Bulletin Wires Juvenile Turf Sprint

LOUISVILLE, KY – Fastest from the gate, Bulletin took instant command and never yielded en route to a rousing score in Friday’s inaugural running of the $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs.

Breaking alertly from post 5 under Javier Castellano at odds of 4/1, Bulletin set comfortable opening splits of :23.19 and :46.89 while the filly Chelsea Cloisters kept a close watch. Heading into the far turn with the filly beginning to draw near, Bulletin hit the top of the stretch and began drawing away with every step. Kept to task through to the wire, Bulletin crossed with a 2 1/4-length advantage in a final time of 1:05.54 for the 5 1/2-furlong event over the good turf course.

“He broke like a shot and put me in a real good position,” Castellano said. “We were in good shape the whole way. I’m very impressed. He was very professional. This is a great way to start off the Breeders’ Cup.”

Chelsea Cloisters continued on well for second, holding off a wall of foes behind her. So Perfect and Queen of Bermuda rallied from the rear to take third and fourth, respectively, while Big Drink of Water took fifth, just a neck off. The 5/2 favorite Soldier’s Call hopped when the gates opened and used a lot of energy early to get back into the race, then flattened late and took sixth, just a neck and a head off of fourth. Strike Silver took seventh by a head over Sergei Prokofiev, while Pocket Dynamo, Stillwater Cove, Well Done Fox, and Moonlight Romance completed the order of finish.

Shang Shang Shang was a day-of scratch, while Comedy, Van Beethoven, and Legends of War were scratched as Also Eligibles.

Bulletin’s win was his second in as many starts, following a maiden-breaking wire-to-wire romp in the $75,000 Hollywood Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park on September 29. The son of City Zip has now earned $595,570 for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Racing.

“Fantastic way to start,” Pletcher said. “He broke really well and was sharp. He took it to them the whole way. It was a big race. We wanted to leave there running. He finished up nicely. Nothing like winning one.”

Bulletin returned $10.60 to win, $6.20 to place, and $4.40 to show. Chelsea Cloisters brought back $19.80 to place and $10.60 to show, while So Perfect paid $5.80 to show.