Horse Betting World

Breeders´ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint

This race has a short history as part of the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. First run in 2007 at Monmouth Park, it has always been part of Friday’s racing action. This will be the first time the race is run at Churchill Downs, and possibly the first time it has ever been run over a “fast,” conventional dirt surface – in 2007 the racetrack was sloppy, and in 2008 and 2009 it was run over a synthetic surface at Santa Anita.

In the inaugural edition Maryfield rallied late to win, scoring for the team of trainer Doug O’Neil and jockey Elvis Trujillo. In 2007 Ventura, trained by the late Bobby Frankel, rallied from way back and blew past betting favorite Indian Blessing to win by four lengths. Last year it was Informed Decision, racing close to the pace, who got the jump and won over the late-closing defending champ Ventura.

The first edition of this race was run at six furlongs, like the male counterpart the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but it was lengthened to seven furlongs at Santa Anita, and that is the distance at which it will be contested this year. With no apparent leader in the female sprint division, this year’s event should be a good betting race.

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint facts to consider in your handicapping:

Distance: Seven Furlongs on Dirt

Post Time: 5:30PM (ET), Friday

Churchill Downs Track Profile for this distance – over the last two race meets there have been 69 races run at this distance, with 22 wire-to-wire winners (32%). The average running line for the winner shows them 2.4 lengths behind the leaders at the second call and just 0.8 lengths back at the third call. There were only six winners who raced more than 7.0 lengths back at the second call, and no winner gained more than 5.5 lengths after the third call. All told, 50-of-69 winners at this distance held the lead at the third call.

Breeders’ Cup Track Profile at Churchill Downs for this distance – no previous editions run at this racetrack.

Churchill Downs Post Position Profile for this distance – the inside post can be tricky at this distance, with runners breaking from the rail winning just 6-of-69 races … four of those winners went wire-to-wire. Runners breaking from post 12 won only one race.

Breeders’ Cup Post Position Profile at Churchill Downs for this distance – no previous editions run at this racetrack.

Betting Angles – During the last two race meets at Churchill Downs, betting favorites won 27-of-69 races at this distance (39%). In its short-lived history there has not been a favorite win the Filly & Mare Sprint. That being said, it has hardly been a key to early retirement, with Informed Decision winning at 3/1, Ventura at 5/2 and Maryfield at 8/1. Given the track profile for this distance, it may prove wise to isolate candidates with good tactical speed, especially any runner who has recently shown speed at a longer distance – producing the profitable “route speed, turn-back in distance” angle. Closers are acceptable win candidates provided they have a “middle move” strong enough to get them within reach of the leaders turning for home. Think twice before backing a “deep closer” who will be starting from the rail. In each of the three previous editions of this race a runner at 35/1 or higher filled a spot in the superfecta.