Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint - A Wide Open Affair

Mon 1st, November 2010

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Grade I Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint returns to a dirt surface for the first time since its inaugural running won by Maryfield at Monmouth Park in 2007.

While even the thought of back-to-back Breeders' Cups held on Santa Anita's synthetic Pro-Ride may have had many considering tearing up their Daily Racing Forms, the last two renewals of the Female Sprint have proved quite formful.

Two years ago, Ventura made an electrifying move on the turn for home and blew by champion (and 9-5 favorite) Indian Blessing for an easy four-length tally as the 5-2 second-choice. Last year, the well-built Juddmonte homebred failed to defend her title at the Great Race Place, with synthetic specialist Informed Decision taking advantage of a flawless ride beneath Julien Leparoux. Sent off at 3-1, the Augustin Stable color bearer shadowed Free Flying Soul early while Ventura settled toward the rear. Leparoux hit the gas on the turn for home, opened a clear lead in the stretch, and was home free as Ventura came running late for second as the 4-5 chalk.

Informed Decision was brought back by the sporting George Strawbridge for her five-year-old season, but the division still lacks a standout as that one is clearly better over synthetics. The classy daughter of Monarchos made amends for a disappointing sixth in Saratoga's Grade I Ballerina Stakes with a dramatic last-to-first victory in the Grade III Presque Isle Downs Master Stakes. She is worth taking a shot against, especially as one of the favorites, if she shows up for a title defense in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Just as the aforementioned gray used her love for the all-weather surface to her advantage at last year's Championships, horses with an affinity for the tricky Churchill dirt may hold the upper hand on the first Friday in November. Veteran mares Dubai Majesty and Secret Gypsy, one-two beneath the Twin Spires in the Grade III Winning Colors Stakes in late May, lead the way for the home team.

While it's been a struggle for trainer Ronny Werner to keep her in one piece, the lightly campaigned Secret Gypsy is finally living up to the potential she flashed during her track-record setting debut at Saratoga back in 2007. A bit slow out of the gate this year, she got back on track with a solid effort in the Winning Colors then caught fire posting eye-catching wins in the quickly run $100,000 Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows in June and the Grade II Honorable Miss Handicap at the Spa. Secret Gypsy kept the streak alive in September overcoming traffic to deliver a professional score as the chalk in Delaware's Grade III Endine Stakes. The daughter of Sea of Secrets boasts an 8 1/2-length allowance win at the seven-furlong distance of the Filly & Mare Sprint at Churchill during her three-year-old season--good for a 103 Beyer Speed Figure--and is very scary when she is on her game. Werner has yet to finish in the money with three previous Breeders' Cup starters.

Louisville slugger Dubai Majesty has gotten her picture taken at Churchill in three consecutive seasons, including back-to-back heroics in the Winning Colors. The versatile mare handles all surfaces, placing second in the Grade I Vinery Madison Stakes over Keeneland's Polytrack in April and also annexed a $100,000 grass stake at Monmouth in August. She suffered a heart-breaking defeat in the Masters, getting tagged by defending champ Informed Decision in the final jump. With plenty of front-runners likely to line up, her come-from- behind style adds to her appeal in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Trainer Bret Calhoun was represented by his first Breeders' Cup starter when crack sprinter Mr. Nightlinger ran in the Turf Sprint two years ago.

Three-year-olds Indian Blessing and Zaftig ran well to finish second and third, respectively, in this race in 2008, and fellow sophomore Champagne d'Oro looks poised to take on her elders. She has really found her calling since turning back in distance. The Southern Equine Stable representative lit up the tote board at 39-1 with a wire-to-wire tally going a mile against a deep group of 11 sophomore fillies in the Grade I Acorn Stakes on Belmont Stakes day, and couldn't have been more impressive in the prestigious seven-furlong Grade I Test Stakes at the Spa, remarkably pulling clear in the stretch following a :44 2/5 half-mile to score by 4 1/2 lengths. Colorful conditioner Eric Guillot has finished out of the money with all three of his previous Breeders' Cup starters, including Champagne d'Oro, who was last of 12 in the 2009 Juvenile Fillies.

Sweet August Moon emerged as the best in the west following consecutive scores in the Grade II A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood and Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar. The Malibu Moon mare likes the seven-furlong distance of the Filly & Mare Sprint and has a favorable running style in a race that figures to be loaded with speed. Her big question mark is if she will be able to handle the dirt. Trainer Brian Koriner won his first Breeders' Cup race with California Flag in last year's Turf Sprint. Fellow California resident Free Flying Soul, third behind Informed Decision and Ventura at 35-1 in last year's big event, gave way late to finish fourth after leading in the stretch in the Humana Distaff. She may be best going a furlong shorter, but the A Gleam runner-up rarely runs a bad race. Trainer Bruce Headley saddled Kona Gold to a victory in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Sprint, which was also held at Churchill Downs.

It's awfully difficult to find a knock on Zayat Stable's Rightly So. The New York-bred made the transition to graded-stakes company at Belmont Park right on stride, placing a close second to Hour Glass in the Grade II Vagrancy Handicap and gamely prevailing in the Grade III Bed o' Roses Handicap. The $220,000 OBSFEB graduate posted a four-length tour-de-force over Warbling and Grade I Princess Rooney Handicap victress Jessica Is Back in Saratoga's Grade I Ballerina Stakes, a race used as a springboard for Filly & Mare Sprint heroine Maryfield. It's been a breakthrough year for Rightly So's trainer Tony Dutrow, who saddled Burning Roma to a close fourth-place finish in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Six-year-old Jessica Is Back was supplemented to the Championships. She was claimed for $50,000 last April, and continues to reach new heights under the tutelage of Marty Wolfson. Jessica Is Back is partnered by Elvis Trujillo, the first jockey to win the Filly & Mare Sprint.

Two narrow defeats stood in the way of a perfect record for Qualia prior to an eventful eighth when having her saddle slip in the Ballerina. The Saarland filly, owned by Marc Keller and trained by Bobby Ribaudo, gave Rightly So all she could handle when beaten only a head in the Bed o' Roses. These same connections are represented by multiple Grade I winning turfer Grand Couturier (GB), who failed to land a blow in either the 2007 or 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf. Unfortunately, she is stuck on the also eligible list so there's a chance she might not be able to run.

The Breeders' Cup makes its seventh appearance at the home of the Kentucky Derby and its first since 2006. Way before the days of the Filly & Mare Sprint, female sprinters put on some good shows against the boys, including in the 1994 and 2000 Sprint renewals held beneath the Twin Spires. California filly Soviet Problem, sent off as the 3-1 second choice in 1994, mixed it up early through a scorching quarter mile in :21.24. Ridden by Chris McCarron, Soviet Problem gained a narrow lead at the top of the stretch but was reeled in late by champion sprinter Cherokee Run to finish second, beaten a head. In 2000, the blue-blooded Juddmonte homebred Honest Lady came flying down the stretch at 31-1 to finish second, beaten only a half-length by Kona Gold. While those two fell just short, females Very Subtle (1987), Safely Kept (1990) and Desert Stormer (1995) helped pave the way for the Filly & Mare Sprint with ground- breaking victories on racing's biggest stage.

Live Odds provided by :

Live Odds provided by :

Where the players come to play and STAY.

Sportsbook & Sports Betting at SBG Global

Sports Sites

Sports Contests – Think you know the game?

Sports Information you need to win BIG.

Contact Us | Help | Site Map| Sport Links

Sportsbook Directory | Casinos Directory | Poker Room Directory | Racebook Directory | Partners Directory