indian Summer Stakes on the opening weekend of Keeneland's autumn extravaganza.

Keeneland in October is another proving ground -- not for England but for the Breeders' Cup World Championships -- and Governor Sam rode his four-race winning streak directly into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

There, he ran smack into a field filled with international talent from Europe and Japan.

Undaunted, jockey Paco Lopez took Governor Sam right out to the lead and, while he finished third behind Euros Magnum Force (IRE) and Arizona Blaze (GB), he easily was the best of the Americans.

After the winter break, he returned with another third-place finish in the William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs, followed by a fourth-place finish over a muddy main track. He then stepped right back up to graded stakes company to win the Quick Call Stakes (G3) at Saratoga July 13 by 3 1/2 lengths while coming from off the pace.

Four weeks later, Governor Sam was overtaken late in the 5 1/2-furlong Mahony Stakes (G3) at Saratoga settling for second 1 1/4 lengths behind Spiced Up.

Governor Sam ventured to Kentucky Downs for the first time on Sept. 6 for the Franklin-Simpson (G1) going 6 1/2 furlongs. Racing in mid-pack early on in the field of 12, Governor Sam split rivals near the eighth pole but could not run down the leaders and finished third, 1 ¾ lengths behind the victorious Troubleshooting.

Governor Sam faced older runners for the first time in the 5 1/2-furlong Woodford (G2) at Keeneland on Oct. 4. He stalked the pace in the field of eight, took charge at the eighth pole but could not hold off the closers and wound up fourth beaten a half-length for the top prize.

Governor Sam was produced by the Into Mischief mare I'm Betty G., a useful turf mare who ran primarily on the Kentucky circuit for trainer Mike Maker from 2016 to 2019.

Khaadem (IRE)

Khaadem (IRE) certainly seems to retain a joy for racing at age 9. But trainer Charlie Hills and jockey Frankie Dettori admitted after his last-to-first victory in the Woodford Stakes (G2) Oct. 4 at Keeneland they're never sure what they'll get from the Dark Angel (IRE) gelding on a race-to-race basis.

"He's an old fox, and today he decided to put his best foot forward and he won as he liked," Dettori said. "He's a character. Sometimes he doesn't turn up. But today he did."

Khaadem, twice a Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot meetings, got his first U.S. victory and Hills said he seems to enjoy the pace of racing in Kentucky. He came to Keeneland off a third-place finish in the Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs. He was second in the same event a year earlier in his only previous American start.

The veteran got away to a good start at age 2 and his initial start at 3, winning three of his first four races. With Hills training first for Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, then for Shadwell Stables, he came a cropper when pitted against top-level rivals, finishing up the course in the 2019 Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Ascot, the Sprint Cup (G1) at Haydock and the British Champion Sprint (G1).

He ran only twice in 2020, finishing fourth in two Group 1 events, and was more modestly spotted in 2021. Things picked up in 2022 as Khadeem won the Palace House Stakes (G3) at Newmarket and the King George Qatar Stakes (G2) at Newmarket.

In 2023 he jumped up to win the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, then repeated in 2024.

Out of the Footstepsinthesand (GB) mare White Daffodil (IRE), he was bred by Yeomanstown Stud and went to Shadwell for $1,042,571 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2017.

Reef Runner

Judging by his breeding and past performances, Reef Runner is all about Florida. He was bred in the Sunshine State and made 17 of his first 19 starts at Gulfstream Park. South Florida-based David Fawkes trains the 4-year-old gelding for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.

And that's where the Florida connection takes a detour. The Lieblongs are as plugged into Arkansas racing as could be. Alex has served as chair of the Arkansas Racing Commission and Oaklawn Park is their home track. And Reef Runner's sire, Grade 1 winner The Big Beast, formerly standing at Ocala Stud, now performs his duties at McDowell Farm in Sparkman, Arkansas.

Reef Runner's racing, though, has been Florida-centric.

