The $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) is another of the seven original Breeders’ Cup races. It has always been contested at the 6-furlong distance.
Check the Time for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and complete the race card for the “Championship Saturday”:
| Race | Race Name | Post Time ET |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sunrise (Allowance) | 1:05pm |
| 2 | The Ocean View (Allowance) | 1:40pm |
| 3 | Goldikova Stakes (G3) | 2:15pm |
| 4 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) | 3:00pm |
| 5 | Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) | 3:41pm |
| 6 | Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) | 4:21pm |
| 7 | Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) | 5:01pm |
| 8 | Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) | 5:41pm |
| 9 | Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) | 6:25pm |
| 10 | Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) | 7:05pm |
| 11 | Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile | 7:45pm |
| 12 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) | 8:25pm |
The race has always been a significant predictor of who will win the year-end Eclipse Award as outstanding sprinter, and only 13 times in the 41 previous editions has the winner not collected championship honors at the end of the season. The rundown: 1987, Very Subtle won and Groovy was champion; 1989, Dancing Spree (Safely Kept was champion); 1990, Safely Kept (Housebuster); 1991, Sheikh Albadou (Housebuster); 1992, Thirty Slews (Rubiano); 1995, Desert Stormer (Not Surprising); 1997, Elmhurst (Smoke Glacken); 2003, Cajun Beat (Aldebaran); 2005, Silver Train (Lost in the Fog); 2008, Midnight Lute (Benny the Bull); 2009, Dancing in Silks (Kodiak Cowboy); 2013, Secret Circle (Points Offthebench); 2021, Aloha West (Jackie’s Warrior).
Two horses have won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint twice, both in consecutive years: Midnight Lute in 2007 and 2008, and Roy H. in 2017 and 2018. Retired jockey Corey Nakatani rode four winners, including three in a row – Lit de Justice, 1996; Elmhurst, 1997; Reraise, 1998, and Thor’s Echo, 2006. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert has tightened the girth on five winners – Thirty Slews (1992); Midnight Lute (2007 and 2008); Secret Circle (2013); and Drefong (2016).
Midnight Lute still owns the stakes record of 1:07.08 for his win in 2008 at Santa Anita.
Eillo (1984) -- In the running, Eillo, ridden by Craig Perret and trained by Budd Lepman, set the stage for the event’s legacy. Charging wire-to-wire against a loaded field, Eillo held on to win in 1:10.20, securing a $1 million purse for his owners, Crown Stable. This gritty upset was thrilling as it launched the Breeders’ Cup with a bang.
Precisionist (1985) -- Precisionist, under Chris McCarron and trained by Ross Fenstermaker, pulled off a stunning victory in 1985, clocking 1:08.40 for owner Fred Hooper. A route specialist coming off a four-month layoff, this veteran rallied from off the pace to nose out future champ Smile in a heart-pounding finish.
Safely Kept (1990) -- The 1990 Sprint delivered one of racing’s wildest moments when Safely Kept, ridden by Craig Perret and trained by Alan Goldberg, capitalized on a rival’s blunder. European favorite Dayjur jumped a shadow mid-stretch, faltering just enough for Safely Kept to surge to a neck victory in 1:09.40 for owner Jayeff B Stable. This thrilling “what if” moment, where a split-second mistake flipped the race, remains a legendary upset and a testament to the filly’s tenacity.
Sheikh Albadou (1991) -- Sheikh Albadou, a British 3-year-old ridden by Pat Eddery and trained by Alex Scott, shocked the racing world in 1991 with a 16-1 upset in 1:09.20 for owner Hilal Salem. The only international horse to win the Sprint, he outran America’s top speedsters, proving the race’s global appeal.
Kona Gold (2000) -- At Churchill Downs, Kona Gold, guided by Alex Solis and trained by Bruce Headley, scorched the track in a record-breaking 1:07.77 for owners Irwin Molasky, High Tech Stable, and Headley. The 6-year-old outdueled the speedy mare Honest Lady, setting a track record that highlighted his late-career brilliance.
Midnight Lute (2007-2008) -- Midnight Lute, under Garrett Gomez for trainer Bob Baffert, became a Sprint legend with back-to-back wins in 2007 (1:09.18) and 2008 (1:07.08) for owners Watson, Weitman, and Pegram. The 2008 victory set the fastest time in Sprint history, a record still standing, as he exploded past top-tier fields. These thrilling performances, marked by late charges and unmatched dominance, made Midnight Lute a rare repeat champion.
