The BC Turf Sprint doesn’t have the deep history as many of the other BC races as it wasn’t run until 2008 when My Night To Howl won the first edition. Now a full field of fourteen will meet at CD for the 2018 running of the Grade One BC Turf Sprint at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf for a purse of $1,000.000.
The race is about as tight as races at this level come with at least five horses a theoretical nose apart, plus there are three fillies with valuable form just to muddy the water. Team 7 Illusions’ The Grandmaster looks like the best chance to take on Sharis Stables’ Desmond and Mb Stables’ Champion Farley.
Derby Pip 95 12-1
RNP Stables’ Derby Pip finished second in the Grade I Highlander Stakes, a six-furlong turf race, a performance that sent him to the Grade I Forego where he finished fourth a length back. Reading the writing on the wall, his connections sent him back to a turf sprint, which didn’t go well and the Vosburgh didn’t go any better. Now he has to reach back to the Highlander to have a chance here.
Falesia 96 5-1
Smokey Stover’s Falesia came from the clouds to finish third in the Grade II Woodford at KEE last out, an unusual performance for a three-year-old filly against the lads. Her connections are impressed enough to bring here to test the boys again. It’s a tall order, but it was a sharp run.
Desmond 95 4-1
Sharis Stables’ Desmond, winner of the Grade I Highlander Stakes the race before last disappointed in the Grade III KD Turf Sprint at KD. After being gelded, he reeled off 10 straight in the money performances before that last effort. Throw that out and give him a chance.
Vino Bambino 94 16
Chili King Stables’ Vino Bambino was having trouble getting decent performances on the dirt in spite of a close third in the Grade I Carter Handicap at AQU, so they tried a longshot run on the turf in the Grade III Troy Handicap at SAR and were handed a sharp come from behind victory. He came back with a third in the Grade III Turf Monster Handicap at PRX. Unfortunately, his most recent was up the track in the Grade II Woodford. Now he has to recover.
Great Bounty 100 6-1
Drabfantasy’s Great Bounty sports the highest recent SRF courtesy of an upset victory in the Grade II Nearctic Stakes at WO in his return to sprinting after running a series of 1 ½ mile stakes. That upset brings this one to this race with a strong chance to repeat.
Quarter King 94 5-1
Gdp Inc’s lightly-raced Quarter King has been knocking on the door with four seconds in his last five starts, including a nose miss in the Grade III Eddie D Stakes at SA last out. He has yet to score a Grade I victory, but three back finished second in the Grade I Highlander Stakes. This could be the chance to graduate.
Spirits Feronia 97 10-1
Straight Arrow’s Spirits Feronia, the second filly in this race, older and remarkable consistent finds herself in her first Grade I race and her first race against the lads thanks to her close second place run in the Grade III Buffalo Trace Franklin County at KEE. Of her last 17 starts, she has been in the money 16 times, nine of them wins. Never a Grade I win, but certainly promising one.
Apricot 97 10-1
D J C Racing Stables picked up Apricot for $500.000 for this race, yet another filly against the boys. She finished a close fourth last out in the Grade III Buffalo Trace Franklin County, prior to that, she won the Grade III KD Ladies Sprint, which capped off a good string of stakes pe4reformances. She will need to step up to a higher level in this one.
The Grandmaster 99 *7-2
Team 7 Illusions’ homebred The Grandmaster switched to turf four races back and won the Grade III PARX Sprint, followed that with a strong third in the Grade II Play The King Stakes at WO, then won the Grade III KD Turf Sprint and capped it off with a close third in the Grade III Nearctic Stakes. Although he has yet to win higher than Grade III, he has found his surface and a big chance at the brass ring.
Neon Wolf 89 10-1
Smokey Stover’s Neon Wolf switched to turf just two races ago and scored a victory in the Grade II Play The King Stakes. His second start was not so impressive with a third-place finish in an overnighter. Now he needs to get his feet back under him if he’s going to have a chance.
Gleaming Spirit 99 10-1
First of the three, Mb Stables’ Gleaming Spirit arrives with back-to-back seconds in graded races, a deep closing run in the Grade II Nearctic Stakes and a closing run in the Grade III Turf Monster Handicap. Yet to win a graded stakes, he has been knocking loudly on the door.
Champion Farley 94 4-1
Mb Stables’ recent winner of the Grade II Jaipur at BEL, Champion Farley was second in this race last year. His most recent was a close fourth in the Grade III Eddie D Stakes, before that second in the Grade II Play The King Stakes. In spite of a couple of recent out of the money performances, he won five of his last ten.
Dignified 98 8-1
Probably the best of the Mb entries, Mb Stables’ Dignified went away from turf routes where he won four of eight, to score a come from behind win in the Grade II Woodford sprint stakes. If he can repeat that run and overcome an unpleasant post position, he could take it all.
Bolden 88 30-1
Our Athletes’ Bolden gets into this race by way of a scratch. The sophomore has only tried grass twice in his short career, winning his first attempt in an allowance race at MTH, but trailing home in the Grade II Woodford. He’ll need to develop very fast to be involved in this one.
Categories: BC 2018-20, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP
