Ag Bullet to Take Another Shot at Boys in Turf Sprint

With no exclusive options for female turf sprinters in the World Championships, the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) has played host to a heroine defeating the boys on five separate occasions since its inaugural running in 2008. With a trio of speedy fillies and mares in the starting gate Nov. 1, it's possible Del Mar will play host to the sixth.

Ag Bullet  nearly became that sixth a year ago when beaten just a neck in third by Starlust  in the 5-furlong contest. The Richard Baltas-trained daughter of Twirling Candy   has come back stronger as a 5-year-old, beating the boys at Saratoga Race Course in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) to clinch her spot in the Breeders' Cup.

Owned by Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran, Ag Bullet is typically swift on her hooves out of the gate, as are many of the rivals she faces Saturday.

Shisospicy , Morplay Racing and Qatar Racing's 3-year-old filly, is one of those. In seven American starts, she's only been outside the top two at one single point of call on Equibase charts: the finishing spot of third place in a 2-year-old stakes race on dirt.

A two-time graded winner this season, the daughter of Mitole   faces an uphill battle facing older horses for the first time—no sophomore filly has ever won the Turf Sprint—but trainer Jose D'Angelo is confident she is up to the task.

Both runners exit victories at Kentucky Downs and now return to the standard oval for a 5-furlong contest that is a pure test of their speed. Charles Marquis' Bear River  also exits a victory in Franklin, Ky., after taking the Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) gate to wire.

With those three just a few that prefer to be forwardly placed, the race could be over from the first jump, or be sent into chaos as the speed flames out. That situation would be no surprise in a race that has averaged a $30.09 payout for a $2 win bet through its 17 runnings and a $60.99 average over the last three years.

One who may be threatening late is Anthony Fanticola's Motorious , who closed from 10th to just miss by a neck in last year's edition, nosing out Ag Bullet for third. His late kick is consistent, with that loss being his lone one in his last five starts.

Another threat with a late charge will by Mrs. Fitriani Hay's 9-year-old iron horse Khaadem . The Turf Sprint has not fared too kindly to European shippers over the years, with Starlust's 2024 victory just the second for horses based overseas.

However, Khaadem is not the average European shipper as he's made his last two starts in America for trainer Charlie Hills, tasting a last-to-first victory in Keeneland's Woodford Stakes (G2T) Oct. 4.

Khaadem is joined in the quest to give Europe consecutive winners by Amo Racing USA and Adrian Murray's 1-3 finishers of the Flying Five Stakes (G1): Arizona Blaze , runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) last year, and Bucanero Fuerte . Aristia Park and Quality Time Racing's She's Quality , a 4-year-old filly who was fourth in the Flying Five, also crosses the pond after a group 1 placing in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1).

In search of their first Turf Sprint win, Japan is represented by Mikako Sakota's grade 3 winner, Invincible Papa .