He got his first win in his third start at Gulfstream, trying the all-weather course after two starts on the dirt. He ran back on the all-weather, finishing second, then won his first start on turf. Three more encouraging runs on both surfaces led the Lieblongs to try a road trip to Saratoga for the Mahoney Stakes (Listedj 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf Aug. 11, 2024.

Although he finished eighth in that, beating only one rival, he hardly was disgraced, only 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner at the end.

Back at Gulfstream, he hit the board in eight straight starts through the second half of 2024 and well into 2025 -- a string interrupted only by a fourth-place finish in the Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in February.

All of that was enough to send Reef Runner to another out-of-Florida experience -- the Green Flash Handicap (G3) Aug. 30 at Del Mar. The attraction there included a "Win and You're In" bid to the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

Reef Runner appeared to have won that bid, finishing a nose better than Motorious, who was seeking his third straight win in the race. But after an inquiry, the stewards ruled Reef Runner was the responsible party in a crowded start and reversed the order of finish.

Invincible Papa (AUS)

Invincible Papa (AUS) effectively epitomizes the globalization of horse racing: An Australian-bred with American, Irish and British bloodlines in the pedigree and racing in Japan.

The colt was bred by Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd. He was withdrawn from the January 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, then sold to Japan's Inc Macys for AUS$200,000 (about US$135,724) three months later at the Inglis Australian Easter Sale of 2-year-olds.

His grandsire, Invincible Spirit (IRE), is a popular commodity Down Under and his dam, Ghurra, is by War Chant.

The international background and pedigree produced six wins from the colt's first 10 starts. All were well down the class ladder, albeit with some recent upward movement after a switch from dirt to turf.

Invincible Papa finished third in his first start, then notched two wins, a second and two more wins, all on dirt courses and all at 1,200 to 1,400 meters. That string culminated in victory in his first stakes start, the JRA Ultra Premium at Kyoto Nov. 17, 2024.

Given a shot against tougher foes, he could manage only a seventh-place finish in the Capella Stakes (G3) in his final start of the year.

He returned on April 20 with a 1 1/2-length win in the Listed Keiyo Stakes going 1,200 meters on the Nakayama dirt with Joao Moreira up. Trainer Daishi Ito decided it was time to test Invincible Papa's turf skills.

He gave it a good go in the Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3) June 14, leading early at long odds before dropping back to finish fourth, barely edged for third. It was double-digit odds again for the colt in the CBC Sho (G3) Aug. 10 at Chukyo Racecourse but this time he outran the odds to win by a half-length over the favorite June Blair.

The Chukyo effort was all the more impressive given Invincible Papa started from the No. 17 gate, went quickly to the lead and held gamely when finally threatened in the closing strides.

Bucanero Fuerte (GB)

The road to Group-race success seldom leads through the breeding shed. But that's the winding career path taken by Bucanero Fuerte (GB).

The Wootton Bassett (GB) colt had posted four wins from nine starts when he was retired from competition after finishing 17th in the British Champion Sprint Stakes (G1) in October 2024.

The victories were not insignificant.

In just the third race of his career in 2023, Bucanero Fuerte rallied in the final strides to win the Railway Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds at the Curragh in Ireland, defeating Unquestionable (FR) by a short head. Six weeks later, over the same course and same 6 furlongs, he won the Phoenix Stakes (G1) by 4 lengths with Porta Fortuna (IRE) second and Unquestionable fourth.

Those victories snapped into sharp focus that November when Unquestionable won the Prevagen Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita and Porta Fortuna finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). Bucanero Fuerte did not make the California trip, instead heading to the sidelines for the season after reporting a well-beaten third in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) in September.

The Adrian Murray trainee was off to a good start in 2024 with a front-running victory by a head over Givemethebeatboys (IRE) in the Lacken Stakes (G3) in May. That, however, was followed by a sixth-place finish in the Sprint Cup Stakes (G1) at Haydock, a seventh in the Flying Five (G1) at the Curragh and a dismal 17th in the British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1), with the latter run on soft going.

Owner Amo Racing pulled the plug at that point, reckoning the colt's breeding value exceed his worth on the course. As it played out, the value might have been there but the performance wasn't as Bucanero Fuerte reportedly failed to get a single mare in foal. He was returned to Murray for another go on the grass.

