NEWS
TURF SPRINT ANALYSIS 9/8: Contenders off and running
Posted: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 1:58 PM
CALIFORNIA FLAG
Benoit & Associates photo
by Steve Bailey
The top contenders for this year’s five-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G2) already are rounding into form with only eight weeks remaining until the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Last year’s winner, California Flag, has started only twice this year for trainer Brian Koriner.
The six-year-old Avenue of Flags gelding traveled across the globe in March and finished third in the inaugural Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G3) on the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan Racecourse.
Following a 4 1/2-month recovery period, he returned to win the five-furlong Green Flash Handicap by a nose on August 16 at Del Mar.
Grade 3 winner Chamberlain Bridge already has earned a spot in the field with a victory in the Arlington Sprint Handicap on June 26 at Arlington Park as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.
The six-year-old War Chant gelding, trained by Bret Calhoun, has won three consecutive starts, the most recent being the five-furlong Turf Monster Handicap on September 6 at Parx Racing.
Awakino Cat also has won three consecutive starts for trainer and co-owner Linda Rice. The five-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding scored by a half length in the 5 1/2-furlong Frank Sullivan Stakes on September 6 at Saratoga Race Course.
Green Lantern Stables’ Gotta Have Her has won a pair of Grade 2 races from her previous three starts for trainer Jenine Sahadi, capturing the Palomar Handicap (G2) by a neck on September 6 at Del Mar in her most recent outing.
Two more guaranteed berths will be up for grabs for the Turf Sprint later this month in the six-furlong Sportingbet Manikato Stakes (Aus-G1) on September 24 at Moonee Valley and the six-furlong Morvich Handicap (G3) on September 29 during the Oak Tree meeting at Hollywood Park.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES
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Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G2)
November 6, $1-million, 3&up 5fT, Churchill Downs
|
Horse |
Sire |
Trainer |
Most recent start |
Possible next start |
|
Awakino Cat |
Stormy Atlantic |
Linda Rice |
Won Frank Sullivan S. |
|
|
California Flag |
Avenue of Flags |
Brian Koriner |
Won Green Flash H. |
Woodford S. on Oct. 9 |
|
Chamberlain Bridge |
War Chant |
Bret Calhoun |
Won Turf Monster H. |
|
|
Gotta Have Her |
Royal Academy |
Jenine Sahadi |
Won Palomar H. (G2) |
|
|
Kinsale King |
Yankee Victor |
Carl O’Callaghan |
12th in Darley July Cup (Eng-G1) |
Ancient Title S. (G1) on Oct. 9 |
|
Lord Shanakill |
Speightstown |
Henry Cecil |
Won Lennox S. (Eng-G2) |
|
|
Scenic Blast (Aus) |
Scenic (Ire) |
John Shirreffs |
5th in Del Mar Mile H. (G2) |
|
|
Starspangledbanner |
Choisir |
Aidan O’Brien |
5th in Betfred Sprint Cup S. (Eng-G1) |
|
|
Unzip Me |
City Zip |
Marty Jones |
Won Royal North S. |
|
