Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint
| Location | United States, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2008 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Official Breeders' Cup website |
| Race information | |
| Distance | (5 furlongs) |
| Track | Turf, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old & up |
| Weight | Weight for Age |
| Purse | US$1,000,000 |
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 World 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[1].
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.
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 [2] and Belmont [3]. Churchill Downs, which has hosted the Breeders' Cup eight times, only conducts turf sprints at 5 furlongs [4]. 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.[5] Starting in 2010, it was a Grade II race,[6] and was upgraded to Grade I for 2012.[7]
Contents |
[edit] 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 Turf Sprint Division there are four automatic berths. In 2009, the Win and You're In races are: the Arlington Sprint Handicap, an ungraded race at Arlington Park; the Prix Maurice de Gheest, a group one race at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse; the Manikato Stakes, a group one race at Moonee Valley Racecourse; the Morvich Handicap, a grade one race at Santa Anita Park; the Morvich Handicap, a group one race at Longchamp Racecourse; and the Nearctic Stakes, a grade one race at Woodbine Racetrack.
[edit] Records
Most wins:
- No horse has won this race more than once.
Most wins by a jockey:
- No jockey has won this race more than once.
Most wins by a trainer:
- No trainer has won this race more than once.
Most wins by an owner:
- No owner has won this race more than once.
[edit] Winners of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint since 2008
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time | Purse | Grade |
| 2011 | Regally Ready | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Steve Asmussen | Vinery Stable | 56.48† | $1,000,000 | II |
| 2010 | Chamberlain Bridge | 6 | Jamie Theriot | Bret Calhoun | Carl Moore Management | 56.53† | $1,000,000 | II |
| 2009 | California Flag | 5 | Joe Talamo | Brian Koriner | Hi Card Ranch | 1:11.28‡ | $1,000,000 | |
| 2008 | Desert Code | 4 | Richard Migliore | David Hofmans | Tarabilla Farms | 1:11.60‡ | $1,000,000 |
† - Run at 5 furlongs
‡ - Run at 6.5 furlongs
[edit] See also
- Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint "top three finishers" and starters
- Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships
- American Thoroughbred Racing top Attended Events
[edit] References
- ^ Monthly Index to Online Story's | Blood-Horse.com
- ^ Woodbine Track Records
- ^ Belmont Track Records
- ^ Churchill Downs
- ^ Graded Stakes Committee releases 2008 changes - Thoroughbred Times
- ^ LaMarra, Tom (2008-12-03). "Arkansas Derby Among Three New Grade I Stakes". BloodHorse.com. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54257/arkansas-derby-among-three-new-grade-i-stakes. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
- ^ Hegarty, Matt (December 2, 2011). "Two BC races, Cotillion among four new Grade 1 stakes for 2012". Daily Racing Form. http://www.drf.com/news/two-bc-races-cotillion-among-four-new-grade-1-stakes-2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
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