That went well as the colt won his first outing by 1 3/4 lengths, then came right back to score again in the Phoenix Sprint (G3) Aug. 9 at the Curragh. He was back at the Curragh on Sept. 14 for the 5-furlong Flying Five (G1) over yielding ground. He held a narrow advantage early on but was overtaken a quarter-mile from the finish by eventual winner Arizona Blaze and finished third beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

Bucanero Fuerte (Spanish: Strong Buccaneer) was produced by the Elusive City mare Frieda la Blonde (FR).

Bring Theband Home

Patience is a virtue in training -- and owning! -- horses and there may be no better example than Bring Theband Home. The 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding made just a dozen starts from his debut in June 2022 to his breakthrough victory in the Harvey Pack Stakes (Listed) at Saratoga on the Fourth of July three years later.

Trainer Mark Casse credits Charlotte Weber, proprietor of owner and breeder Live Oak Plantation and Live Oak Stud, saying, per BloodHorse, "She's a very patient lady. We've given him time, given him time and it's worked out."

It's worked out so well that, in the Harvey Pack, Bring Theband Home came within 0.1 second of the world record for 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf, stopping the timer at 59.90 seconds. And he jumped from that right to graded stakes company in the Troy Stakes (G2) Aug. 3 and won again, clocking 1:00.38.

The thing is, says regular rider Javier Castellano, the gelding is just fast -- fast enough to overcome an awkward habit of changing leads repeatedly during a race. His victories usually are a simple matter of sprinting to a big lead and telling rivals, "Catch me if you can."

After the Troy, Casse had the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar firmly in his sights, indicating one or two more intervening starts might be booked.

Bring Theband Home ventured to Woodbine for the 5-furlong Nearctic (G2) on Oct. 4. He dueled for the early lead but tired late to finish last of seven as the 1-2 favorite beaten 3 1/2 lengths by the victorious No Nay Hudson (IRE).

To be fair, the patience of owner and trainer has been accompanied by a steady progression up the class ladder for Bring Theband Home. He took his time going through allowance conditions while bouncing back and forth between Casse's haunts in South Florida and upstate New York. In his sole visit elsewhere, he couldn't get the lead in the Nearctic Stakes (G2) Oct. 5 at Woodbine, then couldn't see out the 6 furlongs, fading to finish eighth.

The Florida-bred was produced by the Street Cry (IRE) mare Tizatude. His superstar sire, Into Mischief, was a multiple graded stakes winner during California's all-weather track mandate in 2007 and 2008.

She's Quality (IRE)

Through the first half of 2025, She's Quality (IRE) looked like a filly who had come into her own and needed just the tiniest break to get over the top. The pattern continued even at the top levels of the sprint ranks as the season wore on.

She's Quality has the pedigree for success -- by Acclamation (GB) out of the Exceed and Excel (AUS) mare Quality Time (IRE). Yet she won only a single race through her first 10 starts in 2023 and 2024. The trend continued right up to her final start as a 3-year-old season, spent primarily in low- to mid-level races at tracks across Ireland.

Despite the mediocre results, trainer Jack Davison decided to give She's Quality a chance against the best in her final start of 2024 -- the Flying Five Stakes (G1) at the Curragh. Although she finished 10th, she was only 5 lengths adrift of the winner, multiple Group 1 winner Bradsell (GB).

With a taste of Group stakes action under her girth, She's Quality reeled off four straight runner-up finishes to start 2025, in the Palace House Stakes (G3) at Newmarket, the Temple Stakes (G2) at Haydock, the Coral Charge (G3) at Sandown and the King George (G2) at Goodwood.

So far, promising indeed. But when asked to move up to the top level, things went slightly the wrong way.

After racing prominently in the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York Aug. 22, She's Quality couldn't quite keep pace and got home 10th, albeit beaten only 5 lengths. Then, back in Ireland Sept. 14 for another try at the Flying Five, she turned in a much-improved performance, finishing fourth, just 1 1/2 lengths adrift of the winner, Arizona Blaze (GB).

