Straight No Chaser Chases Second SA Sprint Championship

Last year, MyRacehorse's Straight No Chaser  used the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) to launch himself to a victory in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar one month later. On Sept. 28, he will test that path again when he breaks from post 2 of eight at Santa Anita Park.

The reigning champion male sprinter makes his first start since traveling to the Middle East this winter, where he took Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) impressively in February before finishing a disappointing eighth with a less-than-ideal trip toward the tail of the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) field in April.

Usually one to race close to the pace, Straight No Chaser's 5 1/2-month layoff closely emulates the 4 1/2-month layoff he exited to win last year's Santa Anita Sprint Championship by a dominant 6 1/4 lengths. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, the 6-year-old son of Speightster's regular rider, returns for trainer Dan Blacker.

The winner will earn an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 1 through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. Straight No Chaser already holds one of those berths thanks to his Saudi Arabia triumph, but his rivals would gladly take that additional prize that comes with beating the champion over 6 furlongs.

Dr. Venkman  is the lone runner inside of Straight No Chaser at the gate, and the lone contender exiting a stakes win. That victory came Aug. 23 at Del Mar when he stalked the pace and held gamely to win the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) over 7 furlongs, which earned him a Challenge Series berth to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Trained by Mark Glatt for Alipony Racing, Dan Agnew, Clint Bunch, and James Hailey, the 5-year-old Ghostzapper  gelding has finished second in graded company in both career starts at Santa Anita, but his lone start at 6 furlongs was a fourth in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar this summer, beaten 4 1/2 lengths.

Rafael Gutierrez's Awesome Rhythm , who breaks from post 3, is the only other runner to win last out. The 6-year-old First Samurai   gelding rides a three-race win streak at the claiming and allowance levels, but makes his stakes debut for trainer Victor Garcia over a distance he is 3-0-1 on dirt in four starts.

Also in the field is Speed Boat Beach  for Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, who makes his first start at Santa Anita since winning the 2023 Malibu Stakes (G1). Off for all of 2024, the 5-year-old son of Bayern  trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert has not hit the board in two starts this season, most recently fifth when 6 1/4 lengths behind Dr. Venkman in the Pat O'Brien.

Baffert has a second shot in Imagination , who breaks from the far outside gate. A grade 2 winner who was twice grade 1-placed, the 4-year-old Into Mischief   colt makes his first start since finishing fourth in the Jan. 25 San Pasqual Stakes (G2).

The field is completed by grade 3-placed Smooth Cruisein , Chilean group 1 winner Mbagnick , and Wound Up , who has won five of six starts this year.