Newest race draws 28 pre-entries

If anyone was wondering how popular the new $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint would be, wonder no more. The inaugural edition of the race has drawn 28 pre-entries as horsemen on both sides of the Atlantic have embraced the late-season opportunity for 2-year-old turf sprinters.

The number of pre-entries is more than twice the number – 12 – who will be allowed to start in the 5 1/2-furlong race on Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.

“It’s a fantastic race,” trainer Wesley Ward said. “At this time of year, for the most part, I’m kinda looking to give them a break because there’s really nothing for a 2-year-old turf sprinter. [This race] has opened up a lot of opportunities, not only for me, but for the Europeans. It should be a really good, exciting race.”

Ward pre-entered a halfdozen youngsters for this race, but only two, Shang Shang Shang and Stillwater Cove, hold spots in the main body of the field. Stablemates Chelsea Cloisters, Moonlight Romance, Mae Never No, and Dragic, in that order, are on the outside looking in for the race, which can list up to four also-eligibles on the program.

Shang Shang Shang, the 4-1 favorite on Daily Racing Form handicapper Brad Free’s line, earned a spot in this field by winning the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes in June at Royal Ascot, her most recent start. The Norfolk was the first of four Win and You’re In qualifiers for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, with Its Gonna Hurt (Speakeasy Stakes), Strike Silver (Indian Summer Stakes), and Uncle Benny (Futurity Stakes) grabbing the other guaranteed berths.

Uncle Benny, however, has a first preference in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, as trainer Jason Servis wants to stretch him out. Order and Law and Track Smith also have first preference in the Juvenile Turf, while Stellar Agent has first preference in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Bulletin has second preference in the Juvenile Turf, while So Perfect has second preference in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Those two races, both also on the Nov. 2 card, are oversubscribed, as the Juvenile Turf attracted 22 pre-entrants and the Juvenile Fillies Turf got 19. Final entries are due Monday, Oct. 29.

Following Ward with four pre-entrants in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint is Aidan O’Brien, with Sergei Prokofiev and So Perfect guaranteed spots in the field. They are part of a strong European contingent that is led by multiple group stakes winner Soldier’s Call, the 9-2 second choice on Free’s line. Trained by Archie Watson, Soldier’s Call was recently a close second against older horses in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye in France.