She's Quality turned in another quality effort on Oct. 5 at Longchamp in the 5-furlong Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1). She pressed the leaders early over very soft ground but weakened late to finish third of 17 beaten 3 lengths by Asfoora (AUS).

She's Quality was bred by Rathbarry Stud. Her sire was a high-class sprinter just after the turn of the century but his most notable offspring is Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior (IRE), whose success has been primarily at middle distances. Her dam finished her racing career in New York with trainer Christophe Clement after starting in England.

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ALSO ELIGIBLES

Joe Shiesty

If there were a template for a horse poised for a breakthrough, Joe Shiesty might fit pretty well. He seems to have been on the brink of that big score for some time, in fact. But his performance in the Woodford Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 4 was his biggest step yet.

The Air Force Blue gelding started in unprepossessing fashion. He finished eighth in his career bow going 6 furlongs on the Churchill Downs dirt Nov. 12, 2023.

Trainer Eric Foster retreated to the all-weather track at Turfway Park, where Joe Shiesty spent a productive, still largely promising, winter. He won his third career start, then moved up to finish third in the Turfway Prevue Jan. 6 and won again in an allowance event two months later.

He led and faded late to finish fifth in the Animal Kingdom Stakes March 23. Returning to Churchill Downs for his first turf race, Joe Shiesty upset the William Walker Stakes (Listed), leading throughout the 5 1/2 furlongs of firm going to win by 2 1/4 lengths at odds just shy of 30-1.

That started an up-and-down pattern. He was seventh in the Kentucky Downs Prevue Turf Sprint (Listed) and 12th in the rich Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1) at Kentucky Downs. Stepping back down from that lofty company and sticking to 5 1/2-furlong turf dashes, Joe Shiesty finished finished first, second and second again at Keeneland and then Churchill Downs to finish 2024.

He resurfaced in June at Churchill Downs, again looking ready to fulfill his promise, winning the Mighty Beau Stakes (Listed) by a neck over the talented Arrest Me Red. Again, the promise went unfulfilled as he tried the Kentucky Downs Prevue Turf Sprint again and finished eighth.

Despite that, Foster put the gelding right back in graded stakes company and he either showed more promise or, depending on perspective, delivered on his promise with a nice third-place finish, beaten just a neck and a head in a multi-horse blanket finish to the Woodford.

Joe Shiesty, out of the More Than Ready mare Ready to Unleash, was bred in Kentucky by Rodney E. Orr and races for a partnership fronted by Foster Family Racing.

Puro Magic (JPN)

Her connections have given her every chance, from one end of Japan to another and even in Dubai but the 4-year-old daughter of Asia Express has yet to find a win at any level above Grade 3.

Puro Magic opened her account in June 2023 at Tokyo Racecourse, finishing 16th in a 1,400-meter sprint on the dirt. That was her last start on the brown course.

Sent north to Sapporo for the summer, Puro Magic responded with a third-place finish, then got her first win going 1,200 meters on Sept. 2. From there, it was south to Kyoto Racecourse where she got home eighth in her first graded effort, the KBS Kyoto Sho (G3). A runner-up showing at Hanshin completed the season.

Puro Magic's 2024 season comprised six starts and showed a lot of promise. She started with a 1,200-meter win at Kyoto in January, finished second in the Listed Marguerite Sho in February at Hanshin and then won the Aoi Stakes (G3) in May at Kyoto and the Kitakyushu Kinen (G3) at far southern Kokura Racecourse June 30.

Gradewise, that seemed to be her stalling point.

A 13th-place finish in the Sankei Sho Centaur Stakes (G2) at Chukyo Sept. 8 might have been too bad to be real but she followed it with an eighth place in the Sprinters Stakes (G1).

Her chances kept coming. She was ninth in the Silk Road Stakes (G3) in February to start 2025 and shipped to Dubai for the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on Dubai World Cup night, where she finished fifth.

