Breeders' Cup 2011 - Sprint

6.37 Churchill Downs

Sentient Jet Breeders´ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Dirt) (3yo+)

Winner: £519,231 Runners: 9 Distance: 6f

Advice: 1 pt win Big Drama (7/2 general)

Euroears: Found new lease of life since being moved to Bob Baffert, winning the Palo Verdes Handicap at Santa Anita, finishing second to the Singapore star Rocket Man in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, and romping home in the Bing Crosby Stakes, never seeing another horse (with his main rival missing the break); Had his race wrecked at the start when hampered in the Vosburgh and will do better.

Giant Ryan: Won his sixth straight race of a remarkable year when keeping Force Freeze at home in a very good renewal of the Vosbrugh Stakes, a key trial for this race; Any rain would be a godsend (won all three times on sloppy or muddy tracks) but massive chance in any case.

Aikenite: Didn’t quite live up to promise shown early on in juvenile season but had a better time dropped to sprinting, taking back to back to back Grade 2’s before being well beaten by Jackson Bend twice; Lost out to an improver giving 4lbs and others preferred.

Hamazing Destiny: Only had 4 runs since his second to Big Drama last year, not impressing particularly in any of them (beaten convcingly twice by Jackson Bend); Great record here (twice second in top class events and then won conditions even with ease) but doesn’t quite seem in in same form for this bid.

Jackson Bend: Is now 6 from 6 in sprinting races, including the Grade 1 Forego over 7 furlongs with plenty to spared from off the pace, a tactic he should be able to pull off again here; Always at a disadvantage trying to give weight to Uncle Mo in the Kelso and should go very well here.

Force Freeze: Couldn’t land a blow behind Euroears in the Shaheen (he was ninth, Euroears second) but back to his best with a comfortable win at Momeouth and a half length second to Giant Ryan in the Vosbrugh; Needs more.

Amazombie: Deserved win considering consistency of his sprinting efforts in the Anicent Title, benefitting from freakishly fast fractions early on; Could have same thing happen here so a contender but others preferred.

Big Drama: Deeply impressive when winning this last year from front and unbeaten in his next two runs since, clocking a ridiculous time on return in the Mr Prospector Stakes, before winning easily in his prep at Calder; Not reason why he shouldn’t go close again and despite his ill health forcing him to miss the Vosburgh, he looks the divisional leader.

Aprority: Runner up in pair of strong Graded races before missing intended assignment with a sore foot; Well held in Vosbrugh last time and others readily preferred over him.  

VERDICT: I see no reason to desert BIG DRAMA following his win in this last year – His 2 wins since are of the same speed – and while he missed his prep in the Vosbrugh, his works suggest everything’s fine and he won last year off a big break. The clear second choice from this point of view would be Jackson Bend although any one of 5 could be a serious consideration – Euroears and Giant Ryan might have more to offer.