How to bet the wide-open Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

An overflow field of 15 will take aim on the top prize in Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). A star-studded cast of turf dashers will run 5 1/2 furlongs on the Keeneland lawn in an ultra-competitive event, and I will be searching for value in a race with little separation from top to bottom.

Turf Sprint Wagers

• $.10-cent Superfecta: 1,11 with 1,6,7,11 with all with all ($79.20)

Turf Analysis

#11 Wildman Jack (15-1) is very appealing to me at a fine morning-line price for conditioner Doug O’Neill. The 4-year-old son of Goldencents dominated Group 3 foes in Dubai in the spring and has run well in three of his four assignments since, including a win in the Daytona (G3) and a recent second in the Eddie D. (G2) when rallying into a lone-speed winner. The gelded Kentucky-bred never factored in the Shakertown (G2) at Keeneland over the summer after a poor start, but it’s worth noting that he was favored over a fine field on the day. Versatile sort will rally in the lane beneath Manny Franco.

West Coast import #1 Big Runnuer (12-1) is unbeaten from three starts since adding blinkers for Victor Garcia. The bay gets a tricky draw inside of the huge group, but if he catches a flier out of the gate, then the Stormy Atlantic gelding has a legitimate chance of leading the field from start-to-finish in a cast lacking confirmed front runners. Lightly raced bay is training in swift fashion as of late as well.

I tabbed #7 Leinster (4-1) in the 2019 edition of the race but he could only muster a seventh-place finish at Santa Anita. Rusty Arnold pupil has come back stronger this season with three fine runs in succession, capped by a convincing score in the Woodford (G2) at Keeneland last time out. Majestic Warrior bay sports a 4-3-1-0 local line and is a top three must-use.

European import #6 Glass Slippers (12-1) can’t be ignored while making her U.S. debut for Kevin Ryan. Dream Ahead filly is a two-time Group 1 heroine, and she is proven on good, soft and heavy ground. Bay is battle-tested against many of Europe’s finest sprinters and will receive Lasix with regular pilot Tom Eaves in for the ride.

I will take a stand against the morning-line choice, #12 Got Stormy (7-2), winner of the Franklin County (G3) on the course in her latest venture for Mark Casse. The chestnut mare is one I admire a whole lot, but I am still not sure if she is an elite turf sprinter, and I also think she does her best work with a lot of give in the lawn. I may be wrong about the Grade 1 starlet, but she is not enticing to me at a short price in a field of this quality and depth.