After a break, she returned to win the Ibis Summer Dash (G3) at Nigata Aug. 3, earning another shot at the Sprinters Stakes. Again, the jump in class proved too much and Puro Magic finished eighth.

Puro Magic is out of the Deep Impact (JPN) mare Medjerda (JPN). She was bred by Muata Bokujo and Shogo Yasuda trains for the owner, Three H Racing Co. Ltd.

No Nay Hudson (IRE)

No Nay Hudson (IRE) has plenty going for him as a turf sprinter, notably his sire, No Nay Never, a top-level winner on two continents, and his trainer, Wesley Ward, who conditioned the sire and now handles the son.

So it's no surprise No Nay Hudson, while not quite achieving the results his sire posted, has put together a solid career of his own and continues running with the best nearing the end of his 5-year-old season.

No Nay Never won at first asking at Keeneland April 28, 2022, capturing one of Keeneland's iconic 4 1/2-furlong dashes by 4 lengths as the even-money favorite. It was a long time between winner's circle appearances, though, as he then finished fourth in the Tremont Stakes (Listed) at Belmont Park, second in the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga in his first turf run, third in the Indian Summer Stakes (Listed) back at Keeneland and second in the Atlantic Beach Stakes at Aqueduct to wind up his 2-year-old campaign.

The 3-year-old season started with a sixth-place finish in the Palisades (Listed) at Keeneland, followed by a win in the William Walker Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs. He was fourth at Saratoga, fourth back at Keeneland and finally scored again in a Gulfstream Park allowance race on Dec. 1.

Ward gave the busy guy nearly eight months off and brought him back at Saratoga in July 2024 -- the first of start of a winless, four-race campaign that included a third-place showing in the Green Flash Handicap (G3) at Del Mar -- his first graded stakes start.

He started 2025 in New Orleans, finishing fourth in the Colonel Power Stakes (Listed) then won a Keeneland allowance event and finished second in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint (Listed) at Pimlico. Another West Coast trip produced a fourth-place finish in the Green Flash.

He finally hit the top with a trip north of the border for the Nearctic Stakes (G2) at Woodbine Oct. 4. Rallying from last of seven after a troubled start, No Nay Hudson circled the field and outfinished 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner Nobals to win by a neck.

No Nay Hudson was bred by RJB Bloodstock and is owned by Andrew Farm and For the People Racing LLC.

Nobals

Nobals looked ready to rule the division when he won the 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) over a talented international field. That was, after all, his fourth win in a five-race span and 10th overall including an early career victory in the final running of the Arlington-Washington Futurity (Listed).

On his way to the Breeders' Cup, the Noble Mission (GB) gelding ran and won on turf and all-weather tracks and accounted for the likes of the Turfway Prevue, the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs and the Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine as trainer Larry Rivelli shopped around for opportunities.

The Churchill Downs graded stakes win emboldened the trainer to think big. After winning a minor stakes on the Horseshoe Indianapolis grass, he sent Nobals to Saratoga for the Troy Stakes (G3) only to see him give up the lead in the late going, finishing second to the venerable Cogburn. Another win in the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs propelled him to the Breeders' Cup, where he rallied up the rail to win by a neck over Big Invasion.

It was a year, and three off-the-board finishes, after that before Nobals won again, taking the Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) at Woodbine.

For much of 2025, Nobals was given easier challenges at Turfway, Gulfstream Park, Presque Isle Downs and Ellis Park. He returned to the elite ranks at Kentucky Downs in September in the Turf Sprint (G2) but finished seventh, beaten a bit more than 5 lengths.

Back on the van, Nobals headed for Woodbine and finished second, a neck behind No Nay Hudson (IRE) in a three-way photo at the end of the Nearctic Stakes (G2).

The 6-year-old gelding, out of the Empire Maker mare Pearly Blue, was bred in Kentucky by Dr. John A. Chandler. He may have been the biggest bargain at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, selling for $3,500. Through the Nearctic, he had earned more than $1.8 million.

Incanto (IRE)

** coming soon **

Yellow Card

** 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.

2025 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE