Richard Baltas’ rapid grey mare Ag Bullet missed out on Breeders Cup Turf Sprint glory by just a neck 12 months ago at the World Championships from the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Such are the fine margins in this $1,000,000 dash over 1,000m, but she arrives back in California after a productive campaign.
Ag Bullet had made the show in Grade I races before, but posted a career best in the Jaipur Stakes during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival this summer. This five-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy broke well at the Spa and only needed pushing out for a real cosy two-length win over My Boy Prince. The second has since filled the same spot in two valuable races in Canada including the Woodbine Mile.
As Ag Bullet confirmed Breeders Cup Turf Sprint form with Arzak back in fourth, she delivered around Saratoga. Not only did she land that big prize on the Belmont Stakes day card and schedule, but later followed-up in the even more valuable Grade II Ladies Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs over further. Her draw in Gate 8 here looks high enough, as previous editions of this race from Del Mar favored low numbers.
Such bias is an occupational hazard all sprinters encounter. It was pronounced 12 months ago as each of the first four home and five of the top six crossing the wire jumped from Gates 1-5. In this respect, the luck of the draw favors Ag Bullet’s old rival Motorious, who beat her for second by a nose. This seven-year-old Philip D’Amato gelding again has post position number 1.
Only a three-year-old stopped the son of Muhaarar from triumphing 12 months ago. Just three from this younger age bracket run here with a low draw for one crossing the pond from Ireland.
Arizona Blaze Best of European Challenge in Breeders Cup Turf Sprint
Lucky Gate 3 is for Arizona Blaze this time with that proving the perfect post position to break from the last twice that Del Mar has hosted the World Championships. Trained by Adrian Murray for Amo Racing, this Sergei Prokofiev colt went close over course and distance 12 months ago in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Coming back here and going one better looks like a long-term target.
Arionza Blaze, who tasted Group 1 success in the Flying Five Stakes on home turf, has barn buddy Bucanero Fuerte in the same ownership also shipping across the Atlantic with him. That one probably wants another furlong. Neither of these, nor fellow Irish raider She’s Quality, have the favor of oddsmakers. The Morning Line and prices on the best Belmont Stakes racebooks prefer Motorious and Ag Bullet for the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint.
Veteran gelding Khaadem is also over from England and has a history of causing shocks. Fast ground seems key to Charlie Hills’ nine-year-old by Dark Angel, but he’s already won stateside with Grade II Woodford Stakes success around Keeneland at their fall meet. There are also some new kids on the sprinting block for this edition, who could still progress in the division.
Chief among those is David Fawkes speedster Reef Runner. This four-year-old gelding by The Big Beast just crossed the wire first in the Green Flash Handicap over the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint course and distance, only for Del Mar stewards to award the race to Motorious. Reef Runner has since proved that was no fluke by landing the Grade II Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Gate 2 only adds further intrigue to the rematch with Motorious.
Bear River, Shisospicy Must Overcome Wide Draws
Also in the progressive pile, according to some handicappers, is Bear River. Keith Desormeaux’s four-year-old Flameaway ridgling took his form to a whole new level when landing the valuable Grade II Kentucky Turf Sprint. Khaadem made the show, while splitting them was 2024 Franklin-Simpson winner Howard Wolowitz. It’s a smart run from Bear River, but he must also build on it to have a say here.
Post position number 9 isn’t ideal for him, but he’s inside the speedy bottom weight Shisospicy in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint draw. Jose D’Angelo and Qatar Racing have a three-year-old filly on their hands progressing through the grades. This daughter of Mitole beat subsequent Test Stakes heroine Kilwin in the Mamzelle at Churchill Downs.
Although a trip to Royal Ascot didn’t work out for Shisospicy, she bounced back to her best when landing the valuable Grade II Music City Stakes around Kentucky Downs last time over further. As she’s such a rapid filly, she might have the speed to overcome that wide draw and trip around the turn into the home stretch.
Troy Stakes winner Bring TheBand Home for the Mark Casse barn and George Weaver’s three-year-old Governor Sam complete the home team, apart from three of the reserves. Both are longshots here with the latter third behind Arizona Blaze in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint over course and distance 12 months ago.
Japan also has a runner, plus the first reserve, with Invincible Papa making the cut. He landed a Grade III on his side of the Pacific before shipping to Del Mar. Al Quoz Sprint fifth Puro Magic is next in line if there are any late scratchings for this wide-open dash where the surf meets the turf.
Breeders Cup Turf Sprint 2025 Post Positions Draw & Morning Line Odds
- Motorious (126lbs) – 7-2 fav
- Reef Runner (126lbs) – 6-1
- Arizona Blaze (124lbs) – 5-1
- Khaadem (126lbs) – 10-1
- Bring Theband Home (126lbs) – 12-1
- Governor Sam (124lbs) – 15-1
- She’s Quality (123lbs) – 20-1
- Ag Bullet (123lbs) – 4-1
- Bear River (126lbs) – 20-1
- Shisospicy (121lbs) – 6-1
- Bucanero Fuerte (126lbs) – 20-1
- Invincible Papa (126lbs) – 20-1
- Puro Magic (123lbs) – 20-1 [RESERVE]
- Yellow Card (126lbs) – 15-1 [RESERVE]
- No Nay Hudson (126lbs) – 20-1 [RESERVE]
- Incanto (124lbs) – 30-1 [RESERVE]
Our Handicapper’s Verdict
Favorable low draws mean Motorious has obvious claims of going one better, but he concedes to weight to Arizona Blaze. In-between them is his new rival Reef Runner and any one of them could benefit from Del Mar track bias.
There’s plenty of pace from higher draws, however, which brings the females into it. Both Ag Bullet and Shisospicy could burn things up. With his recent form franked by Khaadem, Bear River is a longshot that could outrun his odds.
WATCH: Motorious & Ag Bullet Run in the 2024
Breeders Cup Turf Sprint
