The 15th Running of the G1 BC Turf Sprint
Saturday, November 4, 2023
SA Race #10 $1,000.000
3+ 124/126 Lbs 5f (Inner Turf)
Track Record-:56.51 (Gleaming Spirit-2019)
Stakes Record-:55.85 (The Rebel-2011)
1 American Grandeur (TwinTowersRacing/D. Davis 124): Sophomore colt has two wins from nine starts, but he did manage a DH runner-up in a G1 back in June. Form hasn’t been great since, but he’s well drawn here if he can unlock a reversal. Has a bad habit of lagging towards the rear so he’ll have to dodge traffic if he is to factor here.
2 Norski Raider (Mb Stables/P. Lopez 126): Gelding enters on a two-race winning streak and has taken four of eight starts this season. Blessed with speed, he’s won his last three starts at this 5f trip. Hard to find much fault with a guy that checks a lot of boxes with speed, confidence, and an affinity for this trip. Should be in the mix from the start.
3 Creepy Rocky Party (Mb Stables/F. Geroux 126): He’s danced a lot of dances this season and was able to take a G2, two G3’s, and a listed stake in his first eight starts of ’23. Had his streak of eight ITM finishes broken with sub-par efforts in his last two, so he’ll be looking to rebound here. Good news is that he’s shown the ability to best these types on his day.
4 You Know Youre Right (Mo Mentum Farm/E. Maldonado 126): Only one win in 11 starts this season; however, he’s earned his keep with seven other ITM finishes. Last three starts have been head-scratching efforts, but he has some early foot and may appreciate cutting back to the five-eighths for the first time since seasonal bow.
5 Point Of Honor (High Voltage/F.T. Alvarado 123): Mare has fared pretty well against other females, but she’ll tackle the boys for the first time this season here. Like the fact that she knows where the wire is, and she has been successful in both tries at this trip in ’23. Only gets three pounds from the older gents in here and you know the pace will be hot. Tough call.
6 Bluesman (Spankys Barn/J. Bravo 126): 6yo gelding appears to be finding his best stride as the last four efforts have been among the best of his career. Has been an excellent earner with six checks from eight starts this season, and like the fact that he has some versatility in his game. Hard to envision a scenario where he doesn’t get a good trip and he should have every chance, if good enough.
7 Fiddlestyck (Chili King Stables/P. Husbands 124): Trainer touted this one earlier in the week in the forums, and you can’t blame him with the way his charge has gone from maiden-breaker to multiple G2-winner since June. He’s another with options, stylistically, and he’s getting good at just the right time.
8 Inquisition (Arindel/E. Jaramillo 123): Mare has run everywhere from 5.5f to a mile and a half. Very consistent tryer that enjoys what she’s doing as evidenced by her eight ITM finishes from ten starts. MGSW looks to be best suited to these types of events and we know she’ll be running hard from start to finish. Sneaking suspicion this one runs her eyeballs out on Saturday.
9 Drinkin Creepin (Mb Stables/J.R. Velazquez 124): Last year’s Juvenile Turf Sprint champion easily made the transition from two to three with eight exacta finishes in nine starts this season. Didn’t have to show up here as he had enough points to qualify elsewhere, so have to think the big barn will be confident leading him over.
10 Antares (Smokey Stover/Mario Gutierrez 123): 4yo filly hasn’t encountered males yet, but she enters with a two-race winning streak. Patient-handling was rewarded last month with G2 score at KEE, and she should be relatively fresh even with the somewhat quick turnaround here. Has the speed to lay close and should be in the mix when the money is on the line.
11 Dragon Storm (Luz International/SCRATCHED):
12 Zee Q (Gdp Inc/A. Beschizza 126): Been a very productive claim since getting tagged for $14.000 at the end of ’22. 5yo gelding has done all of his work in races at the longer end of this division, so he’ll have to show he can handle the quirkiness of this 5f trip.
13 Albaquirky (Santan Stables/F. Geroux 126): Divisional leader for the majority of the year gets parked wide for this assignment after enjoying inner half draws in all seven starts this season. With all of the speed signed-on drawn to his inside, he shouldn’t have too much trouble saving ground through at least some of the turn, and he has demonstrated he has the turn of foot to pass them all.
14 Lady Of The Lord (Our Athletes/Mario Gutierrez 123): 6yo mare has been very consistent in her five sprint tries this season with three stakes wins to go along with a place and a show. Doesn’t get any favors with this draw as she likes to be involved from the start and there’s plenty of speed inside of her.
15 Turmoil (Winning Link Stables/D. Van Dyke 124): 3yo gelding only has a maiden win to his credit; however, he gets in off the AE list after the scratch of the 11. Was only beaten a neck when drawn wide in the G3 at BEL after setting the pace for much of the trip. Keeps the pilot from that effort and his win did come at this trip.
16 (AE) Blood Of My Blood (Langley Farms/TBD): Started his season with two wins at LRL and hasn’t faced graded foes. Has three wins from 11 starts this year, but this will be a huge step up in class.
Final Analysis: Tough group, befitting a championship race; however, it’s hard to get past the 9 and 13. We’ll throw the 8 in there and hope for value; call it 9-8-13 in the 15th running of the G1 BC Turf Sprint. Good luck to all involved in all of the championship races this weekend.
Categories: BC 2021-2023