Work All Week (2014) -- 12-1 longshot Work All Week, ridden by Florent Geroux and trained by Roger Brueggemann, defied the odds for Midwest Thoroughbreds. Facing a brutal 21.19 opening quarter, the 5-year-old stalked the pace and held off reigning champ Secret Circle by a half-length in 1:08.28.
Roy H (2017-2018) -- Roy H, with Kent Desormeaux in the irons for trainer Peter Miller in 2017, delivered a masterclass, winning in 1:08.61 for owner Rockingham Ranch. Tackling a loaded field that included Drefong, Whitmore, and Imperial Hint, the 5-year-old nipped his rivals in a tactical triumph. The excitement came from conquering one of the deepest Sprint fields ever, and its uniqueness was cemented by Roy H’s 2018 repeat, establishing him as a modern Sprint dynasty.
Defending champion Straight No Chaser (trained by Dan Blacker) is a focal point given his 7-for-13 career and part-ownership by MyRacehorse. The reigning champion must rebound from a recent third-place finish in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) on Sept. 28.
Others in the discussion include Bentornato, fresh off a strong return at Churchill Downs, and Baffert-trained Imagination, who impressed in winning the Santa Anita Sprint Championship when cutting back in distance off a layoff.
The filly Kopion, trained by Richard Mandella, could attract sharp money if entered here instead of the Filly & Mare Sprint, as she's seen as one of the country’s top female sprinters and dominant between 6 and 7 furlongs.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.'s mount choice (listed as possible on Nakatomi, Captain Cook, and Bentornato) is a key betting signal.
Longshot appeal: Horses like Mad House (23-1 upset winner of the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) or Smoken Wicked (Amsterdam Stakes winner) could draw exotic play for their front-running styles in a deep field.
Pari-mutuel trends favor multi-race bets like Pick 3/4/5, incorporating the Sprint, as exotic bets often pay well in speed-duel scenarios.
Favorites perform solidly but not dominantly: 12 of the last 25 winners started at 4-1 or less, including six post-time favorites. However, the average winning odds are 8-1, with nine winners at double-digit odds, indicating value in mid-range prices. Only one favorite won among the last eight editions at Santa Anita/Del Mar (2013's Secret Circle at 5-2), with four paying $24 or more.
Upset frequency: Recent history points to chaos — nine of 20 winners from 2003-2022 were at 10-1 or higher, often when pace collapses. Betting on California-based horses pays off at Del Mar (2024 winner Straight No Chaser was locally prepped).
Payouts in the Sprint vary widely due to field depth and occasional longshot winners, with exotics often boosted by speed duels or track biases. Historical averages (based on $2 win bets and $1 exotics across all editions) show a win payout of $17.50 for a win, exacta $140, trifecta $1,200, and superfecta $10,000. Still, these trends are richer in upset years.
Averages over 25 years: Win $17 (higher in the 2010s due to upsets like Amazombie at $36.80 in 2011). Exotics trend upward with field size (14+ horses). Del Mar editions (2017, 2024) averaged higher trifectas ($400+) due to speed-bias favoring bombs.
Twelve of the last 25 winners were front-runners, just off the pace, or stalkers, showing a bias toward forwardly placed horses (e.g., not pure closers needing five-plus lengths back). From 2003-2022, nine of 20 winners were pacesetters or pressers, with only occasional deep closers succeeding (e.g., Whitmore in 2020 rallied from mid-pack). There isn’t a strong recent bias, but speed holds better at Del Mar than Santa Anita.
At Del Mar, the tight turns favor inside speed (posts 1-5 have won 40% of sprints historically), but rail bias is neutral—winners have come from stalking. Average winning Beyer Speed Figure: 105-110, with paces around:21.5 to :44 flat for the first half mile.
Front-runners like Midnight Lute (2007-08) or Mitole (2019) dominated when unchallenged, but duels (e.g., 2021's multi-speed collapse) boosted closers. Three-year-olds (e.g., Runhappy 2015) trend well if mature, but veterans like Roy H (back-to-back 2017-18 at age 5 and 6) show experience edges.
Expected hot pace: The field is loaded with speed, including front-runners like Mad House, Smoken Wicked, and Mullikin (who can stretch to 7 furlongs but thrives pressing). Straight No Chaser and Imagination may duel early (:21 to :43 for the half mile fractions projected), setting up off-pace types like Nakatomi (recent neck win rallying in Phoenix Stake) or Bentornato (strong stalker with Del Mar form). If pace melts (contested like 2024's :21.8 and :44.2), closers like Dr. Venkman or Kopion could capitalize. Mullikin is the "now horse" if he handles a fast/contested scenario. Del Mar's fair main track likely rewards versatile runners over pure speedballs.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
