by Tom Musgrave

Front-running Mr. Nightlinger reeled off his fifth straight win and earned a starting spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint with a record-setting victory in the $200,000 Arlington Sprint Handicap on Saturday at Arlington Park.

The 5 1/2-furlong Arlington Sprint is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series.

Four-year-old Mr. Nightlinger, who was favored at 7-to-10, broke sharply and went immediately to the front, pulling the field through a quarter-mile in :21.80 and a half-mile in :44.20. Unchallenged under jockey Jamie Theriot, Mr. Nightlinger held on in the stretch for a two-length victory in 1:01.89, a course record for 5 1/2 furlongs. The previous record of 1:02.44 was set by Marley’s Revenge on September 19, 2004.

"I'm just a passenger on him and I think it would take a real good horse to beat him right now," Theriot said. "I think he's the best of the best right now sprinting."

Starticus stalked the pace throughout and finished well for second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Prince Woodman.

The Arlington Sprint previously was contested on the main track, but was moved to the turf this year.

Since switching to turf this year for trainer Bret Calhoun, Mr. Nightlinger is undefeated this year in five starts, a run that includes wins in the Shakertown Stakes (G3) on April 13 at Keeneland Race Course and the Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes (G3) on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Campaigned by Martin Racing Stable and Carl Moore Management, Mr. Nightlinger has won nine of 18 starts and has earned $498,503. Bred by Brereton Jones, Mr. Nightlinger is an Indian Charlie colt out of the Time for a Change mare Timely Quarrel.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Tom Musgrave is internet content editor of Thoroughbred Times