Full Field Ready to Fly in Juvenile Turf Sprint

Not much is known much about the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, as this will be only its second running. A full field of 12 drew into the race for the second straight year, including four also eligibles, giving bettors plenty of options. The 5-furlong event will kick off the Breeders’ Cup action on Friday, November 1, as race five on the program with a purse of $1,000,000.

The full field from the rail out includes:

#1 Chimney Rock – He has finished first or second in three straight races while facing top-notch competition. Three starts back, he broke his maiden at Saratoga, then finished second by a head just six days later in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes. Most recently, he was once again beaten narrowly, losing by a 1/2-length in the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland.

#2 Band Practice – She’ll ride a three-race win streak into this event, which will be her first start in the United States. This Irish-bred filly racked up three wins on the other side of the pond, including the Criterium de Vitesse Stakes at Chantilly last time out.

#3 Another Miracle – This son of American Pharoah will look to make an impact on the Breeders’ Cup as a 2-year-old, something that his sire was unable to do. He has won on both turf and dirt, but his biggest came on the Saratoga lawn in the Skidmore Stakes. Most recently, he was fifth the Futurity Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.

#4 Dream Shot – He has been a consistent runner in Europe all season long, hitting the board in six of eight starts. He won two of those efforts, with the last coming at Chelmsford in an allowance event contested over the synthetic surface.

#5 Encoder – He will cut back in distance after running fourth last time out in the Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita Park. His lone 5-furlong effort came on debut at Del Mar, where he dusted his rivals by 1 1/2 lengths on the lawn. Despite being by a sire who was better going longer, it looks as though Encoder’s best races could be at shorter distances.

#6 Alligator Alley – He has won two of six races overseas, including the Julia Graves Roses Stakes two back at York. Last time out, he finished sixth in the Wainright Flying Childers Stakes (G2).

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#7 Kimari – Despite taking on the boys as a filly in this spot, she is the classiest horse in the field. After breaking her maiden at Keeneland, she shipped to Royal Ascot and lost by just a head in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2). She has won both starts since returning to the United States, including the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland last time out by a 1/2-length.

#8 Dr Simpson – This filly has had plenty of experience overseas, making eight lifetime starts to date. She won two of those, including the Al Basti Equiworld Mercury Stakes (G3) over the synthetic surface at Dundalk.

#9 Four Wheel Drive – This American Pharoah colt is perfect in two career starts, both coming over the turf. The former Triple Crown winner has produced several quality turf horses so far, but Four Wheel Drive might be the best of the bunch. He dominated the competition last time out in the Futurity Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.

#10 A’Ali – We’ll see if this European invader can run well in America after winning three of five career starts overseas. The colt broke his maiden at Royal Ascot in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) before winning the Darley Prix Robert Papin Stakes (G2) in his next start. Last time out, he returned to his winning ways in the Wainwright Flying Childers Stakes (G2) at Doncaster.

#11 King Neptune – This colt has plenty of experience coming into the event, running in nine races in Europe. He has just one victory, though, which came on debut over a synthetic surface at Dundalk. Recently, he ran a solid fourth in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (G1) at Newmarket.

#12 Cambria – Trainer Wesley Ward is no stranger to success with juveniles sprinting on the turf. Cambria has won all three of her starts, including one on the turf in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint. Her other two wins came on a synthetic surface.

Also Eligible: #13 Bulletproof One, #14 Air Force Jet, #15 Fore Left, #16 Karak